Walking Tall can complete hat-trick despite top weight

WALKING TALL can make light of top-weight against nine rivals and complete a hat-trick of victories in the Pyecombe Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton today.

Tom McGovern's five-year-old is making up into a fair performer over timber and has now won three of his eight starts, finishing out of the money on just one occasion.

His first four outings this season all saw him make the frame, but it was not until his penultimate race that he got off the mark for the campaign, adding to one win gained on the Flat.

Stepping up from two miles to two and a half in a novice event at Plumpton, Walking Tall was sent to the head of affairs by Tony McCoy at the eighth flight was clear two from home and despite tending to swish his tail on the run-in, had 1O lengths to spare over Cool Spot.

The handicapper evidently has been quite impressed and has allotted Walking Tall a rating of 109, which results in his lofty position in the weights.

However, seemingly on the upgrade and likely to be suited by the prevailing conditions, Walking Tall due to be partnered once again by McCoy - is napped to make it three victories from his last three outings.

Charlie Brooks's Le Ginno, who staged a return to form when second to Fresh Choice at Fontwell last time out, looks the main danger.

At Southwell, White Sorrel, who currently boasts a record of one win from one start in 1996, can maintain his 100 per cent record for the season in the Armagh Handicap. Alan Harrison's roan five-year-old won his first two races last term but failed by a long way to reproduce that form during the remainder of the year.

As a consequence White Sorrel dropped down the handicap, and took full advantage at Southwell last time when accounting for Awesome Venture by a neck. He has most to fear from Milos, but is taken to follow up.

Scottish trainer Peter Monteith should take Ayr's Annoch Mor Handicap Chase with Juke Box Billy. The eight-year-old ran with plenty of credit when finishing second on his first two starts this season and went one better when winning a handicap at Sedgefield last time out.

Jumping soundly from the start, he quickened three fences from home, held a clear advantage entering the home straight and passed the post eight lengths in advance of Doxford Hut. A reproduction of that effort should suffice now.