At Plumpton this afternoon in the opener at 2.30 Know The Law and First Avenue seem to have the race between them with preference for the last named on this better ground. However, Long Distance will make these two pull out all the stops. I sat on him last week and popped him over a dozen hurdles where he gave me the impression he had come on for his latest run when collared close home by favourite Rockiteer at Huntingdon three weeks ago. I will be surprised if he is not there or thereabouts at the finish this afternoon.

In the 4.50 it may be worth taking on the favourite Pepito Collonges as he was given an easy lead when allowed to go clear of his field at Fontwell last time out while previously he had shown very moderate form. If the jockeys today are more on their toes he will not get away with those tactics again and looks there to be beaten and Burgess Hill could be the one to take advantage for the in-form Tim Vaughn stable. As a course and distance winner back in September and having been placed in his last two outings he has his best chance for a while to win again under his very good young pilot.

At Kempton we have plenty of small fields and odds on favourites you would not want to oppose however I like the chances of Tarotino in the 3.15. Only the four runners but three with chances and this gelding from the Alan King yard just gets the vote. He chased home the well regarded Tartak on his chase debut before two under par performances on soft ground but he bounced back to form last time on faster going when romping home over today’s trip at Doncaster and, with the ground seeming to be the key to this fella, he looks sure to run a big race.