The opening race on the card is the Countryside Raceday Maiden Hurdle over 2m4f. STONEY MOUNTAIN looked a horse with a good future after winning two bumpers last season.
He finished in midfield in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and this extra 4f looks extremely likely to suit the Henry Daly trained horse.
Richard Johnson is booked to ride and the five-year-old will take some beating.
Next up it’s the Kay Pinfold 100th Birthday Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle over 3m.
This Class 3 looks at the mercy of six-year-old SETTIMO MILANESE who is looking to complete a hattrick.
Whilst the horse is upped in grade he can handle it based on the manner of his victory last time out when he won eased down by seven lengths. The handicapper seems to have been fair and he can win again.
EXITAS looks the most solid selection in the Rewards4Racing Veterans Handicap Chase. There are some classy horses in the race but this Phil Middleton trained ten-year-old is a consistent sort.
He has not finished out of the first four in his last seven runs including a solid second in this Class on his penultimate start.
Jockey takes off a valuable seven and would be disappointed not to hit the frame once again. Likely to be good value for a top three place with eight runners currently scheduled to run.
The Racing UK Handicap Hurdle can go to the in-form and potentially top-level HAUL AWAY.
The Nicky Henderson trained five-year-old completed a four-timer at Fontwell at the start of the month in what was quite a jump in Grade.
The horse has steadily improved with every start and an Official Rating of 135 does not look too harsh. Can make it a five-timer and add a second Class 2 victory to his CV with Nico de Boinville aboard.
The feature race of the day is the Monet’s Garden Old Roan Limited Handicap. Whilst he has changed yards eight-year-old CLOUDY DREAM can maintain his consistent record and win for Donald McCain and Brian Hughes.
Last seen finishing third in the Ryanair Chase in March whilst trained by Ruth Jefferson, the horse had solid form in the book.
Has finished second in Grade 1 and 2 races at the course and can go won better here in the hands of Brian Hughes.
The penultimate race of the day is the Molson Coors Chase (A Novices’ Limited Handicap).
Six-year-old DROVERS LAND is in fine form and the horse can win for the fourth time in five runs for Ruth Jefferson.
The horses last win was a nine-length victory in this grade and although his Official Rating has jumped from 127 to 135 we see no reason why the horse cannot defy top-weight before eyeing up some Graded races in the near future.
The final race of the day is the EBF British Stallion Studs Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (EBF Mares’ NHF Series).
The market will be crucial but Henry Daly looks to have a capable runner in the shape of TEME SPIRIT. On debut back in May the horse finished second of fourteen runners to a stablemate. She was 40/ 1 that day and may well have won if the race had been 50 yards further.
That experience will have done the Filly the world of good and she can beat some well-bred unexposed horses in the last.
