DOUBLE HONOUR'S keen style suggests he could be the one to take the money in the big jumps race of the day, the £80,000 Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton.

The Philip Hobbs-trained grey is not only extremely nimble at his obstacles, but also likes to take a prominent position from the second the starter lifts the tapes.

Such tactics are essential at the west-country course, a sharp right-handed track that is eminently suited by Double Honour's willingness to get on with the job.

The ten-runner line-up is packed with National Hunt staying stars, perhaps the greatest threat to the selection's dominance likely to emerge from Swansea Bay, winner of the prestigious event 12 months ago.

Swansea Bay is a strapping type of individual, though to my way of thinking he was too easily brushed aside in an egg-and-spoon hurdle race at Hereford recently, a performance which doesn't measure up to his normal high standards.

Paul Nicholls has his powerful string in top order, boding well for the yard's two-pronged attack on the £50,000 Elite Hurdle with Rigmarole and Albuhera.

Even at this relatively early stage of the season it is not hard to envisage the classy duo challenging for next year's Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, in the meantime Rigarole (3.40) just get the nod from this corner on account of his superior race-fitness.

Best each-way value on a competitive card at Sandown could well be Annie Byers (2.30), a forecast 8-1 shot for the Group Clean Handicap Chase.

Although Jonny Portman's mare was a very late withdrawal from Exeter's mid-week meeting, clearly nothing serious was amiss since the underrated trainer has felt able to let the mare get stuck in this afternoon.

At first glance the official handicapper appears to have been very harsh with Annie Byers, shoving her well up the weights after trouncing a decent field at Uttoxeter.

While that may be the case, Portman's ploy of giving the eight-year-old a first try over an extended three miles is anticipated to bring about the requisite improvement to land the spoils.

Rather appropriately, the trainer stats at Ayr are led by a Scotsman, Lenny Lungo, who unleashes a brace of his biggest guns at the track via Paddy Piper (1.40) and Brooklyn Breeze (3.20).

Brooklyn Breeze, unbeaten in his last five starts, goes particularly well when fresh, so his near year-long absence should not stop him collecting the Racing UK Handicap Hurdle.

An impeccable record of four hurdles wins from four starts during his 2003/04 campaign makes impressive reading for Paddy The Piper, fully expected to collect at the first time of asking over fences in the King Dry Mix Novices' Chase.

All-weather fans get their slice of the action at Wolverhampton, where Charmatic (4.30) has outstanding prospects in the Bet Direct Handicap.

When Charmatic won at Beverley back in May she took the scalps of Riley Boys and Mystical Girl, neither of whom can be considered as slouches. Charmatic didn't build on that triumph until chasing home Regency Secret over course and distance one week ago.

That was a corking effort and entitles Jeremy Glover's filly to get back on the winning trail in the extended nine-furlong race.

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