jodonovan

The Simon Hodgson-trained four-year-old Clearpoint made an encouraging return to the turf at Epsom last time out, and I expect improvement. Clearpoint finished fourth of 12 that day, and although he did not get the best of passages, he came home strong and should come on for that effort. He was dropped a lb and is still running off a workable mark and William Carver's three lb claim will certainly help his chances. The last ten winners of this race have all been drawn between one and four, so Clearpoint's draw in stall three gives him a big opportunity at this tight track.

Emma Lavelle's mare Mistral Milly found only a progressive rival too strong on her handicap bow at Hereford last month, and she looks capable of better. Today could be her day.

Andrew Balding is enjoying an excellent start to the season this year and can take this year's renewal of the Group Three Ormonde Stakes with Alsakib who finished half a length ahead of Arrest in the John Porter at Newbury on his seasonal debut last month. I think he can confirm those placings when the pair meet this afternoon.

Ian Williams has made a good start to the season and Dream Harder can give him another winner here in this wide-open handicap. This will be his first turf start of the season, and he gets in here off a mark of 88 which is just three lbs higher than his last winning mark. That win came here off the marginally further distance of a mile and three furlongs 300 days ago.

After making an impressive handicap debut at Wetherby over a mile and three quarters last month when only going down by a neck Tim Easterby's Filibustering drops back to a mile and a half here. Even with a shorter distance this time, I think will'll put in a strong performance and is a good e.w bet.