2.20pm Ffos Las Tips & Betting Preview 21/12/2016

Just the five go to post for the feature event at Ffos Las today with the winner scooping a first prize of £5,198. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Cape Caster ran a nice race in third on his last start for Evan Williams after a three month break and he is entitled to improve again here. He was a bit of an iffy jumper at Newton Abbot last time out however and a chance is taken on ROCK ON ROCKY to live up to his useful hurdles form in this sphere. His first run over fences was encouraging and he can continue his improvement to edge out the Evan Williams runner in which all of the other horses have questions to answer at present.

1 Walden Prince – Landed a hat-trick of wins last Summer on better ground when trained by David Bridgwater and one win at Huntingdon (Good/Firm) since. Bought for £6,000 earlier this month after fair runs this year and down in grade for his stable debut today. Only 1lb higher in this than for his last win, but last few runs on ground this soft are off putting for win purposes and can be overlooked for now with a tongue tie and cheekpieces back on.

2 Astigos – Soft ground winner over 2m5f in France and only one win when trained by Venetia Williams over the minimum trip at Wetherby (Heavy). Well handicapped at one point and finished a good runner up in a Class 2 handicap at Cheltenham last year ahead of Hennessy runner up Carole’s Destrier and Charlie Hall winner Irish Cavalier. Bought for £6,000 by this yard and only eighth of 9 in a similar race at Southwell on his first start. Conditions fine but he hasn’t run well for a while in his last four starts and has a bit to prove at present.

3 Cape Caster – Won on the level up to 1m4f when trained by Ralph Beckett and well backed to win on hurdles debut over C&D two years ago on heavy ground. Struggled in better company but has run fairly well at this level without winning, finishing runner up twice. Pulled up on chasing debut in July and returned from three months off to take third over today’s trip at Newton Abbot (Good) last time out. Conditions fine but needs to improve his jumping to win this and well handicapped on hurdling form (rated 121 at his best). Claims.

4 Rock On Rocky – Won back to back hurdles two years ago on similar/heavier ground and has competed up to Grade 3 level without winning, achieving a mark of 135 in the process. Form has been patchy this year but was an encouraging third in a similar race over 2m3f at Chepstow (Good/Soft) last month on only his second start over fences. A strong traveller and sound jumper, he is weighted to go well against the likely favourite and is a big player on hurdles form.

5 Capilla – Bumper winner on debut who scored back to back chase wins last year on worse ground up to 2m4f. Pulled up twice from four starts this year including on his latest start at Uttoxeter (Heavy) thirty-one days ago. Bit to prove right now judged on recent form but on a handy mark now of 104 and could be hard to catch if allowed a soft lead. Does look his stable’s second string on jockey bookings however and best watched unless the money comes for him.