Spade can hurdle to success at Brampton
Samuel Spade could dig punters out of a hole when he lines up in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon.
Ben Pauling's four-yearold was a handy operator on the Flat when trained by David O'Meara and has taken to the challenge of hurdles expertly since switching North Yorkshire for Pauling's Cotswolds base.
He beat some useful opposition in what is traditionally a strong introductory hurdle at Kempton over the Christmas period and then fared best behind Gary Moore's Adonis-bound Perseus Way when second in a competitive running of the Chatteris Fen over course and distance last month.
His age sees him receiving weight from all but one of his rivals here and he could prove extremely tough to beat in a race which should tee him up nicely for a tilt at the Boodles Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival.
Jonjo O'Neill's Blue Shark will look to keep his winning run going in the Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old has won four in a row over hurdles since November and shows no signs of stopping judged on his most recent success at Wetherby.
He has gone up 6lb for that and, now rated 24lb higher than when starting his winning run, there is a chance the handicapper is catching up. But there looks far from a 'good thing' among the opposition and he is the obvious form pick in the contest.
The Racing TV Handicap Chase appears a competitive heat, but it could be worth siding with Rooster Cogburn, who relished the return to good ground when a clearcut winner at Hereford earlier this month.
That was a real turnaround in his fortunes and he has to prove he can string two performances together, but granted similar conditions he could cut a bold sight from the front once again.
Trac is racing off a careerhigh chasing figure in Sedgefield's Vickers.Bet Proudly Supporting British Racing Novices' Handicap Chase, but M icky Ham mon d' s charge has been a consistent operator in the north this season and might yet to have reached his ceiling.
He justified favouritism in comfortable fashion at Catterick last time and can strike again while the iron is hot.
There could also be plenty to cheer for Milton Harris in the north east when Mullinaree makes his second appearance in a handicap in the BBC Make a difference awards Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
Upped in trip for his handicap bow at Huntingdon last month the seven-year-old caught the eye when second, beaten less than two lengths.
He is just 4lb here and should have plenty more to offer at this distance.