Sprint handicappers can pay to follow when they hit a rich vein of form, and The Bear (4.40) comes into this category at Hamilton today. A winner off a mark of 93 in his juvenile days, The Bear endured a long losing run before bouncing back to form with a decisive victory over this course and distance last month. Put up to a rating of 66 after that, he may have been unfortunate not to follow up at Carlisle, where he raced on the far side of the track and ran right up to his best but was only fourth behind the near-side runners. Drawn against the favoured rail today, The Bear should make a bold bid to lead all the way.
Apache Fort (6.35) looks a major player in the novices' handicap hurdle at Wetherby tonight. He has been in good form on the Flat, running a fair race at Goodwood just over a fortnight ago, and there was some promise in his final hurdles outing last jumps season, interestingly over this course and distance.
From a good draw in the sprint handicap at Sandown, Zowington (6.45) can follow up last month's Lingfield success. He has form on soft ground and a 6lb rise for his latest win still leaves him short of his best winning mark.
