Lucky Deal can defy top weight in the Weatherbys General Stud Book Handicap at Chelmsford.
Mark Johnston's stayer has won his last two, most recently a valuable event at this track last month.
That day he showed a really willing, typical Johnston-type attitude to hold off two stablemates, Elegiac and Making Miracles, defying a mark of 89 in the process.
Because he only just scrambled home, the handicapper could not overreact, and he only carries 2lb more this time - so there is every chance he can bring up the hat-trick.
He appears to have thrived for the step up in trip and a break after a hectic midsummer - and this race is nowhere near as competitive as his previous win.
John Gosden has been running some very promising youngsters in recent weeks, and Star Catcher could be another in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.
In the famous Anthony Oppenheimer colours, this Sea The Stars youngster is a half-sister to the classy Cannock Chase, who did so well for Sir Michael Stoute.
Intriguingly Gosden saddles another newcomer, Baltic Song - another by Sea The Stars and closely related to a Group One winner - but Robert Havlin takes the ride on Star Catcher, which looks a significant pointer.
If Ballistic takes to the Fibresand he should be the one to beat in the Ladbrokes Nursery Handicap at Southwell.
Robert Cowell's juvenile showed up well when last seen at Goodwood in the summer - form which looks good in terms of this event.
He flew home that day behind Don Armado to take third, and if he is fit enough after over 100 days off he should be thereabouts.
Lucinda Russell has been painstaking in identifying the right race for Highland Hunter, so it is therefore a tip straight from the trainer that she has finally chosen Hexham's Annual Membership Perfect Christmas Gift Novices' Hurdle.
Highland Hunter must concede a 6lb penalty to six of his seven rivals, but the manner of his winning return in a maiden hurdle at Ayr last month suggests he should be well up to it.
The five-year-old grey also has an Irish point-to-point win and a hard-earned bumper success on his burgeoning CV so far, and has so far come up short just once - at long odds in a Grade Two at Aintree's Grand National meeting.
He should be well up to this.
Air Navigator was a narrow winner on his fencing debut last month, and can strike again in the Steve Hoskin Construction Handicap Chase at Exeter.
Tom George often sends some of his most promising horses to this galloping track, and Air Navigator - who had some fine bumper form last season before finding his level over hurdles - has already proved he is improving again after being sent chasing.
Sporting Life Tips
CHELMSFORD: 5.30 Plucky Dip, 6.00 Tajawoz, 6.30 Just Later, 7.00 Star Catcher, 7.30 Elenora Delight, 8.00 LUCKY DEAL (NAP), 8.30 King Robert, 9.00 Compton Prince.
EXETER: 12.40 Evidence De Thaix, 1.10 Shalakar, 1.40 Air Navigator, 2.10 Kalahari Queen, 2.40 Colmers Hill, 3.10 Flinck, 3.40 Spirit Of Rome.
HEXHAM: 12.30 Glittering Love, 1.00 Highland Hunter, 1.30 Bulkov, 2.00 Achill Road Boy, 2.30 Late Date, 3.00 Mountain Hawk.
SOUTHWELL: 11.50 God Willing, 12.20 Boots And Spurs, 12.50 Jennies Gem, 1.20 Favori Royal, 1.50 Ballistic, 2.20 Nevada, 2.50 Carlovian, 3.20 Mr Strutter.
DOUBLE: Lucky Deal and Star Catcher
