Now that he has rediscovered the winning touch, Tom Brodie is napped to capitalise on a lenient mark in the Rieke Hettrick's Wedding Handicap Chase at Kelso today.
A useful hurdler, Tom Brodie was slightly disappointing in his first couple of outings over fences, looking hesitant at the obstacles and letting favourite-backers down.
But he came up against some horses that have proven to be fair sorts and he is handicapped favourably here on the balance of his hurdles form.
A two-length victory from Arctic Sandy last time out was a good effort and a repeat performance here should be good enough to beat his four rivals, the pick of whom may be Political Tower.
Buckboard Bounce put up a splendid effort in last year's Martell Grand National, keeping on well to finish fourth of 17 finishers beaten around 29 lengths behind Lord Gyllene after jumping soundly throughout.
The Gordon Richards-trained 12-year-old once again has the National on his agenda and can receive a confidence-booster with victory in the Alba Country Foods Hunters' Chase.
The £6,000-added Glassedin Scottish Juvenile Novices' Hurdle looks set to lie between the unbeaten pair, Robbo and Deep Water, with preference falling to the latter.
Despite scoring on both of his outings over hurdles, Robbo, formerly a fair stayer on the Flat has looked a less than convincing jumper, showing a marked tendency to hang left in both his successes.
In contrast, Deep Water jumped with impressive fluency on his hurdles debut over course and distance last month.
Micky Hammond's charge led home a one-two for the stable with fellow Middleham inmate J J Baboo five lengths back in second.
Bought at the sales for 20,000 guineas, the son of Diesis can recoup a further chunk of his purchase price with victory here.
Stan Mellor's yard is in good form and the Swindon trainer can strike again with Storm Tiger in the Levy Board Handicap Hurdle at Towcester.
The seven-year-old is at the top of his form having slammed Bend Sable by six lengths at Windsor and he should not be missed today. Lord Huntingdon does not have many runners on the all-weather tracks but those he does run on the surface should never be ignored and Prince Of India looks a good bet in the Forsythia Conditions Stakes.
Formerly a very useful performer, the six-year-old looked to be on the downgrade last year, running poorly in three of his four outings, but this is a considerable step down in class and Prince Of India has shown form in the past on an all-weather surface.
Caerleon, the winner of the 1983 French Derby and the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York for Vincent O'Brien, has died at Coolmore Stud after a heart attack.
The winner of both of his starts as a juvenile, Caerleon was also runner-up in the Irish Derby to Shareef Dancer.
Twice champion sire, his outstanding son was Generous, the winner of both the Epsom and Irish Derbys, as well as the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
