Bets of the Day: The old boy Veauce De Sivola can go in again

Local trainer Sandy Forster's charge is the one to beat at Hexham

Hexham 16:10

Last years winner of this Hattons Hill is returning to defend his crown, but Henry Hogarth's gelding has failed to complete in any of his last four starts and only completed two of his last nine starts, I don't see any reason to support him today. Instead, I like the look of local trainer Sandy Forster's Veauce De Sivola. This is just his fifth run for the yard after moving from Brian Barr's stable earlier this year and the 10-year-old has improved on each outing.

He justified favouritism to score at Musselburgh last time out and as a result has to contend with a 5lb rise in the weights today, but that looks manageable considering he has run well from much higher marks in the past, winning once and being placed four times when running off a mark in the 80's or higher, and this doesn't look the strongest of contests.

The biggest challenge to Veauce De Sivola looks like being Arizona Bound from the Lucinda Russell yard. He put in his best effort for a while when finishing second of six in a handicap chase over this course and distance on heavy ground just 12 days ago and a repeat of that performance would see him go close. On the downside he has only managed to get his head in front once from 10 chase starts and the Russell team are not in the best of form, just one winner from their last 27 runners.

Ruby Yates to get the job done

Hereford 16:00

It's been a long time since Gary Moore's mare Ruby Yeats has got her head in front, you have to go back to December 2016 to find her only win under rules. However, she has been sent off favourite on her last three starts, suggesting that someone thinks she is coming back into some sort of form.

She was only beaten three quarters of a length into second under similar conditions to this on her penultimate start after trading at the minimum price in running 1.011/100 (winner traded at 770.0769/1). I think you can forgive her seven length defeat on her latest start as that was simply over the wrong trip, half a mile shorter than today and she was clearly out paced that day. Going back over three miles here on this ground will be much more to her liking and hopefully she will get home this time.

I am happy to take on Same Circus who only found one too good last time out on her return to hurdling, despite the front two pulling quite a way clear of the third I am not sure this firmer ground will be to her liking and she is off a mark that is probably nearer the top of her abilities at 122.

More of a threat is possibly Ian Williams' runner, Tikk Tock Boom. The ground should suit and could be of a very workable mark as she ran well to finish placed off this mark on her handicap debut. While she is a threat, I wan't to give Ruby Yeats another chance to get that long overdue win for connections who have obviously supported her in the ring recently.