Diary: October 8 2016

Chepstow

2.05 Casper King has claims here but he has always found one too good so far so I will go with Capeland for Paul Nichols. Capeland won a liste bumper at Cheltenham in January and seems well thought of by the stable.

3.15 Clan Des Obeaux was 6th in the Triumph Hurdle last season but has always been regarded as a chaser in the making. Our Kaempfer is another with fair hurdling form but the scope to do even better over the larger obstacles. I think that the benefit of a run already over fences may give Flying Angel an edge and he gets my vote.

3.50 Diego Du Charmil looks potentially well in at the weights.

4.25 My two against the field are Who Dares Wins and Ballyoptic. Slight preference is for the latter.

5.35 Thegreendalerocket could go well at a fair price.

Diary: October 6 2016

Hereford

2.00 Rather Be is the obvious one here and boring though it might be I am going to burden him with my selection. The other two of interest are the Irish point to Point winners Bach de Clermont and Daklondyke. The latter may need further and a little more juice in the ground. Bach de Clermont was an impressive winner of his point to point and looks the main danger to the favourite.

3.05 Emerging Force looks an ideal chasing type and je can open his account for the season here.

3.40 Octagon is probably better than his form figures suggest and he returns to the minimum trip for the first time since winning over 2 miles at Hexham last May.

5.20 I will take a chance with points winner One Forty Seven here although the trip could be a slight worry.