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Talented Gaelic has the gears required
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Scholfield hurdler may cause Mayhem again
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Chelsea could go close to scoring
Newcastle, 11.45 - Back Gaelic Rover @ 5/61.84
Having a bet before midday never seems to sit quite right, but it could be worth making an exception for Gaelic Rover.
The Ruth Jefferson-trained gelding hasn't been seen since tackling a course and distance maiden hurdle on Fighting Fifth Hurdle day, but this looks the ideal race for him to shed his maiden tag over hurdles at the third time of asking.
A late faller in both his Irish points when in the mix, the son of Walk In The Park has looked more assured over hurdles and looked to have done enough to win when last seen, jumping the last a length in front of well-backed favourite Le Beau Madrik.
Unfortunately, he drifted left under pressure on the long run to the line alowing Harry Skelton to galvanise his mount to a length victory.
It remained an excellent effort from Gaelic Rover who covered the last four furlongs just six lengths slower than Golden Ace and Anzadam in the day's feature hurdle, while his overall time was only two-and-a-half seconds slower than the current Champion Hurdler.
With that in mind, he really ought to be winning a Class 4 maiden hurdle.
Back Gaelic Rover to Win 11:45 Newcastle
Wincanton, 13.52 - Back Morning Mayhem @ 4/15.00
I wouldn't imagine trainer Nick Scholfield was too enamoured with the assessor when he saw Morning Mayhem was raised 3lb for being brought down at Fontwell on Boxing Day.
Retrospective handicapping is a regular occurrence, but that nudge up in the ratings looked a little puntitive, especially when we are trying to encourage racehorse ownership.
However, Scholfield must play the cards he is dealt and his five-year-old - a rather surprise winner at 28/129.00 at Uttoxeter the week before Christmas - should at least find conditions to his liking at the West Country venue.
Wincanton have enjoyed 40ml of rain in the past seven days and with an amber weather warning in place for the track on Thursday morning, there is every chance conditions are going to become pretty attritional through the afternoon.
That should play to the strengths of Morning Mayhem as any horse that can operate in heavy ground at Uttoxeter should find today's expected ground to his liking and, with the Scholfield operation in good heart, he could bounce back from his unfortunate departure at Fontwell.
Back Morning Mayhem to Win 13:52 Wincanton
Wincanton, 13.52 - Back St Lukes Chelsea E/W @ 12/113.00
The decision to ride St Lukes Chelsea a touch more aggressively at Taunton last month didn't entirely pay off as the five-year-old faded in the straight to finish 11 lengths behind the well-handicapped and backed Premier.
It was a chance worth taking by connections as their gelding had previously shown up well at Wincanton, staying on gamely from the rear to take a similar position behind Birthday Angel in a race which again shone a light on the selection's hurdling technique.
RaceIQ ratings of 8.1 and 8.0 in his last two starts are endorsements of the hurdling capabilities of St Lukes Chelsea and I just wonder if deeper ground is the key to him winning a little race like this.
We will have the option to test that theory this afternoon and he is worth a small play alongside the main pick, Morning Mayhem.
Back St Lukes Chelsea, E/W 4 Places, in 13:52 Wincanton