Sam King returns with two selections on Wednesday.
Hexham has succumbed to the snowy conditions up by the Scottish border but there is still some decent jumping action at Ffos Las and Warwick in the UK this afternoon.
The best wager from this afternoon's racing comes at Warwick, where I'm hopeful that Oh My Johnny can return to action with a bang in the pricedup.bet Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (1.25).
Form figures of 1717 don't really inspire total confidence but he's had excuses when well-beaten and could prove a class act in this field. Trained by Philip Hobbs & Johnson White and ridden by Callum Pritchard, who both teamed up to land this exact prize twelve months ago with Solar System, Oh My Johnny showed a clear liking for ease underfoot when getting off the mark at Uttoxeter last season.
He was subsequently disappointing when sent off the 11/8 market leader on his handicap debut at Haydock, but I'm happy to put a line through that outing and he duly returned to winning ways with a rallying success over the now 130-rated Reallyntruthfully at Hereford next time out.
Again, he went on to disappoint at Newbury next time out, but conditions might have been on the quick side for him that afternoon and he wasn't the only useful horse to run poorly that day, with last weekend's Greatwood Hurdle winner Alexei finishing one spot further back in eighth.
I'm not surprised to see connections take their time with him over the summer as I'm fairly certain that a mark of 120 is more than workable, while soft ground over two and a half miles ought to be right up his street in handicap hurdles this season.
This afternoon's task represents a drop in grade and with the softening conditions to suit, there's no reason as why he shouldn't be going close off top weight for a yard that have been among the winners in recent weeks.
Oh My Johnny – 2pt Win
Odds – 3/1
There's an excellent nine-race card at Kempton this evening, featuring the Try Unibet's New Improved Acca Boosts Handicap (5.40) over a mile.
You'd be hard-pressed to rule many of the ten out but First Principal beat both Two Tempting and Dividend when the trio met at Southwell nineteen days ago and that may be the key form-line to concentrate on.
The booking of Harry Burns means that the progressive First Principal races off effectively the same mark here, but he and Two Tempting, who also boasts the record of two from nine over tonight's course and distance, were both well-positioned at Southwell. The same can't be said for Dividend, who settled off the pace in a slowly run race before being forced to switch to the near side rail to make his effort in the closing stages.
Unfortunately, stall nine would indicate similar waiting tactics are going to be forced to be deployed this evening but the likes of Dark Tornado and Invited, who are both drawn one and two, might ensure this is run at a stronger gallop than the Southwell race a few weeks ago.
Add in the fact he's one from one over track and trip and that Elizabeth Gale has been touted to claim a valuable 5lb, then the 11/2 on offer looks more than fair from an each-way angle with a number of firms paying four places.
Dividend – 1pt Each-way
Odds – 11/2
