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Frere D’Armes can overcome a penalty to gain back-to-back victories in Division Two of the Peckmore Farm Lodges Novices’ Hurdle at Wincanton on Thursday.
The Dan Skelton-trained five-year-old made a promising start to hurdling when runner-up to the useful Balco Coastal at Ludlow on his stable debut before building on that when making all over two miles at Huntingdon three weeks ago.
The yard remains in excellent form and despite giving away 6lb and upwards to his 10 rivals, this looks another excellent opportunity to learn more.
Siroco Jo landed a decent conditionals' handicap hurdle at Newbury on his seasonal bow for Paul Nicholls in November, but was beaten at odds-on at Lingfield five days later on holding ground.
He is best fresh, having won both outings after long lay-offs and while not seen out since early November, he is expected to go well in the farmyardretreat.co.uk Luxury Self-Catering Apartments, Yeovil Novices' Handicap Chase.
Fishcake makes her debut in the Bet At Racingtv.com mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race for Nicky Henderson, whose string remains in prime form.
A daughter of Mahler, she is a half-sister to multiple Grade One winner Monkfish and while the extended one-mile-seven-furlong trip may ultimately be on the sharp side, this does not look the deepest race and this should prove an ideal starting point.
There is a fascinating six-race jumps card at Kelso where En Meme Temps can get off the mark at the third attempt in the Start Your RacingTV Free Trial Now Novices' Handicap Chase.
The eight-year-old won just once over hurdles in 16 starts but has twice finished second in his two outings over fences and stayed on well enough to get within five lengths of The Mighty Arc at Sedgefield last month, having a couple of previous winners in behind.
Over the extended two miles and five furlongs, he should be good enough to land the pot if maintaining the same level of expected progress.
Pat's Pick was quite well supported on his first start for a year when making his debut for the Stuart Crawford yard at Ayr early last month.
He was a little unlucky to finish a close-up fourth after being headed two out in that two-mile heat, but the Larne handler steps him up markedly in trip to an extended two miles and six furlongs in the Jumping For Joy With Free Racingtv Maiden Hurdle.
The former Noel Meade inmate has shown in the past he gets this kind of trip and is entitled to come on a lot for his previous run.
At Southwell, Lucky Man has been nothing but consistent and can gain his just reward when upped in class for the six-furlong Watch Racing Free Online At Coral Handicap.
The Richard Spencer-trained three-year-old has been beaten a neck in his last two starts at Newcastle and Lingfield, but carries less weight in this better contest and is well drawn in stall five. Hayley Turner's mount should acquit himself well again.
Rhubarb has twice been in the money on his last two starts, having been dropped 2lb by the handicapper and may finally break her duck in the second division of the six-furlong Read Katie Walsh On Betway Insider Handicap.
She is a mare that can take a keen hold, but that may be beneficial since she is drawn in stall one and is arguably better over six furlongs, which she tackles here.
The five-furlong Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap is the feature race on the card at Chelmsford and Lucky Ava is fancied to gain a fourth career success for Conrad Allen.
She has been dropped 1lb by the assessor following her three-length third to Existent over course and distance and while she will need a career-best to win, the four-year-old appears to have strengthened up and this genuine filly seldom runs a bad race.
SELECTIONS:
CHELMSFORD: 4.55 Bahia Star, 5.30 Split Elevens, 6.00 Zarzyni, 6.30 Lucky Ava, 7.00 Sherdil, 7.30 Bella Colorossa, 8.00 Roby Mill.
KELSO: 1.50 Milvale, 2.20 Fethard Glory, 2.50 En Meme Temps, 3.20 Dubai Days, 3.50 Pat's Pick, 4.20 Elvis Mail.
SOUTHWELL: 1.00 Juan Le Pins, 1.30 Dark Enchantment, 2.00 Sir Gregory, 2.30 Rhubarb, 3.00 Lucky Man, 3.30 Marsh Benham, 4.00 Capricorn Prince, 4.30 Batocchi.
WINCANTON: 1.10 West Approach, 1.40 Ecco, 2.10 Siroco Jo, 2.40 Mansoline, 3.10 Thanksforthehelp, 3.40 FRERE D'ARMES (NAP), 4.10 Didero Vallis, 4.40 Fishcake.
DOUBLE: Frere D'Armes and En Meme Temps.
