DOUBLE VODKA (3.00) has the right credentials to bag Musselburgh's Laura Todd Novices' Hurdle provided he stays on his feet.

Although Chris Grant's five-year-old was a pretty useful ten furlong performer on the Flat, it has taken time for the penny to drop since switching to the rough-and-tumble of jump racing.

Matters certainly weren't helped when Double Vodka got off to the worst possible start on his hurdling debut, crashing through the final flight at Wetherby and ending up on the deck as a result of a tired looking leap.

Such incidents can have a disastrous effect on a horse's confidence, but to his eternal credit Grant's gelding bounced back by finishing second of 20 to Up Above at Ayr last time out.

With that clear round now safely under his belt, Double Vodka has a terrific chance of going one better at the main expense of his chief market rival, Masafi, representing the in-form Howard Johnson and Graham Lee combo.

Pessimistic Dick, who carried the nap vote at Kelso last week, didn't do the column any favours with a deplorable effort on that occasion.

The 13-year-old veteran clouted a couple of obstacles early on and was never travelling a yard thereafter, eventually being pulled up by Doug Costello a good half-mile from the finish.

It's hard to glean any positives from such a feeble run, nevertheless the fact connections turn out again so soon tells us there's nothing physically amiss with Pessimistic Dick.

Having done one's hard-earned dough, it's never and easy decision to re-invest, that said Pessimistic Dick faces his easiest task for some time and is undoubtedly extremely well in at the weights for the Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase.

Chepstow's soft surface shouldn't inconvenience Woodlands Genpower (2.35), a leading contender in the three-and-a-quarter-mile Beginners' Chase.

There's going to be a few leg-weary individuals come the end of the test of stamina, especially under the prevailing conditions which according to all known evidence are perfect for Paul Pritchard's eight-year-old grey.

Another mud-lover not likely to fold when the going gets tough is King Bee (3.10), a gutsy scorer at Warwick earlier this month.

Henry Daly's top-weight rallied bravely at the Midlands venue, responding to the vigorous urgings of Richard Johnson to show courage well beyond the normal call of duty.

Brendan Powell's stable is beginning to fire on all cylinders, boding nicely for the prospects of Methodical (4.15), fancied to follow up her Taunton victory.

Methodical never came out of second gear when collecting by no less than 12 lengths and hard-held by rider John Levins. She clearly didn't take much out of herself during the course of that facile success and appears to be a filly on the upgrade.

Finally to Wolverhampton where Art Elegant (4.25) rates the best bet on the card in the Betdirect Maiden Stakes.

Art Elegant, a fair tool on the level when in the hands of Ian Semple, ran a decent first race for his new handler, Alan Swinbank, to chase home Chief Commander over track and trip just seven days ago.

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