– Blackmore Building Contractors Novices’ Hurdle (Div 2) 2m½f | Class 4 | Good to Soft | 13 runners This is a split-division novice but the second half still revolves around one very solid piece of recent form. Hereford at this trip rewards positive tactics, fluency and fitness, and novices who already know the place…

2m | Class 4 | Good to Soft This is a top-heavy novice where most of the field are learning on the job and a small handful already look a cut above. Hereford places an emphasis on position and clean jumping, and races over this trip often turn into a sprint from the home turn…

2m3½f | Yielding to Soft | 5 runners A tight little Grade 3, but not a gimme. Punchestown at this trip rewards sound jumping, tactical speed, and the ability to hold a position turning in. With just five runners, this could turn tactical quickly — and that often favours class over raw enthusiasm. Predators Gold…

2m½f | Yielding | 4 runners A small field, but not a soft race. This often acts as a pecking-order contest for top novice hurdlers, and with yielding ground at Punchestown, it will reward balance, jumping accuracy and the ability to travel strongly. Sober (FR) sets the standard. Unbeaten over hurdles, a winner on yielding…

2m5½f | Good | Big field This looks a proper Lanzarote: depth everywhere, plenty of recent winners, and very little between the top half of the weights on raw ability. Kempton’s flat track puts the emphasis on travelling, rhythm and position, and the race is usually won by something that’s still improving rather than a…

3m | Good | 6 runners A tight, tactical little handicap where track position, jumping rhythm and stamina at a true three miles will decide it. Kempton rarely turns into a slog, but mistakes are punished quickly and there’s nowhere to hide in a small field. The Doyen Chief is the clear form standard. He’s…

2m1f | Yielding | 12 runners A proper mid-winter Grade 3 with depth, pace and plenty of course form on show. Yielding ground around Fairyhouse over this sharp 2m1f usually rewards accurate jumping and tactical speed rather than out-and-out stamina, and this looks set to be run at a solid clip. Blood Destiny heads the…

A tight but classy six-runner Grade 2 where stamina, jumping under pressure and handling soft ground will decide it. Wade Out sets the standard. Unbeaten over fences (2/2), a Listed winner at Cheltenham, and now rated 145. He’s proven at 3m, handles soft well, goes left-handed, and Olly Murphy/Sean Bowen is a combo that keeps…