Annaf has plenty in his favour ahead of the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Conditions Stakes at Kempton.
His trainer Mick Appleby is bang in form and Annaf has already added to his tally in 2023 when winning a competitive handicap at Lingfield.
A Shadwell cast-off who never ran in the famous blue and white colours, he was bought by Appleby for 16,000 guineas and has proved to be yet another shrewd acquisition.
A surprise winner on his debut, he was second in a Fast-Track Qualifier next time before defying a penalty in a novice event on his third outing.
Fourth on Finals Day, he ran in several major handicaps in the summer as well as finishing second to the hugely impressive Sense Of Duty in the Chipchase Stakes.
He had a very busy spell – 11 runs from January to October – so Appleby gave him a 100-day break and he was rewarded with a win at Lingfield on Saturday where, if anything, he looked to have improved for his absence.
The handicapper has raised him to a mark of 107, which would make him the top-rated in here in a race in which everything already looked in his favour.
Burdett Road showed a decent level of ability in three runs for Roger Varian and can open his account on his first outing for Michael Bell.
While he made an inauspicious debut in a Newmarket novice event, he stepped up on that next time out when second at Wolverhampton, beaten only half a length by Harry's Hero.
The winner that day now has a rating of 85 so is way above average, which made it slightly disappointing when Burdett Road was second again, once more at Dunstall Park, this time by James Tate's Mighty River.
That form has been boosted as Mighty River won again on Saturday off 81 so Burdett Road's opening mark of 79 would seem about right.
That is irrelevant, though, as he runs off level weights in the Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Restricted Novice Stakes.
Trojan Legend is on interest first time in a handicap for Charlie Johnston.
The Ulysses gelding runs in the famous Double Trigger colours and stepping up in trip will be in his favour.
Admittedly he has not shown much in maiden and novice events but racing over a mile will help him in the Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap.
Marco Botti's Aguaplano is worth a look in the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap.
He ended 2022 in good form and finished a fine third on his first run of 2023 to Imperial Sands.
He sported first-time cheekpieces there which seemed to eek out a bit more and he acts well on the track.
At Wolverhampton's hastily-arranged meeting Margaret's Fuchsia can give the in-form Gay Kelleway another winner in the talkSPORT Download The App Restricted Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Forward Plan can go in again for Anthony Honeyball in the Kingwell Farm Novices' Handicap Chase at Wincanton, where Fountains Chief can also go well for the yard in the Hatherleigh Farm Handicap Hurdle.
At Ludlow Stanley Stanley gets the vote in the G C Rickards Ltd Handicap Chase.
SELECTIONS:
FAIRYHOUSE: 12.30 Chavez, 1.05 Difficult Decision, 1.40 Abbeydale, 2.15 Spanish Harlem, 2.50 Hauturiere, 3.25 So Des Flos, 3.55 Carrig Cathal.
KEMPTON: 5.30 Burdett Road, 6.00 Trojan Legend, 6.30 Aguaplano, 7.00 Rumnotred, 7.30 ANNAF (NAP), 8.00 Dinoo, 8.30 Princess Nieve.
LUDLOW: 12.50 Family Pot, 1.25 Stellar One, 2.00 Mylesfromwicklow, 2.35 Stanley Stanley, 3.10 Midnight Mary, 3.45 Not That Fuisse, 4.20 Goonhilly.
NEWCASTLE: 12.25 Slugger, 1.00 Nells Son, 1.35 Iris Oirr, 2.10 Ruby Island, 2.45 Ritson, 3.20 Chapel Green, 4.00 De Legislator.
WINCANTON: 12.40 Forward Plan, 1.15 Emmpressive Lady, 1.50 Fulgurix, 2.25 Fountains Chief, 3.00 Slipway, 3.35 Johnnywho, 4.10 Banteer.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.20 Algheed, 1.55 Margaret's Fuchsia, 2.30 Deep Sigh, 3.05 War In Heaven, 3.40 Hachert, 4.15 Glorious Charmer.
DOUBLE: Annaf and Burdett Road.
