Hereford, Fakenham and Kempton

Nicky Henderson continues to enjoy a fine run, especially with his hurdlers, and can score an across-the-card double today with Cucumber Run (Tony McCoy) at 14.35 CET at Hereford and Line Freedom (Andrew Tinkler) 20 minutes later at Fakenham. At Hereford, we also expect Evan Williams to land a double with Williams Wishes (Paul Moloney) in the novice chase at 15.35 and Enlightenment (David Bass), top-weight in the handicap hurdle at 17.05; R de Rien Sivola (Paul Nicholls/ Harry Skelton) is a possible danger in the latter event, but has not run for 16 months, while Williams Wishes, who has won 4 of his last 5 races, appears to have only the unreliable Babysitter (Jonjo O´Neill/ McCoy) to beat.

Mainly very modest fare at Fakenham, and ex-German Agapanthus (Barney Curley/ Denis O´Regan) could finally score over hurdles after 3 very poor runs in the novice hurdle at 15.25; however All for Free (Milton Harris/ Warren Marston), an easy CD winner last time, is probably the more logical selection. Enfant du Lune (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) has not won for almost 2 years, and never over fences, but can still beat a poor field in the handicap chase at 16.55, while the much-improved Ray Mond (Neil King/ Alex Merriam) , who has won 6 of his last 7 races, including this CD last time, can keep up the good work at 15.55. Noun de la Thinte is the danger.

On the all-weather at Kempton, there are only 5 runners in the 1 1/2 miles handicap at 17.15, but it still looks tricky. We have a slight preference for top-weight Hatton Flight (Andrew Balding/ David Probert), who has not won for ages bu has usually been running against stronger opposition. Once a small stable hits form, it is often worth folowing their runners blind, and so we tip German-bred Escardo (David Bridgwater/ William Carson) in the 10 furlongs handicap at 15.15; the trainer won races at two tracks yesterday, and Escardo, although 0/19 in Britain, won 4 races earlier in Germany and should be capable of scoring off a very low rating today.