1:50 Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m

Scriptwriter is the clear form pick for the Adonis, and he can help Milton Harris gain back-to-back wins in the Grade 2 contest for juveniles.

A winner at this level at Cheltenham in November, he must concede weight to his rivals, but he improved again despite a poor tactical ride when second to Comfort Zone in the Triumph Hurdle Trial (Finesse) at Cheltenham last month, and clearly has the class to do so, albeit against rivals who are open to plenty of improvement.

In the case of Rare Middleton, that improvement promises to be substantial, and Paul Nicholls has won this race five times since 2009. The son of Aclaim only made his flat debut (for Andy Oliver) in September, and his maiden win at Leopardstown the following month entitles him to a rating in the 90s.

He faced weak opposition on his hurdles bow at Taunton, and looked in to need the experience, but still ran out a ready winner.

He is feared as there must be the prospect of a big jolt of progress on the back of that solitary run over timber, but it’s worth mentioning that the selection defied a BHA flat rating of 102 in December, and has the benefit of experience to counter the potential of his main rival.

2:25 Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 110y

Paul Nicholls has an outstanding record in the Pendil, with an astonishing 12 winners since 2006, and he has teamed up with owner Johnny de la Hey to win with Cyrname, Tamaroc Du Mathan and Pic D’Orhy in the last five years alone.

Those stats make Solo of some interest, with that horse also on the roll of honour of the Adonis Hurdle, but while the trainer’s numbers are hugely impressive, that’s less the case with Solo, who gained a huge official rating when winning the Adonis by 13 lengths in 2020, but somehow contrived to lose his next 11 races.

He was back on the mark over fences at Sandown in November having dropped 20lb in the handicap, but has come up short when runner-up in better races on both starts since, and he’s an easy horse to oppose for win purposes.

Preference is for Boothill, who has been a model of consistency since returned to fences this season, and he holds Datsalrightgino on their running at Newton Abbot in October when conceding that rival 3lb in a handicap.

He’s 2lb worse off for a cosy three-parts of a length, and has shown better form when winning a handicap at Ascot and the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase since.

The one thing which could bring the bring the pair together is this trip, with Datsalrightgino improving a little when third to Stage Star over two and a half mile at Cheltenham last time, but I’m of the opinion that Boothill will also relish the extra yardage at this track having run his best race over hurdles over this trip at Uttoxeter last spring.

3:00 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m

Christian Williams is a dangerous man to oppose at this time of year as he showed when winning this race and the Eider Chase a year ago, and I believe he will do the double again.

Cap Du Nord is turned out again just a week after winning the Swinley Chase at Ascot and a penalty for that win is largely irrelevant as he is out of the weights due to the presence of Frodon at the top of the handicap.

Cap Du Nord is 8lb higher in effect than he was last week, but he also has the benefit of Cian Quirke’s 5lb claim and will be carrying less weight than when winning the corresponding event 12 months ago.

The question with the selection is whether he can back up this quickly, but if there’s one thing we know about the Williams chasers it’s that they are tough and durable, tending to hold their form when finding it, and I’d be surprised and disappointed if ‘Cap’ wasn’t able to do himself full justice here.

Frodon could prove a major danger if able to get the better with a potential early battle with Annsam, and that mini-battle could be crucial in shaping the race. He’s not quite the force of old, but won off just 3lb lower at Wincanton in the Badger Ales and this track and trip is perfect for him.

Bryony Frost has got some confidence back in the last couple of weeks, and she will be looking to dictate terms as she did when Frodon landed the King George over course and distance in 2020.

3:40 Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m

The field assembled for the Dovecote does not look vintage, and it’s hard to see past favourite Hansard who beat Master Chewy by two lengths at Plumpton despite conceding 7lb.

That gelding finished over 10 lengths in front of Rubaud in receipt of 6lb in the Betfair Hurdle last time, and while that may be a dangerous formline to trust, it does suggest that Hansard is comfortably the better of the pair.

If anything, I thought that Master Chewy was better than the result at Newbury, and Hansard would be an odds-on favourite if I were pricing this race up from scratch. Ukantango may be the biggest danger with his Tolworth flop easy to explain due to the testing ground, and his previous second to Fennor Cross in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham has since been boosted by a stylish win from Springwell Bay at Ascot last weekend.

That is arguably more solid form than Rubaud’s second to Rare Edition over this course and distance, and I’d be happy to play up a win bet with a reverse forecast with Ukantango here.

3:25 Vertem Eider Handicap Chase 4m 1f 56y

It’s hard to believe how well handicapped Kitty’s Light has become in just a handful of runs since his excellent placed efforts in the Scottish National and the Bet365 Gold Cup last spring. Those races were won by handicap blots in the shape of Win My Wings and Hewick, and there is absolutely no second-guessing required in terms of the value of the form.

Kitty’s Light was rated 145 by the BHA handicapper at Sandown and is now able to run off a mark of 132, which highlights his chance here.

It’s true that the selection has been out of form since the summer, but that is very much in line with his stablemates, with Christian Williams struggling for winners all season until Cap Du Nord’s win at Ascot last weekend.

That is taken as a sign of a general resurgence, and there is no reason to think that Kitty’s Light is regressive at the tender age of seven.

He stays all day as he showed at Ayr last April, and while the ground was soft last weekend after heavy local rain, it is now coming right for him and against main rival The Galloping Bear.

Cap Du Nord 3:00 Kempton – 1pt e/w @ 5/1 (general – 4 places)

Kitty’s Light 3:25 Newcastle – 2pts win @ 11/4 (general)

Hansard/Ukantango 3:40 Kempton – 1pt SFC

Rory’s column last week

selected

winners Cap Du Nord (11/2) and Wakool (6/1).