By Nick Robson, Press Association
They Want Me can boost his burgeoning hurdling career in the opening Johnston Smillie Novices' Hurdle at Kelso.
The Donald McCain-trained gelding will be making only his third start over obstacles, yet he has already taken on a smart type in Idaho Sun on debut.
He may have finished 11 lengths behind the Supreme Novices' Hurdle contender at Bangor in November, but They Want Me was 20 lengths ahead of third to show he is more than capable of winning races.
The six-year-old duly got his nose in front last time out over course and distance, and that experience should be invaluable here.
Milcree aims to build on the promising start to his novice chasing career in the Every Horse, Every Race, At timeform.com Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
Nicky Richards' charge is lightly raced for an eight-year-old and made his return after 622 days on the sidelines at Ayr last month.
It proved fruitful as he ran out a four-and-a-quarter-length victor on his chase debut and despite an 8lb rise, Milcree should improve for that run.
McCain's Maximilian has looked a tricky conveyance in small-field novice chases, but he might find things a bit easier in the Racing's Best Ratings With Timeform Handicap Chase.
Injuries have prevented the 10-year-old from having the career which looked likely when he won the 2023 River Don, but he is still quite useful.
What he did not like was being asked to make the running in a two-horse race against Wendigo, yet in a bigger field he should be able to lob away. Juby Ball is surely better than an opening handicap mark of 129.
Evan Williams will be delighted his seven-year-old has stood up to more racing this season and he gets to run again in the Text Fitzdares On 07492 882213 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Chepstow, his fourth run of the campaign.
As previously he had only managed two in a season that is a big improvement and while he was brushed aside by Stencil last time out, he was conceding plenty of weight.
The incessant rain might not have pleased many but Juby Ball goes through the deep ground well and prior to his most recent run, the only horse to have beaten him when he stood up was Grade One winner Sixmilebridge.
Nicky Henderson has a very impressive strike-rate at Fakenham with it standing at 36 per cent so everything he sends is worth consideration.
Ionian is his representative in the British EBF ``National Hunt'' Novices' Hurdle and he looks to be dropping in class.
The five-year-old has yet to taste victory on his two hurdles starts, but came up against promising type Klub De Reve on debut and finished as runner-up last time out so could progress further.
On the all-weather at Wolverhampton, George Boughey will be disappointed if Artanis is beaten in the Always Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Fillies' Novice Stakes.
Second and third in her two outings on turf, she looks well up to winning a race of this nature.
Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.
FAKENHAM: Race 1: 15.20 Risk It All, Race 2: 15.50 Brother Boris, Race 3: 16.20 Ionian, Race 4:
16.50 Belle Montrose, Race 5: 17.25 Stattler, Race 6: 18.00 Apieceovfortune, Race 7: 18.35
Beau Speed.
KELSO: Race 1: 15.30 THEY WANT ME (NAP), Race 2: 16.00 Judicial Deference, Race 3: 16.30
Chase A Fortune, Race 4: 17.00 Maximilian, Race 5: 17.35 Milcree, Race 6: 18.10 Wal Buck's,
Race 7: 18.45 Lion Rose Sivola.
CHEPSTOW: Race 1: 15.40 Bossman Jack, Race 2: 16.10 Aqua Bleu, Race 3: 16.40 Juby Ball, Race
4: 17.10 Princess Keri, Race 5: 17.45 No Tackle, Race 6: 18.20 Inion Tiogair, Race 7: 18.55 Delta
Blues Belle.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 19.15 R P McMurphy, Race 2: 19.45 Captain Pickles, Race 3: 20.15
Artanis, Race 4: 20.45 City Cyclone, Race 5: 21.15 Al Najashi, Race 6: 21.45 El Bufalo, Race 7:
22.15 Kipp Kelly.
ALL TO COME: They Want Me (Kelso, Race 1) and Juby Ball (Chepstow, Race 3).
For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za