Horse Racing Tips: Hobbs has a chance with Joe in Tuesday 29/1 double

• Fakenham Norfolk National looks open

• Step up in trip should suit second selection

• Alan's double pays at 29/130.00

Fakenham - 16:20: Back Trincomalee

The Norfolk National holds no standout candidate and with the favourite Jigginstown King not totally certain to stay the trip, Trincomalee looks the bet at 9/25.50.

He's by no means a guaranteed stayer either for 3m5f, but I think he might be able to see out this sharp marathon (if you can have such a thing), and he's been in some deeper races in his time.

In three starts this season the jumping issues that seem to have plagued him over fences have been apparent but he ran a better race than the bare result at Sandown last time, with an error at the last putting paid to his chances.

Previously he finished second at Sandown in a more competitive race than today's, but again, he was far from fluent.

He's off 114 here today over fences, yet he's rated 133 over hurdles so he could be thrown in from this mark - and considering this does look easier than his two Sandown races - he looks worth chancing in terms of seeing out the distance.

Ffos Las - 16:30: Back Optimistic Joe

With barely a Flat race to be seen today, we're off to Ffos Las for the second selection and we will know our fate in the space of about 15 minutes with Optimistic Joe.

He was a slight drifter this morning on the Sportsbook from 7/24.50 to 9/25.50, but he's unexposed handicapping and tries the 3m for the first time, so there's every chance he could improve.

His handicap debut last time was at least a step in the right direction from previous efforts - finishing fourth at Huntingdon over 2m4f.

Keenness cost him there at a sharp track, as did the jumping errors.

That looks his best run, admittedly in the face of a severe lack of competition from his three runs prior, but the soft ground might help him today and he did stay on last time to suggest he might be better at 3m and more of a test.

Now read Daryl Carter's tips for Tuesday