Sam King returns with two selections on Thursday…
There are a few interesting pointers at Stratford and Newcastle as the jumps season begins to warm up, but nothing that screams value from a betting point of view.
Instead, there look to be better opportunities on the all-weather, with Berkshire Sundance of major interest in the 1m6f Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap at Southwell (6.45).
Andrew Balding's gelding looked a progressive stayer to note when winning a Kempton handicap last September, but for whatever reason, he wasn't sighted until returning to action at Chester last month.
Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong at Chester, with jockey Jason Watson dislodged from the saddle after Berkshire Sundance reared exiting the stalls.
However, the son of Decorated Knight showed no ill effects from the incident when effectively making a successful reappearance on testing ground at Salisbury earlier this month, staying on in a determined fashion in the closing stages to get the better of an in-form rival by half a length.
There's no doubt in my mind that he should have plenty more to offer in staying handicaps throughout the winter and with the return to an all-weather surface to suit, he can make light work of what may prove a lenient 4lb rise in the weights.
BERKSHIRE SUNDANCE – WIN
Odds - 5/4
We head to Chelmsford for our next selection, with Arabian Rose catching the eye in the penultimate 1m Betfair Exchange Beacons Fillies' Handicap (8.00).
The Crisford's and Harry Davies teamed up to good effect with a wide-margin handicap debutant winner at Lingfield the other week, and there's every chance the same combination could strike once more this evening.
Simon and Ed Crisford boast an impressive £21 level-stakes profit with handicap debutants over the last five seasons and there's plenty of reason to believe Arabian Rose, who will surely have been purchased with the view to running in greater events that this, is well-treated on her handicap bow.
A well-bred daughter of Too Darn Hot, Arabian Rose has undoubtedly failed to reach to level her connections would have hoped so thus far, but she did take a step forward when fifth at Wolverhampton last time and has been handed a likely workable opening mark of 63.
That outing represented an improved effort in the first-time tongue-tie and with connections opting to undergo a wind-op subsequently, there's certainly to believe she can post an improved effort. The step back up to a mile looks likely to suit and with question marks surrounding several of her chief market rivals, Simon and Ed Crisford's well-bred filly can make a splash off this launching rating.
ARABIAN ROSE – WIN
Odds – 7/2
