By Molly Hunter, Press Association
Archie Watson's Scarlet Moon can eclipse his rivals in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices' Hurdle at Ludlow.
The chestnut son of Sea The Moon is a solid dual-purpose horse who switched to hurdling at the end of the last Flat season and has taken well to the task.
Six runs over hurdles have produced a win, two seconds and two thirds, one of which was in the Listed Scottish Triumph Hurdle at Musselburgh in late January.
He is a highly consistent type who appears to be improving with each run and he can continue to follow that trajectory on his seventh start in the National Hunt sphere.
Ben Pauling's Your Darling has relished a move up to three miles of late and the Weatherbys Racing Bank Handicap Chase could be the ideal opportunity to get the victory his recent form has deserved.
Beaten a neck in a hot heat at Kempton in January, he again hit the frame in the always competitive Swinley Handicap Chase at Ascot last month and sets a clear standard here despite his advancing years.
A return to a sounder surface could help Fergal O'Brien's Jack Hyde return to his best in the Parkinsons Awareness Handicap Hurdle, with the consistent operator getting stuck in the mud in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last time out.
At Wolverhampton Amo Racing and Kevin Philippart de Foy's Sovereign Spell catches the eye in the Make The Move To Midnite Maiden Stakes.
The Invincible Spirit colt ran in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and crossed the line in first place in a Windsor novice last August before later being disqualified.
He has not been seen since finishing third in a competitive nursery last September and therefore returns after a lengthy break, but he is clearly speedy enough and can launch his three-year-old career in good style.
There is also all-weather action at Kempton where the most exciting runner on the card could be Barefoot Beach in the opening Virgin Bet Fillies' Novice Stakes.
Richard Hannon's daughter of Kodi Bear romped to a commanding three-length victory over course and distance on debut and a repeat of that performance would see her take some stopping despite a penalty to give away.
She was sent off 25-1 on debut, but she is sure to be cramped odds this time around.
Another last time out winner to keep onside is George Scott's Newcastle scorer Southern Warrior in the Virgin Bet Interactive Handicap.
The colt kept on well to make a smooth transition to the handicap ranks at Gosforth Park and a 3lb rise could allow further progress to be made here.
One who could follow suit and make a winning handicap bow is Kindly Queen for Ralph Beckett in the concluding Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap.
She has been running well over shorter without getting her head in front but now could be the time to catch her having been allotted an opening mark of 65 upped in distance to a mile and a half.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 3 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
KEMPTON: Race 1: 15.10 Barefoot Beach, Race 2: 15.40 Southern Warrior, Race 3: 16.10 Jazzy
Baby, Race 4: 16.40 Semper Femina, Race 5: 17.10 Straight A, Race 6: 17.40 Archangel Josepi,
Race 7: 18.10 Kindly Queen.
LUDLOW: Race 1: 15.27 SCARLET MOON (NAP), Race 2: 15.57 Moonlightinthepark, Race 3:
16.27 Little Pi, Race 4: 16.57 Your Darling, Race 5: 17.27 Jack Hyde, Race 6: 17.57 Jet Plane.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 18.30 Fircombe Hall, Race 2: 19.00 Sovereign Spell, Race 3: 19.30
Arcturus Flame, Race 4: 20.00 Wind Summer, Race 5: 20.30 Angel Numbers, Race 6: 21.00
Nutcracker, Race 7: 21.30 Sceptic.
ALL TO COME: Scarlet Moon (Ludlow, Race 1) and Sovereign Spell (Wolverhampton, Race 2).
For fields, Race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za