In the pre-Cheltenham furore there are opportunities in novice races such as the 2.00 at Wincanton that would not normally occur. This is a weak race with the front two three all looking opposable. Prince Sabaah does not always find much under pressure, Prince Geeno pulled up on his reappearance and St Killian's Run pulls hard.

There has been money for Ajzal from an in-form stable and he should be better on this sharper course. Beat The System has fair bumper form and has shown enough in his two hurdles runs to suggest that he can go very close. He looks the best option with Ben Ami having stamina question marks.

Four-year-olds have been doing all right in handicap hurdles of late and Daarth (2.30) looks a huge price for one who ran well on his third run over hurdles at Newbury. That was a marked improvement on anything he had seen before and he makes appeal up in trip, although Sashenka will be hard to catch.

Eddie Fremantle

Racing Correspondent

The Observer Newspaper