Race of the Day / Timeform / 04 April 2010 /

All attention is now being focused on next week's Aintree meeting, but there's plenty of racing before then. The second race at Towcester on Sunday is a competitive looking Novices' Handicap Chase and is previewed below.

Painter Man is a winning staying hurdler who has gradually come back to form after losing his way last year, including when coming fourth off a similar mark on his penultimate start. Often finishes weakly.

Tuskar Rock is an ungenuine maiden hurdler/chaser who's consistent in terms of form but shirks the issue when it comes to winning, filling one of the minor places for the umpteenth time at Hereford on Wednesday.

Topless is a winning hurdler but is yet to score over fences. He has finished in the frame all starts this year, but often finishes weakly, which is probably founded in temperament (has refused to race).

Khazar has gone off the boil since winning a 2m maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan in August
2008, and his recent comeback for a new stable was hardly encouraging.

Colline De Fleurs is a mud-loving mare who is hardly reliable, having been pulled up on three of her last five starts, but retains ability judged on her penultimate run and is nicely treated on her hurdles form.

Verdict: All five have questions to answer, and Colline de Fleurs's recent form figures are uninspiring to say the least, but she has a good record at this track and could be worth chancing. Painter Man is taken for the forecast.

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