ACROSS the water, Rebecca Curtis’ fine start to the season continues. In the last three weeks, she has had six runners in handicaps, and two of them have won. The Romford Pele won a handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot last Friday at an SP of 7/1, and Potters Cross won a good three-mile handicap chase at Chepstow last Saturday, returned at 12/1. It continues to be the case that all her runners in handicaps are worth a second look.

She has also had eight runners in non-handicaps during the same period, and two of them have won. Geordie Des Champs won a novices’ hurdle at Chepstow last Saturday at 5/1, and Definite Outcome won a novices’ chase there on Sunday, also at 5/1, a race in which Curtis also fielded the runner-up in Aurillac.