Ballykan must have big chance in easier assignment at Stratford

Ballykan takes a marked drop in class on his second start back after a short break 3.20 Stratford

Ballykan shaped with considerable promise when 7lb out of the handicap in the £45k Summer Cup at Uttoxeter three weeks ago on his first start since the beginning of April and that wasn't surprising given it was the first time he had encountered his favoured decent ground since last year, when he won four times.

He faced some daunting tasks last season, contesting three consecutive Grade 3s - especially as the going was no better than good soft. That said, he still managed a fine fourth place in the BetBright Chase at Kempton in February off a mark of 136.

Having faced rivals rated as high as 164 at Uttoxeter, the son of Presenting is surely going to find this company easier to deal with carrying joint-top-weight from a rating of 130, and Daryl Jacob, who was on board for his last two wins, returns.

Warren Greatrex has a terrific record with his runners at Newton Abbot

Given his seven winners from only 19 runners at the Devon course in the last four seasons, anything Greatrex sends there from his Berkshire yard is worth a closer look. Today he saddles two who disappointed on their latest starts but are back on their favoured fast ground.

Professeur Emery (3.45) was sidelined for more than two and a half years after rattling up a fast-ground hat-trick in summer 2013. He was obviously entitled to need the run at Bangor in March and shaped accordingly after showing up well for a long way on soft ground. Another subsequent layoff is slightly worrying and connections are clearly having to tread carefully with their charge. However, the fact Greatrex has persevered this long with the nine-year-old is a tip in itself, although the fact he is also persevering with headgear is puzzling given all three of the gelding's wins came without.

Horsted Valley (4.55), on whom a visor replaces cheekpieces, is another whose three wins were achieved without headgear. Still, you could also argue he hasn't really had his ground in three starts this year, including when much better was expected of him at Aintree last month following a break. He is approaching last-chance-saloon territory, but is potentially nicely treated if the return to quick conditions does the trick and the return of Gavin Sheehan, who has ridden him to all three victories, is a positive.

Ronya appears in good heart as she bids for a repeat of 12 months ago 3.00 Redcar

Tracy Waggott's mare readily made all in a division of this 1m1f handicap last year following a similar preparation and she is entitled to make a good fist of it racing off 1lb lower.

The daughter of Bushranger has improved with each run this season. Two starts ago she was beaten less than three lengths behind two 70-rated rivals, while her performance over 1m2f here last time suggests she doesn't necessarily have to front-run (not a bad thing given there are others in here who like to force it). She had to concede the lead early on that day, but travelled strongly in pursuit and took it up again 2f out before fading into third close home. Again, that looked a better race than this and the first two home have both won since.

Despite that solid run, Ronya has actually been dropped 1lb. She won't mind the drying ground, or the return to this intermediate trip having raced over 1m2f on five of her last six starts, while this sharp track suits her ideally (she has only once finished out of the first four in six starts here). Being drawn in the lower half of the field should also help.