14th November

A poor day yesterday as we descend into a run of 3 selections without a winner. Utopian was given an extremely peculiar ride, leading to the trainer's assistant to vent his confusion on Twitter. Dom Lukka underperformed again and I think I'm willing to give him one more chance if he goes over fences, but whilst he remains over hurdles I'll be avoiding him from now on.

Here are today's best selections.

14.00 Bangor

This doesn't look the strongest renewal with plenty of hit and miss horses in the line up but that makes it competitive. Towards the top of the weights Cadoudalas, Sir Du Bearn, Fine Parchment and Quartz De Thaix have been racing in stronger races without making much of a mark, and out of those four the latter is most feared as he ran reasonably well off a mark of 132 at the Festival last season, and is now racing on a mark 2 pounds lower than his last win. Kauto Relko ran well enough last time to suggest he can get involved here, but he's struggled off this mark for a couple of runs now and looks held. Buffalo Bob ran reasonably well on his reappearance and his 7 pound claimer helps matters today, but his trainer says he has place chances at best and I much prefer the look of Monkerty Tunkerty and LIVELY BARON. The former looks potentially well treated on his easy win at Warwick last year where he accounted for multiple subsequent winner Bradley. However this 3 mile trip may just favour the selection more and he is taken to continue his trainer's good record at the track. I especially like the way he rallied towards the end in his last race to get up and win and he was involved for the majority of the 4 miler at Cheltenham so stamina shouldn't be a concern here. 11/2 Paddy Power, Coral

14.30 Bangor

MOIDORE and his connections will have learnt plenty from his debut over hurdles at Aintree and I'd expect him to deliver his challenge earlier this time to ensure he gets the win. He had good flat form prior to that run and I expect him to confirm running with Counsel. Suraj looks set to be the main threat and will prefer today's better ground but I think a much improved run is expected from Moidore and he should justify favouritism. 11/10 several

14.10 Exeter

Alfie Sherrin is undoubtedly a useful prospect, but this looks likely to be an opening run to blow out the cobwebs and get him back into the racing spirit. He is good prospect this season over fences so is overlooked today in preference of a better hurdler. Captain Sunshine showed some good form in parts last season and made a pleasing enough reappearance, but I just prefer FIVE DREAM to finally get his day in the winner's enclosure again. He's not got the best record fresh but he definitely possesses ability in this sphere and his 3 pound claimer helps matters further. Nicholls will be at the track as well today as Big Buck's is having a gallop prior to racing and I'm sure once in the thick of things his trainer would be delighted to see him win. He may go down to the race fit rival, as we've seen plenty of times in recent weeks, but I just fancy Five Dream's class to carry him through. 11/4 Sportingbet

14.40 Exeter

KEPPOLS HILL is taken to further improve the day of the Ditcheat handler, and could even secure a treble in the first three races (Provo odds on race one). He is one of the race fit horses here and should relish the stiff Exeter track. He was unlucky to go down to Makethe Mostofnow last time out, who looks a very good prospect, and will enjoy the fences after an extremely successful point-to-point career. Talkonthestreet will strip fitter for his last run at Cheltenham but it is yet to be seen how he will enjoy fences, and there's been plenty of recent Hobbs/Whateley horses that haven't made the switch so smoothly. Grove Pride may just need the run today but Theatrical Star represents the Tizzard stable who are on fire around Exeter at the moment. He'll enjoy the step back up in trip and represents the main threat. 13/8 Coral

Good luck!

The Horse Whisperer