Ranch Hand can provide a winning ride as crowds return

It is a big day for racing today as limited crowds return to racecourses, and there is plenty for spectators to get their teeth into across all four British meetings.

Haydock probably provides the pick of the action, with the promising Ranch Hand lining up in the Listen To Weighed-in On Betfair 'Introductory' Hurdle following a debut win over obstacles earlier this month.

Andrew Balding's runner finished the Flat season on a mark of 106, rounding off with a fine Listed victor y at Newmarket in September before connections took the hurdling route.

The four-year-old was duly sent off an odds-on favourite on his first try over hurdles at Exeter, setting out to make all and wandering around a bit at the beginning before knuckling down when it mattered to win by half a length.

While it was not the demolition job some might have hoped for, Ranch Hand did enough to win and will surely be wiser for the experience as he takes on a couple of similarly promising individuals.

At the other end of the scale, See you at midnight is in the twilight of his career, but he can show the fire still burns bright in what is a cracking My Odds Boost On Betfair Veterans' Handicap Chase.

Whisper, Burtons Well and The Dutch man all feature in this extended three -mile - one -furlong contest, but it is 12-year-old See you at midnight who gets the vote on his seasonal bow.

Sandy Thomson's charge has some smart form in the book - not least when third in the 2016 Scottish National - and he was last seen landing a similar event to this at Carlisle back in March, just days before racing's Covid-19 shutdown.

He does not have many miles on the clock for a horse of his age-and while his fitness must be taken on trust, he has a touch of class.

Doc Penfro ran into a possible Festival contender in The Big Breakaway on his fencing bow and is a likely type in the the Back And Lay On The Betfair Exchange Novices' Chase.

He had some useful staying hurdle form before lining up at Cheltenham in mid-november, when he jumped well in the main but lacked that extra bit of class to get on terms with The Big Breakaway, who won by 10 lengths.

Doc Penfro lost a shoe that day, which probably did not help his cause, and his rider was certainly not all out when his chance had gone.

Make It Rain can maintain her unbeaten record on artificial surfaces in the B et way Handicap at Lingfield.