RYMINSTER (3.30) rates one of the best bets of the afternoon on a busy seven-race card at Wetherby.

John Wade's six-year-old trotted up by 20 lengths on his penultimate start at Musselburgh, a massively impressive victory that persuaded punters to promote him to favouritism at Catterick 13 days ago.

Sadly for his backers, they knew their fate only too soon as Ryminster ignominiously blundered away his chance not long after the halfway stage of the contest.

It was a stroke of luck for the bookies, but they might not be quite so fortunate this time in the Racecourse & Conference Handicap Chase if the well-handicapped gelding manages to stay on his feet.

Even though just six runners line-up for the Rocom NEC Handicap Chase, it isn't an easy event to solve - not one of the sextet can be discounted with any sort of confidence.

The previous course and distance winner, Heidi 111, has attracted the services of top northern pilot, Tony Dobbin, which should ensure supporters of Micky Hammond's representative get a good run for their money.

Whether or not Heidi 111 has the class to defy top-weight is open to debate, so in the circumstances a more prudent investment might turn out to be Strong Magic (5.15).

The spring generally seems to bring out the best in Strong Magic, who produced his top effort of the season at Stratford last week when chasing home the Paul Nicholls-trained hot-pot, Red Devil Robert.

Somerset-based Nicholls rarely travels his horses as far north as Wetherby, preferring the likes of Exeter, where he could be in business with the hat-trick seeking East Lawyer (3.55).

Strictly on the book, East Lawyer has a bit to find at the weights with Shalako in the Canada Travel Centre Novices' Chase, however the latter is becoming something of a professional loser, in contrast to East Lawyer, who won with a ton in hand at Taunton earlier this month.

For the wide-open 17-runner Robert Webb Novices' Handicap Hurdle, Silkwood Top (2.45) is the each-way recommendation.

Victor Dartnell's six-year-old has been toiling away on unsuitably soft ground all winter, which probably accounts for his relatively poor form figures.

The recent spell of fine weather has solved that part of the equation and the faster surface is expected to bring about significant improvement from the selection.

Not a great deal to get excited about at Lingfield, although Tintawn Gold (3.05) is worthy of respect in the mile-and-a-quarter Banded Stakes.

Steve Woodman's mare isn't the most consistent of performers, nonetheless she's been placed a few times on turf, as well as making a promising comeback on the polytrack when second to Indian Blaze.

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