Ian Ogg has the Sunday and Monday best bets with Dan Skelton fancied to enjoy a good end to the week.
Sunday selections
COUNTRY MILE - 12:51 Uttoxeter (NAP)
COUNTRY MILE split Alnilam and Miami Magic when outpaced in second in last year's renewal and should be able to go one better against this year's two opponents. The experienced O'Moore Park showed his best form for Willie Mullins over further while The Gray Ghost has a mountain to climb on the figures on his chase debut.
Country Mile has yet to deliver on the promise he showed as a novice hurdler and failed to build on his chase debut on his only subsequent start but he hasn't had many opportunities and a repeat of last year's performance should be good enough.
ICE JET - 15:30 Kelso
A good turnout including Tommy's Oscar, who won this in 2023 and has finished third in the last two renewals, and last year's second Traprain Law plus Primoz who went close over C&D on last season's reappearance but spent the second half of the campaign over further.
All represent tough nuts for the progressive pair of Breaking Cover and ICE JET with preference for the latter who represents last year's successful stable. He has been pushed up by 10 lb for his impressive Uttoxeter success but looks to be getting his act together over fences and can continue to climb the ranks.
Monday selections
FRENCH AFFAIR - 18:45 Kempton (NAP)
FRENCH AFFAIR has hit the ground running since joining Jennie Candlish from Richard Hannon. Returned to six furlongs, he won on his stable debut at Glorious Goodwood and followed up at Redcar before pulling too hard over seven at Epsom. There are plenty of positives to take from his fifth in the Bronze Cup at Ayr last time - second in his group - and the return to this track holds no fears as he was a head second to decent yardstick Lion Of Mali on his seasonal return. Connections have fitted headgear for the first time which may help him keep ahead of the handicapper if they have the desired effect.
ROARIN' SUCCESS - 14:51 Stratford
Stellarmasterpiece is unbeaten here while Educator may be able to step up on his earlier form having since recaptured his mojo on the Flat but there should also be more to come from ROARIN' SUCCESS. A dual course winner over the summer, she returned from a short break with an encouraging run at Bangor, keeping on well in the closing stages over two miles. Back up in trip and with the cobwebs blown away, this progressive mare is poised to strike again.
GROUND FORCE - 15:00 Yarmouth
The booking of Rossa Ryan offers optimism ahead of GROUND FORCE's handicap debut as he has five winners from just 11 rides for James Owen this year while the trainer himself is enjoying a decent spell after a relatively quiet September. Ground Force was sent off at very long odds in his qualifying runs, including one at Glorious Goodwood, but all three contests contained runners with pattern race aspirations. His latest start was the most encouraging, staying on into midfield and he should be able to build on that now handicapping of a mark of 60.
GALBA - 16:21 Pontefract
Bought out of Richard Hannon's stable for 25,000 guineas, GALBA has started to repay that faith for his new connections with a neck second over a mile at Sandown and two third placed finishes over seven furlongs. The return to this trip won't prove a problem but getting his head in front has, so far, proved elusive in his eight races and he did hit 1.01 in running at the Esher venue. He may have done too much too soon on that occasion, however, and a more patient ride can see the consistent colt open his account.
ARD AS A ROCK - 17:00 Wolverhampton
ARD AS A ROCK has bags of early pace which he used to good effect on debut at Newbury before tiring. He didn't fare as well at Goodwood next time (same race contested by Ground Force) but did enough to be sent off at odds-on at Beverley, again showing up well before tiring on the stiff finish. His handicap debut at Chepstow was respectable - keeping on after losing his position from the front - and the form looks pretty solid for the grade. Fitted with a first time visor here, Ard As A Rock is well drawn to attack and may be able to fend off all challengers from the front end.
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