Hombre to steal the show

With Hexham abandoned due to the wet spell that has gripped Britain, Ludlow provides the only jumping action.

And it is Micky Hammond’s Hombre who can take the glory in the day’s Showcase event, the Annual Members Chase.

The eight-year-old turned in a very promising performance last time in his first race since returning to Hammond.

Hombre sluiced up an easy 17-length winner from Hitchhiker in a two mile, five furlong chase at Sedgefield that day and although some would say he was lucky in that the market leaders came to grief, it was a fair run.

Hombre looks to be a horse who is still improving and he can score a second win on the bounce here.

At Wolverhampton, Notanother can overcome an absence of 160 days to take the Littlewoods Bet Direct Maiden Stakes.

Jamie Osborne’s filly has not been seen since making her racecourse debut at Nottingham last July but that run was pleasing none the less.

The daughter of Inchinor was doing all her best work at the finish and looked in desperate need of a longer trip than the six furlongs she was tackling.

Osborne steps her up in distance here and the seven-furlong trip can provide a nice stepping stone to a successful all-weather campaign.

Sir Northerndancer has been in fine heart this winter for trainer Brian Ellison and he can continue his good run in the Bet Direct On 0800 32 93 93 Handicap.

The four-year-old has not been out of the first three in as many outings over this course and distance.

Sir Northerndancer is always there or thereabouts as he proved last time when just two lengths behind Warden Warren last month.

He has had a couple of weeks off since then and the break may have freshened him up for this event.