Brogeen Lady is napped

Punters who got their fingers burnt by the early departure of favourite Brogeen Lady at Folkestone last week get a swift opportunity to make financial amends in the Fontwell Handicap Chase today. A maiden over hurdles, the mare only started to show her best when sent over fences last season, scoring at Fakenham and Uttoxeter.

A thorough staying type, she ran well on her reappearance at Warwick when beaten seven lengths by Stanmore, having made a terrible blunder at the final ditch when in the lead.

That two-and-a-half-mile trip may have been a little on the sharp side for the mare, whose winning form was over much longer distances. She should appreciate this return to a test of stamina, especially on the prevailing soft ground.

Her jumping remains a cause for concern but David Gandolfo is sure to have been working Brogeen Lady hard on the schooling ground and the Fontwell fences are far from the most tricky.

She should be staying on too strongly for some opponents of limited ability.

Brackenheath has always been held in high regard by his trainer Gardie Grissell and is fancied to land the Docker Hughes Memorial Challenge Trophy Novices' Hurdle.

Another out-and-out-stayer, he ran exceptionally well when dropped in trip and raised in grade at Sandown last time out, his fourth place behind Song Of The Sword being head and shoulders above the best form of his rivals here.

Returned to this extended 22furlong trip, Brackenheath should score with Norman Williamson - on board for the gelding's November success at Ascot - sure to ensure that he does not fail for lack of pushing and shoving.

Calling Wild, who was a fairly useful performer in point-to-points, can take the Peter Duncanson Memorial Maiden Chase and Flaxley Wood can take the Shopwyke Handicap Hurdle.