Catterick and Fontwell stage jumps action in Britain on Wednesday and Keith Melrose from the Racing Post provides his best bets on the card.
2.50 Catterick
Upagainstit @ 4/1
1pt win
1.40 Fontwell
Garincha @ 1/1
1pt win
3.40 Fontwell
Across The Line @ 10/1
1pt win
McCain's rivals are up against it
All but two in the novices' handicap chase at Catterick (2.50) have BHA marks of 91 and below, denoting them to be decidedly low-class horses.
The exceptions are expected to dominate this race and, while Moonlight Glory brings an obviously in-form profile, the bet at current prices could well be chasing debutant Upagainstit.
This horse achieved a modest amount in hurdles races and ran poorly on his handicap debut last time, but he was never meant to be a hurdler. He was second in an Irish point-to-point before coming to Donald McCain's yard and is bred to make a better chaser than hurdler.
The horse that beat him at that point could run at the Cheltenham Festival next week, so Upagainstit has clear and obvious promise for the switch to fences and can master his only serious rival at the first attempt.
Garincha can score at Fontwell
The amateur jockeys get a chance in Fontwell's opener and many of the riders will be familiar to those who follow these sorts of races. Tommie O'Brien is a well-known top operator in amateur riders' races and his mount, Garincha, looks to be punching down here.
Last time, Garincha was sent off favourite for a Class 3 event at Haydock. He fell too far out to tell if he might have featured that day, but he was unquestionably running against better horses than he faces here. He had rivals rated in the 130s that day, but nothing he faces here is rated higher than 110.
The form of Garincha's win at Bangor in November stands out a mile in this company this season and he is only rated 2lb higher now. He is unexposed over fences generally, too, having run just three times in this code. If he stays upright this time, it is hard to see him being beaten.
It looks rosy for Hosie
Stormy Flight was a comfortable winner at Taunton in late-February and will take his chance up in grade on Thursday.
The horse that shaped second best for much of the way that day, Across The Line, has gone the other way in terms of race class and, just as importantly, has dropped in trip. Both are wise moves that could help him get his head in front.
The Syd Hosie-trained Across The Line was sent off a big price against Stormy Flight but travelled well for much of the 2m7f trip and only faded out of second late on. The vast majority of his form is over significantly shorter trips and so it is noted that he is back at 2m2f today.
On top of that, there is nothing remotely as progressive as Stormy Flight in the field, although admittedly there are a few potential improvers that have snuck in off low marks. Even so, early prices suggest that Across The Line is being seriously underestimated and he rates a good bet.
