Niffler

Bertie Wooster is back over fences off a handy 97 mark that looks workable given his past Taunton win and solid placed efforts round here, with about 6% win and 30% place strike rates overall. He was only seventh last time at Kempton over hurdles after being outpaced, but that should leave him fitter now, dropping in trip a touch to a sharp 2m4f which suits him better than a real stamina slog. First-time tongue tie is a small but interesting tweak here, and trainer Joe Tizzard is going well enough to think this is a proper go rather than a test run.

Bit of a wild card here. Silver Snaffles is a 5-year-old Youmzain mare running off an OR of 91. She is an interesting full sister to Shannonvale, who has placed on similar going and has a decent trainer??"jockey combo Nicky Martin and Callum Pritchard. This looks like a fair each-way chance today, especially with the first-time headgear fitted at big odds.

Romella is running today off a mark of 91 after a 7th LTO over hurdles at Kempton. She has won once and placed twice at Thurles over 2m to 2m4f, with a 6% win rate and 20% places. Brendan Walsh is in form, and she has a first-time tongue tie and cheek pieces that could help, as she looks to be a grinder needing a strong pace. With a patient, sit-and-attack style of running, she could be in with an each-way chance, as these conditions and form should make her competitive here.

Famoso is running off a slightly below-par 93 mark after a beaten last run in a 2m chase. He has placed here over course and distance but never won, showing some steady form with a 12% win and 24% place strike rate overall. Trainer Matt Sheppard is on form and Stan Sheppard rides. Both are very positive angles here. He tends to race mid-pack and should get a clean run in a fair-paced race. Conditions suit and he looks a solid each-way chance, needing a bit more to win but capable of staying on nicely today.

Titian is in stall 6 and comes here off a mark of 77, which looks fair given his recent efforts. He has a good record at Newcastle over this 1m2 trip, with course-and-distance wins that show he can be very capable when things fall right. He has around a 29% win strike and a solid place record at this distance also and Julie Camacho does well at Newcastle, with roughly 11% winners and even stronger place rates. He usually settles just off the pace, so stall 6 is ideal to get a handy spot just behind the leaders. He is the type who could easily bounce back here if travelling strongly and using his finishing kick.

Light Her Up is off a mark of 83 after a disappointing fourth at Down Royal when she made some mistakes over a 2m7f trip. She was promising in bumpers but has yet to translate that form over hurdles. Harry and Eoghan Finegan have a good partnership here, and she should benefit from this drop back to 2 miles. She looks an each-way chance here if her jumping brushes up a little.

Four Decades is a 4-year-old filly by Lindas Lad who made a good debut when beaten in a Worcester bumper. Trainer Tim Ellis and jockey Gina Andrews get improvement from these types of horses, so she looks likely to do better stepping up to this 2m on this course as it should suit her breeding. I do expect her to improve and reckon she has a good each-way chance here.

Neat And Tidy is a well-bred New Approach filly who showed me decent, fair form on debut at Newbury over 7f, beaten just 7 lengths. Trainer James Portman and jockey Rob Hornby have pulled winners together before, so I reckon she looks ready to improve with that run under her belt. She should race prominently again and be a solid each-way chance stepping up in class, that intrigues me here while still learning her trade screams hello!?

Aisling Oscar is in stall 11, running off a low 46 mark after showing a clear step back in form with a third at Wolverhampton over 9 furlongs last time. Trainer Andy Keatley and jockey Owen McSweeney have decent stats, and the conditions suit with the all-weather and 7 furlongs being his best ground and trip here. He usually races mid-pack or worse, but from stall 11 he will need to be patient and find his rhythm. Each-way shout with the potential to build on that recent effort.

Andaleep is in stall 5, coming off a very respectable mark of 93 after running well but not staying over 11 furlongs at Kempton. He has a solid record over 10 and on the all-weather, with several wins and places from the trips. Trainer Daniel Kubler and jockey Kieran Shoemark are a good combo here. The slight drop in trip should suit his stamina better, and stall 5 gives him room to settle mid-pack and launch a late run. He looks a good each-way chance at these odds with clear scope to improve.