Selkirk’s Sam saddles up for hopeful hat-trick

Successful over timber in November and over fences last month, Stuart Coltherd’s Selkirk raider faces seven rivals as he reverts to the smaller obstacles in the 2.25pm Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap Hurdle.

Sam, a winner on Ard Chros for his father at Ayr yesterday, said: “He’s been in great form and obviously loves the track. He was favourite when he won the last twice and I’d say he’s entitled to go off favourite again.

“His wins over hurdles and fences were pretty comfortable, so he’s creeping up the weights a bit. But the yard is going well at the moment and his hurdle mark is a few pounds lower than it is over fences.”

Among the opposition to Chanceanotherfive is Court Baloo, trained by Alistair Whillans. A recent third at Wetherby brought to end a sequence of four successive wins for the Hawick gelding.

Also in the line up is Nicky Richards-trained Petite Ganache, who was a seven-length runner-up to the likely market leader over course and distance in November.