Daily Placepots / Harry Bowles / 14 March 2011 /

We're almost there; months of anticipation and hype will shortly be replaced by sporting action of the highest order. That's right, Stratford host their first meeting since the autumn this afternoon and I, for one, am glad to be alive.

14:10 - Palawi is the clear pick of those to have experience of hurdles in the opening juvenile and there's no reason to imagine he won't make the first two at the very least, proven under these firmer conditions even though his latest success came on heavy. Sidney Melbourne is an interesting newcomer, with fairly useful Flat form to his name and in the hands of the recently-resurgent Charlie Mann, but there's still no reason to take any more than one line through with us.

14:40 - It's easy to see why Enfant de Lune is popular as favourite in the novice handicap chase which follows, with his form sound and doubts surrounding the remainder. The slightly shorter trip will see him in a better light than when a good fourth at Doncaster last time, and put simply it's very difficult to imagine him not being bang there.

15:10 - A seller in which the usual considerations of attitude, reliability and general ability hang over the runners. Hypnotic Gaze represents a yard that has found form with a vengeance in recent weeks - he himself showing the benefit in a claimer at Doncaster earlier in the month - so looks a solid proposition. Best call for back-up, though, with Tri Nations fitting the bill. Granted, he was the best part of twelve lengths behind Hypnotic Gaze in that same race and is now 2 lb worse off, but he was returning from over four months there and can be expected to step up with the freshness out of him.

15:40 - By no means is Daldini the ideal 'placepot horse' as he's generally been inconsistent during the course of his career, but it would be folly to overlook him for our purposes here potentially so well handicapped is he, and there's been more than enough encouragement the last twice to believe he can take advantage in what is a relatively weak race. The obvious inclination is to side with Sultan Fontenaille alongside, but the majority of punters will be thinking the same and it's probably best trying to get a 'result'. Royal Kicks might not have been in the best of heart over hurdles recently, but his yard has emerged from a relatively quiet time of things in the last few weeks and he's only 3 lb higher than when winning under similar conditions at Bangor in October.

16:10 - Shadrack aside, there doesn't seem much pace to the two-mile handicap hurdle and things could end up being messily run. Binocular's half-brother Remember Now gets the opportunity to provide the family with some glory this week and he's bound to be popular trying a handicap for the first time. He stepped up apppreciably to finish runner-up at Lingfield last time but had pulled too hard for his own good on both previous outings, so the spectre of a steady pace raises a doubt or two. Instead we'll take three in the shape of Veiled Applause, Tatispout as well as a flyer on King's Revenge. The first-named was just as good as ever on the Flat last year and, with proven form over hurdles in the bag, returns with the yard going well. Tatispout is a filly who has consistently shaped as if capable of better since coming over to this country, never more so than when third to the useful Cucumber Run at Huntingdon last time. It may seem a shade profligate incorporating King's Revenge given he's inconsistent and not in the best of form, but he's down to a career-low mark, has conditions to suit and would surely make the first three at least if replicating his Wincanton effort of three starts ago.

16:40 - Only a fall stands between Cork All Star, a second hunter success and the bigger races connections have in mind for him. His jumping was good enough at Huntingdon to imagine he'll have no trouble navigating his way round fences which don't provide for too much of a test.

Selections: 12 lines

14:10 - 1
14:40 - 2
15:10 - 2,4
15:40 - 6,7
16:10 - 2,6,12
16:40 - 1

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