Warwick and Market Rasen host the racing action in Britain on Sunday and Keith Melrose from the Racing Post provides his best bets of the day.
Farne @ 6/1
1pt win
Volcano @ 9/2
1pt win
First Class Return @ 12/1
1pt win
A few summer horses are coming out of hibernation on Sunday's Warwick card, including La Domaniale in this race, but the ground is unlikely to be there for them yet.
In this instance, the Noel Williams-trained FARNE looks best placed to take advantage under conditions that will suit ideally.
Two of this horse's three best runs have been on testing ground at Warwick. This time last year she was second in a 3m handicap here from a mark of 126, form which makes her the one to beat in this race.
Her starting prices on her two runs this season have suggested that she is working back to full fitness, but she will have few excuses now, particularly returned to what seems to be her ideal conditions.
She looks the standout candidate here, unless Haute Estime bounces back to form unexpectedly or La Domaniale takes better than anticipated to the wintry conditions.
There are a few class-droppers in this marathon 3m5f handicap chase. Two of them, Prime Venture and Hold That Taught, are right at the head of the weights.
Unlike them, VOLCANO, who ran a cracking race in the best race there is over this course and distance, is off a low mark and can ensure that this is no easy pickings for the other used to better races.
Volcano was miles out on the weights when he finished 16 lengths fifth in the Classic Chase here in January. He was in effect 10lb higher in the weights and would have been well in the mix from his proper mark, which he now runs off.
He ran a perfectly decent race at Ludlow last time, when the emphasis was too much on speed for him.
Back over long distances, at his favourite track (four wins from six visits, including the last two renewals of this race), he deserves to be right up with the market principals.
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There are few teachers' pets in 0-105 handicap chases and this race is no exception.
By far the most talented of the runners is FIRST CLASS RETURN, who reached a BHA mark of 117 when going on the rampage in the spring a couple of years ago and is now down to a mark of 97.
Of course, there have been some hard times since then. But it might be fair to say he has never truly disappointed, as his SPs have never really promised a return to that level.
That can be partly attributed to running at the wrong time of year, and his mark has quickly fallen to an attractive one.
It is also worth noting that trainer Olly Murphy has seen fit to book Sean Bowen this time.
Bowen has been on board for about half of Murphy's winners this season, yet this is the first time he has been booked to ride First Class Return.
It could well be that this is the day that he is expected to show some of his old spark, and he is so well treated that even a partial revival could see him home in this lowly handicap.
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