Starting at Southwell in the three-mile handicap hurdle at 14:40, Minstalad looks the best option in a low-grade affair. Lightly raced for a nine-year-old, Minstalad has turned a corner in handicaps this summer, finishing second either side of a first win at Kelso over three and a quarter miles. He pulled clear with an improver over fences at this course last time and returns to hurdles from a 1 lb lower mark. Considering his uncomplicated manner of going about things and his chase form applied to these fixed-brush obstacles, Minstalad probably has sufficient form already to win this contest.
The big race of the day is arguably the Class 2 handicap chase at Stratford at 15:50. There's smart form on show among the top weights, but it's bottom weight Dineur that makes most appeal. Trained by the red-hot Peter Bowen, Dineur is two from three this summer, his latest win coming over two miles at Aintree last month. He was a convincing winner that day, to the point that the 10 lb rise for his efforts looks far from prohibitive. With pace and jumping ability both beyond reproach, Dineur looks a solid bet.
We return to Southwell, and low-grade fare, with the 16:40. Plenty of the runners look far from solid, comments which could also apply to selection Fromthetop, but he has enough positives to counterbalance that. Unexposed with just five starts to his name, Fromthetop showed his first real signs of ability when sixth at Newton Abbot last time, upsides two out before clattering that flight. Jumping remains a concern, but it's clear that Fromthetop has the ability to win from a mark 5 lb lower than he raced off that day and today's race won't take all that much winning.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
Back Minstalad in the 14:40 Southwell
Back Dineur in the 15:50 Stratford
Back Fromthetop in the 16:40 Southwell
