13:52, Lingfield - Global Warming weighted to strike
Lingfield's opener can go to Global Warning who might be the senior runner at the age of ten but he's by no means the only veteran in this seven-furlong contest.
You have to go back to September 2024 for his last win, which came over this course and distance, but he has slipped down the weights in the meantime and has run better with each of his starts this year. Back over this course and distance last time, Global Warning looked an unlucky loser as he got caught further back than ideal before finishing well to go down by a neck, earning the 'Horse In Focus' flag.
That was a good effort behind Profit Street who has been in red-hot form at Lingfield with three wins there over the last few months. Global Warning is ridden for the first time by Rossa Ryan who rode a double for his trainer John Butler at Kempton a week ago, and they can team up successfully again here where Global Warning tops the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings.
Back Global Warming in the 13:52 Lingfield
15:41, Hexham - Jo Coko the one to beat
Stamina will be very much at a premium in the Hexham Marathon Handicap Chase where Nicky Richards fields two of the runners in the four-mile contest. The more interesting of his pair is Jo Coko who will be having just his third start over fences but has already shown the right aptitude for this sort of test.
An expensive buy after winning his Irish point, Jo Coko had just three starts over hurdles last season when trained by James Ewart and made the frame each time. Making his chasing debut, Jo Coko was the last of three finishers on his first start for his new yard at Newcastle in December but got off the mark in first-time cheekpieces in a novice handicap at Uttoxeter the following month.
That contest proved a searching test on heavy ground over three and a quarter miles and Jo Coko showed plenty of resolve and stamina in a race where most of his rivals were pulled up, earning the 'Horse In Focus' flag. Open to further improvement against much more exposed chasers, Jo Coko should therefore be suited by this marathon trip and can follow up.
Back Jo Coko in the 15:41 Hexham
16:41, Hexham - Big John Wayne can open his account
Perhaps because of his size, Big John Wayne evidently hasn't been the easiest for Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore to train but the strapping former point winner in Ireland looks to have been found an opportunity to open his account under Rules at Hexham.
Big John Wayne had just the three runs over hurdles in 2024 before returning from a 15-month absence in January and has had a couple of runs over fences at Ayr this year, looking in need of a stiffer test of stamina on both occasions. Despite the step up to two and a half miles last time, he got outpaced after making the running but rallied well from two out and finished with running left to take third behind Dubai Days and Tommy Combats (a good second at Carlisle at the weekend), earning the 'Horse In Focus' flag.
With further improvement to come given his lightly-raced profile, and heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, Hexham's stiff finish should play more to Big John Wayne's strengths and he's capable of shedding his maiden tag under Rules.
Back Big John Wayne in the 16:41 Hexham