Aland Islands can maintain unbeaten record

Aland Islands should be followed at Catterick today as he puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Watt Fences Novices’ Hurdle.

A five-length bumper winner last spring, Tim Vaughan’s gelding made the perfect start to his career over obstacles when striking at Hexham in November.

The form is nothing to write home about, but the six-year-old did it well enough and should be good enough to defy a penalty in a fairly ordinary heat.

Stopped Out has run some decent races over fences so far this season and would be not winning out of turn if he claims the Dine And View At Catterick Races Beginners’ Chase.

Kate Walton’s grey has filled the runner-up spot on four or his five starts since tackling the larger obstacles, chasing home smart sorts like Notus De La Tour and most recently, Bold Sir Brian.

There does not seem to be a horse of that class in opposition in North Yorkshire and he is strongly fancied to find the target.

Tuskar Rock gets the vote in the Squire Osbaldeston Handicap Chase at Leicester.

The nine-year-old was enjoying a decent time of things this time last year, winning handicap chases at Lingfield and Kempton.

He showed a good attitude to win on both occasions and although he has not been seen in competitive action since last March, Venetia Williams is well capable of readying one after an absence.

Richard Hannon has hardly set the world alight this winter, but Traveller’s Tales looks a likely winner for the team at Lingfield.

While Traveller’s Tales was not one of his juvenile stars, she could be just the type to augment Hannon’s statistics in the Play Golf At Marriott Lingfield Maiden Stakes.

The form of her debut fourth at Newmarket could hardly have worked out better, with the first two Godolphin-owned fillies, Discourse and Gamilati, both going on to strike at a much higher level.

Traveller’s Tales did not quite progress as expected in three subsequent starts, but did bounce back to run with some promise in maidens at Kempton and Salisbury before disappointing on her handicap debut at Yarmouth in October.

The Absent Mare has already proved herself a force over staying trips and that should stand her in good stead in the lingfieldpark.co.uk Handicap.