Cul de Sac has strong claims

Cul de sac has been unlucky to run up against some decent horses in his only three outings, last time being collared close home by useful Flat performer Foundry Lane.

But after three second places since his arrival in Britain, Steve Brookshaw's six-year-old can finally go one better in the Stoughton Novices' Hurdle at Leicester today.

We all know about owner Stan Clarke's New Zealand-bred imports through the success that the Brookshaw-Clarke combination enjoyed with Grand National winner Lord Gyllene back in April.

And although it would be going too far to suggest that this son of Broadway Aly will be appearing in the winner's enclosure at Aintree himself, he showed enough speed to win two Flat events back in New Zealand and he hurdles with plenty of fluency.

His rivals here look a shade easier than he has been tackling of late and Cul de Sac will not be disadvantaged by any rain falling at the track. Mid Day Chaser starts her handicap career on a fair looking mark, having beaten only modest opposition in her two successes so far. But after another injury curtailed her campaign last term after a solitary Hereford success, the handicapper has not really been able to assess the six-year-old's form and she looks to have been let into the Thorpe Satchville Handicap Hurdle on a potentially lenient mark.

Wantage trainer Henrietta Knight has started the season well and she can spring a surprise with Wishing William, who can overturn likely favourite Dancetillyoudrop in the Autumn Maiden Chase at Plumpton.

Wishing William - much less exposed than his rivals - comes here with a decent jumping pedigree and one promising run in an end-of-season bumper at Towcester under his belt.

Knight and jockey Jim Culloty have good chances of notching up doubles with another unexposed five-year-old Strike A Light, who can land the November Novices' Hurdle half an hour earlier.