Sam King returns with one selection on Thursday

With Taunton called off earlier in the week, we're left with Sedgefield and Market Rasen to provide the action on Thursday as the National Hunt season begins to hot up.

All eyes will be on Cheltenham's November meeting from tomorrow but there's a decent wager to be had at Sedgefield today in the shape of Lillistar, who looks decent value in the concluding Thank You And Good Luck Michael Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle (3.40).

Devon Skies holds obvious claims under the penalty following her wide-margin success at the same venue recently, but she might not get her own way out in front and has been priced accordingly.

With that in mind, the in-form and generally consistent Lillistar looks like the way to go. Micky Hammond is no stranger to having winners at this track and this versatile daughter of Zoustar arrives in good heart having followed up an all-weather victory on the level with a solid third-place finish over slightly further at Wetherby last time out.

Placed on all three starts at this venue, the fact that she handles Sedgefield's unique layout has to be positive, while the booking of Brian Hughes once more also adds further interest.

She remains a maiden over hurdles after eight starts but a mark of 83 is clearly within her compass and she looks fair value to break it at around the 4/1 mark.

Lillistar – 1pt Win

Odds – 4/1