Wednesday's jumps action comes from Ludlow and Doncaster and Keith Melrose from the Racing Post has three bets across the two cards.

1.50 Doncaster

Barton Knoll @ 3/1

1pt win

3.00 Doncaster

Fidux @ 9/2

1pt win

3.45 Ludlow

Head To The Stars @ 9/2

1pt win

Knoll to roll home

An affinity for the track links a couple of today's bets. Barton Knoll is 3-5 at Doncaster, with the two handicap wins coming from higher marks than the 123 he runs off on Wednesday.

Barton Knoll is getting on a bit now, but he is a horse that we have got to know well and there are a couple of factors which have long been key to getting the best out of him.

The first is flat, galloping tracks which explains his record at Doncaster. He suits decent ground, too, and this track has a record for serving up good ground more often than a lot of the other top jumps tracks.

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Barton Knoll also tends to go well when relatively fresh, as he seems to have had his issues and has been known to finish tamely under pressure. Plenty of similar types go well after a break, just like he does.

As a result, an 89-day break since he was last seen is of no concern. He was last of five that day, but not beaten far and he would not need to improve much on that effort to be a danger in this lesser race.

King to reign at Doncaster

Fidux is another who thrives away from the mud and ought to be suited by Wednesday's conditions at Doncaster.

He dips into veterans' company for this first time here, which is notable as it is not at all long ago that he was competitive in top handicaps. In fact, he was placed in last year's Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Fidux barely gets home over 4m and is much more comfortable around 3m or even shorter. He is also used to much more competitive races than this. The last time he dropped below Class 2 company he won from a much higher mark than he races off on Wednesday.

While this is a Class 2, it is age-restricted as a veterans' handicap and as such it represents a drop in class. Fidux is coming to his time of year and ought to go close.

Daly charge can star on Ludlow card

The 3.45 at Ludlow is a long-standing handicap for amateur riders and it is a surprise to note that Head To The Stars has not won it already. He has run 10 times at Ludlow, winning three times and he would have gone mighty close to making that four on his last run but for a blunder at the last.

That race, won by another course specialist Tide Times, was somewhat stronger than this one and now Head To The Stars runs off the same mark, with the added help of Alice Stevens' 3lb claim.

Stevens is good value among fellow amateur riders and Head To The Stars has gone well for less experienced riders in the past. He can take advantage of a drop in class to atone for his defeat last time.