THE LADBROKES Handicap Chase is the feature race this afternoon, but the smallest field this century will go to post with just the 13 runners declared.

With further rain forecast at the Berkshire track, stamina will surely be at a premium and that should suit FLYING ANGEL (NAP) who looks massive value at around the 25/1 marker.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies runners seems to relish plenty of dig in the ground and he looks to be coming to the boil, judged on his staying on second behind Mr Medic at Ascot over 2m5f.

This extra distance is perfect for him and it is worth remembering that he was 15 lengths off Definitely Red in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree off what was a stop-start pace when rated 152, but is set to run off just 142 here with the galloping track yet another factor in his favour.

American goes well fresh and will also adore the conditions, but he is a fragile sort and I have more regard for Elegant Escape and Thomas Patrick, both of which are tightly matched up on their Sandown Park form.

The other main race of the day is at Newcastle, where SAMCRO, Buveur D’Air and Summerville Boy meet up in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle due off at 2.05. Long term, I have backed the last named for the Champion Hurdle next spring, but with a run under his belt the Gordon Elliot charge looks the pick on a track and ground he should simply relish.

Later on, the Rehearsal Chase at 3.20 looks wide open and you have to have due respect for last year’s winner Otago Trial, who seems to go very well fresh and I know has been pleasing Venetia Williams at home, but the better value wager could lie with SHARP RESPONSE.

Fellow lightweight Captain Chaos has baffled Dan Skelton with his performances this season, being tailed off on each occasion, and he is a course winner, but the selection comes here in better form, despite a moderate run behind Rock The Kasbah at Cheltenham last time out. 

Despite the extended trip, he merely found things happening way too quickly for him on the good ground and, with more rain expected, I fancy he will step up on that run here with no weight on his back. I make market leader Ballydine and last year’s impressive Eider winner Baywing his main rivals.

Back at Newbury, the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle over two-and-a-half miles at 1.50 will be equally competitive, but the step up in trip should be perfect for PADLEYOUROWNCANOE for the in-form Colin Tizzard camp.

The four-year-old has just been found wanting over the minimum trip on his two outings this season and this looks the answer in a race where there should be plenty of pace on against his elders. Of course, the unbeaten Champ (his sternest test to date here) and Sussex Ranger (ran way too freely on his seasonal debut at Ascot) are feared in a wide-open affair.

Back on the flat, RECKLESS ENDEAVOUR is interesting back on Tapetal at Wolverhampton over seven furlongs at 7.15. I am hoping that Dougie Costello rides a waiting game on this classy five-year-old, as the combination are sure to strike sooner rather than later off what looks a very enticing mark.

Later on, the feature extended mile event at 7.45 looks a really good renewal for the prize money and ORIGINAL CHOICE (nb) may well be able to defy top-weight for Haggas and Marquand.

The top-weight may just have needed the run last time out at Lingfield Park as came there strongly a furlong and a half out, only to not find as much as I thought in the closing stages, eventually dropping back to last place. That run should have put an edge on him and he gets the nod to give the weight away to the consistent course specialist Mythical Madness, who I shall be backing in a forecast with the selection.