DOUBLE MEANING is a dual all-weather winner, who has run a couple of fine turf runs in stronger staying races at Ascot and Newmarket. The John Berry-trained four-year-old made an encouraging reappearance third, and he should strip fitter here — the extra journey is also anticipated to help. Tom Marquand is an eyecatching jockey booking, with the leading rider only having two rides for this stable in the previous five years, which resulted in a winner and a fourth-placing.

I would he disappointed if TELLHERTHENAME wasn’t able to kick-on from his confidence-building success at Cartmel three weeks ago. The Malinas gelding only defeated one rival there, but he jumped accurately from the front. This will only be the son of Malinas’ third chase start, so he has obvious scope for improvement — especially as a previously classy hurdler, who ran in graded company. 

HIGH DEGREE is one the leading players in this fascinatingly-competitive 1m handicap. The William Haggas yard arrives in scintillating form (28% strike-rate, prior to today), which certainly boosts confidence here. My selection returned to action with an excellent runner-up position at Newbury. He just couldn’t reel-in a classy top-weighted rival on that occasion, but can hopefully take another step forward, second-time-out. 

FORTIFICATION has shown glimmers of promise for Archie Watson, prior to a stable switch. The Mehmas gelding was still a surprising winner of a course handicap over 5f for this new yard, last month (40/1). He built on that cracking win, with a good fourth back at this venue, which came from a 5lb higher mark and in a stronger handicap. He was staying on strongly at the finish that day, indicating that this rise to 6f may prove to be a wise move. I was a touch surprised that his handicap mark of 85 was untouched, too. Let’s hope he can deliver a late run to finish in the placings!

POINT OF CONTACT ought to be one of the standout runners, for this handicap over 1m1f. For some, he may appear to be a short enough price at surface-level, but he has pieces of form which entitle him to land this comfortably. The facts are: he his hails from a powerful stable; he drops significantly in grade, following a solid sixth at this track; and the son of Blue Point was also leniently dropped 2lb in the weights last time. I’m confident of a winning run, over a distance expected to suit. 

Look out for a strong performance from WINGED MESSENGER, if able to build on a pleasing reappearance fourth at Redcar. The Julie Comacho-trained five-year-old won the Ayr Bronze Cup last season, from a 4lb higher mark. The son of Postponed wouldn’t need to be displaying that kind of ability, here today, to land this easier prize, despite racing from a career-high handicap mark. Jockey, Tom Kiely-Marshall has ridden three winners in the past fortnight.