'He's fit and well' - who thinks he's found a 'suitable' seasonal opener?

Tuesday: 3.30 Bangor
SP Or Better Guaranteed With tote Handicap Hurdle | 2m7f | 4yo+ | Sky

Those with a recent run make limited appeal in this trappy handicap hurdle and there are question marks surrounding virtually every runner.

The two unexposed sorts who dispute the early betting, Betterforeveryone and Prince Des Fichaux, are probably correctly priced and appeal as the pair to focus on.

Betterforeveryone has raced only twice and represents Alan King, who is operating at a 43 per cent strike-rate over the last fortnight.

Although Betterforeveryone fell short when third and fourth in maiden hurdles at Wincanton and Warwick, this first crack at 2m7f could unlock some improvement, and an opening mark of 109 is workable.

However, Prince Des Fichaux, who has had three outings, rates the likelier of the pair to make a mockery of his rating of 107.

Prince Des Fichaux is impeccably bred as a son of No Risk At All out of a Grade 2 winner in France, but has failed to kick on after a fine second to Nicky Henderson's smart hurdler City Chief on his debut.

Henderson nominated 134-rated hurdler City Chief as a dark horse to follow in a recent Racing Post stable tour, and Prince Des Fichaux sports a first-time tongue-tie on his return to the track after wind surgery.

That might just work the trick and Sam Thomas has quickly established himself as a trainer to follow in the ranks.

Thomas is operating at a healthy 18 per cent strike-rate in the last five seasons and an even more impressive 25 per cent this campaign.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Alan O'Keeffe, assistant to Jennie Candlish, trainer of For Jim
He'd been in good form over the summer and maybe a couple of hard races caught up with him last time, when he had an off day. He can race a bit lazily, so we're changing the headgear to cheekpieces. We wanted to run him again before the ground changes and he likes the track.

Alan King, trainer of Betterforeveryone
He's a bit of a baby but he ran okay in his two races last season. He's strengthened up a bit and hopefully the step up in trip might improve him. He'll definitely come on for whatever he does.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of The Bold Thady and No Fixed Charges
The Bold Thady is a consistent horse who jumps well and is coming back from a break. No Fixed Charges wouldn't want too much rain. He stopped the other day and that might have been the ground, so we'll have to keep an eye on it.

Sam Thomas, trainer of Prince Des Fichaux
He's not one of the superstars in the yard, but he has a fantastic pedigree. He's fit and well and this looks a nice starting point for him. We might look to go over fences after this and hopefully he can do himself justice.

Henry Daly, trainer of Lily Glitters
We've left the headgear off as she seems to be in good heart at home. She had been running well before her break when she appeared to be getting the hang of it.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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