Angus McNae's Sunday tips: "He is a strong play"

James Owen immediately got a tune out of this nine-year-old when he joined the yard from Kerry Lee, and  scored by 12 lenghts at Market Rasen in June. He has subsequently failed to complete in two starts when turned out quickly, but he still looks to be well treated off a rating of 93 given he has won off a mark of 103 in the past. 

His two recent failures came on soft and heavy ground, whereas his best form has come on a faster surface, and the good to firm ground here will suit him ideally. 

One Horse Town was a fair performer on the flat and took a step forward when easily landing a juvenile hurdle at Hexham on his hurdling debut. He bolted up by 29 lengths there and looks to be a useful juvenile for this time of the year. 

He jumped well there and recorded a RaceiQ jump index of 7.2 plus gained 14.79 lengths on his rivals. Such alacrity will enable him to easily concede weight to all of his rivals here. 

This does not look to be a strong juvenile hurdle and with the Hexham experience behind him, he can strike again. 

Ravenscraig Castle has become a perennial loser on the flat and over hurdles, but he has shown that he retains ability, and he gets to run in a class 5 handicap hurdle for the first time on Sunday having contested much stronger handicaps. 

He was narrowly beaten in a class 4 handicap at this track last year and will find this grade a lot easier. He comes with risks attached given his poor win record, but that is factored into the price, and he is worth another chance in the weakest handicap hurdle he has contested. 

Having been gelded, this three-year-old was very impressive when surging to success at Chelmsford last time out when displaying a devastating turn of foot. 

He recorded a very fast time of 2m, 2.93s and, given that the benchmark for a top-class horse over ten furlongs is two minutes, he may well have been underestimated by the handicapper who allows him into a handicap here off a rating of 90. 

The selection steps up in trip to a mile and a half now, which will not be a problem on pedigree, and if it turns into a test of speed, there is no other contender in the field that I would want to be with. He is a strong play.