13:45 - MASTER DEBONAIR (each way)

Second pick - JACAMAR (each way)

The opening contest on Friday is a competitive handicap hurdle over 2m 4f and I’ve landed on two at double-figure prices that I think are overpriced.

The first horse is MASTER DEBONAIR, who has left the Colin Tizzard yard and starts for the first time under Harry Fry.

Make no mistake, this horse is the most talented in the field, but it’s safe to say that things have not have gone his way this season - though that could largely be attributed to the poor form of the Tizzard stable.

The list of horses he’s beaten is impressive: Thyme Hill, Tamaroc Du Mathan, Ribble Valley, Mcfabulous and Time Flies By among others.

If the change of scenery and the drop in handicap mark to 142 – from a career high of 151 – makes a difference, then he could be a major player.

JACAMAR is a course-and-distance winner who won’t mind good to soft ground and I still think he’s well-handicapped.

He’s only six and is still improving, so I expect him to be travelling as well as any horse as they turn for home.

14:20 - BELFAST BANTER (each-way)

Quicker ground seemed to bring out the best in BELFAST BANTER when he sluiced through the field to win the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

This horse has run better than the bare form would suggest on numerous occasions. He is still only six and I think he is still improving, so he could be the ideal type to chase home Dusart, who is the one to beat.

16:05 - HUNTSMAN SON (each-way)

No horse in this field can boast the form that HUNTSMAN SON brings into the Topham Chase.

In the last two years, although he hasn’t seen much racing, he’s beaten Slate House in a competitive race at Newbury and slammed Two For Gold.

Watching the Cheltenham Festival back, I’m confident that he was also one of the most eye-catching horses to run that week. He finished sixth behind The Shunter in the Plate but made good headway from the back and kept on very steadily.

This race looks tailor-made for him and I’d be surprised if he didn’t go very well under Kielan Woods.

17:15 - THISTIMENEXTYEAR (each-way)

There aren’t many more shrewd trainers than Richard Spencer.

He is more than capable of preparing a horse for a big target and I think this race has long been the aim for THISTIMENEXTYEAR, who actually finished second here in 2019.

He hasn’t run for just under two years, but that doesn't worry me much. This horse clearly likes good ground and the fact that they’ve booked Simon Torrens, who is one of the best young jockeys around, tells me that they expect a big run.

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