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Leicester – Wednesday, February 16th

BELLIGERENT – Consistent performer at this level but has only won one of his last sixteen outings and habitually plagued by wind trouble. Doesn’t fully stay 3m so this trip will suit, but rather onepaced at any distance nowadays and always vulnerable in the closing stages. This is a weak race though, and he looks nailed on to finish in the frame at least.

JIMMYS DUKY – Consistent veteran Pointer who goes well for Lucy Bell, but both horse and rider’s limitations have been thoroughly exposed under Rules in the past. Conditions will suit and has a form chance, but has little scope and may need a couple of others to fall over in order to score.

L’HOMME SAUVAGE – Onepaced Pointer who ran close to a personal best when second in a Larkhill Restricted last time, but that form wouldn’t even be good enough in this weak race. A tail-swisher who represents a trainer/jockey combination that had an annus mirabilis in ’09, but this season has been anything but that.

LISADELL KING – Placed on good/soft in Ireland and has since run up a four-timer in Points for the amazing 60+ year old Godfrey Maundrell. Defied a year off to win an Intermediate at Larkhill (completing a first career treble for the rider after 40 years in the saddle) and most certainly has the speed to cope with this drop in trip. Well in on ratings and hard to oppose – the dreaded bounce factor being the main concern.

NEXTHINGWAS – Showed useful form when winning an Irish Point but it has been a complete tale of woe ever since and his two Pointing efforts last season were disastrous. Young enough to still potentially improve, but it looks likely that the damage has already been done.

OSCAR D’ANGRON – Placed numerous times in France and Britain but essentially a disappointing type who doesn’t stay 3m in Points. A return to this trip will suit and although he is a risky proposition he must be respected especially if able to get an uncontested lead. Deteriorating ground would be a negative.

SHRADEN EDITION – Winless for years and thoroughly exposed but still generally consistent even at this level. Trip is on the sharp side for him these days but one of the more reliable ones in this field and should be able to pick up some minor money.

HIHO SILVER LINING – Glimmer of promise in soft ground bumpers/hurdles but a brief chasing career was nothing short of a disaster which totally destroyed her confidence. Suited by a drop to Points last season but the Maiden she won was shocking and her limitations were seemingly exposed in a Cottenham Restricted on her comeback. Surely flying too high here.

Conclusion – An ideal opportunity for Lisadell King but I will leave it up to you to decide whether you want to back a rider in his sixties at odds-on. Belligerent and Shraden Edition should be in the frame, but it wouldn’t be a total surprise if Oscar D’Angron stole it from the front, although he will be running on air at the finish.

Musselburgh – Wednesday February 17^th

BELEM RANGER – Flat track and fast ground specialist who is best over 2m4f or an easy 3m, and his two Hunter Chase wins include a 50/1 success in this very race two years ago. Runs well fresh and has a form chance, but would not want the ground to deteriorate.

BOW SCHOOL – Progressive for the Daresbury/Easterby axis before going off the boil in 2008, then managed to win a couple of chases for Howard Johnson after being sold for a tidy sum (including over this course and distance). Not seen since March and sold to current connections for even more money; has run well fresh in the past and conditions should suit but worrying that his former trainer decided to sell as quickly as he did.

I SEE A STAR – Bought for £48,000 after winning an Irish Maiden and scraped home from a moderate type in a Catterick Hunter Chase before being put away for the season. comeback but jumped left and pulled too hard; this weaker company and shorter trip will suit and he appeals as the type to win more races in this sphere.

SIMONSBERG – Won three of his final four Irish Points by an aggregate of 45 lengths prior to bolting up in a 2m4f Perth Hunter Chase on good ground. Upped to 3m4f for the John Corbet at Stratford and again was tanking along when falling four out. Pulled up on ground that clearly didn’t suit on his comeback, an effort that can be ignored, and on his best form he should well be a class against these rivals. Rider, who is employed by the owner, makes the trip from Sussex to take the mount.

BENNY BOY – Progressive youngster but fractured his pelvis in 2007 and has not been as good since, showing temperament at times to boot. Suited by this trip but has come up short in weaker Hunter Chases than this in the past and his recent Pointing form isn’t good enough.

BRISCOE PLACE – Has won eight races in his time, making all of the running in most of them, but generally outclassed under Rules (42 lengths third to Simonsberg at Perth last season). However, under new tactics his recent defeat of Amicelli at Friars Haugh represents a massive career best and if that form can be taken at face value (runner-up may have needed it) he must have a fine chance at these weights.

RUN FOR MOOR – Dual Irish Pointing winner who looked potentially useful when winning a Chepstow bumper for Nicky Henderson, but disappeared for a year after that effort and ultimately disappointing over hurdles. Looked backward and weakened alarmingly on his comeback in an Alnwick Point; still has potential over fences but one to watch for the time being.

TO THE WIRE – Error prone Maiden Pointer who has little hope here, despite the drop in trip being in his favour.

Conclusion – Simonsberg could well be a cut above these and if not scarred by his heavy ground failure at Down Royal looks the most likely winner. I See A Star still has to prove himself in this company and the biggest danger may come from Briscoe Place, whose defeat of Amicelli last time looks strong form.