ALFIE SHERRIN was a big-money recruit for Jonjo O’Neill and can pay off a modicum of his £110,000 price tag at Wetherby today.

The eight-year-old flopped as favourite in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last season and could have been counted as something of a disappointment when only a distant fourth on his chasing bow.

However, Alfie Sherrin looked very much in need of the run and the winner, Wymott, is considered a Festival contender this term.

Although Alfie Sherrin has been off since November, that is not a worry as he is a horse that goes best fresh and the Irish Day – Saturday 5th February Novices’ Chase can give him a nice confidence boost.

Big Bay can arrest a lengthy losing spell with victory in the Book Racing Post Chase Day Handicap at Kempton today.

It is quite some time since he managed to finish just a short head behind superstar Harbinger on his racecourse bow and while he is evidently not of that calibre, he is now lining up off his lowest ever mark. Following that debut effort, Big Bay took a further four runs to get off the mark, although one of those defeats was in the ultra-competitive Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot.

That victory at Nottingham and a follow-up success over this course and distance have proved the pinnacle of his career so far, with Big Bay out of luck in seven subsequent outings.

However, that lack of success has seen him drop from a perch of 92 to his current mark of 80 and his falling rating has seen him regain a little form.

Most recently third at Kempton, Big Bay is not the easiest of rides but he has ability and with Seamie Heffernan on board, he has a more than capable pilot.

Affinity is another who is failing to live up to her billing being a half-sister to Soviet Song.

Trained by Henry Cecil up until last November, even the master handler could coax only a single win out of her.

However, she can be forgiven her first effort for new handler James Given as she evidently did not handle the Fibresand at Southwell and should be much better back on Polytrack.