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Since Day One can make the most of having his sights lowered in the opening Racing TV In Stunning HD Novices’ Chase at Wetherby.
The son of Fame And Glory has a consistent profile, with 11 starts to date yielding six victories and three placed finishes.
He has made a promising start to his chasing career this season, winning at Ayr on his fencing debut and getting the better of the high-class Tommy's Oscar when scoring at Newcastle early in the new year.
Donald McCain's charge was no match for the same rival when meeting him on much worse terms in the Grade Two Lightning Novices' Chase at Doncaster last month – but dropping back into handicap company and faced with just two rivals, Since Day One is difficult to oppose.
Return Ticket is taken to get his season back on track in the Racing TV Handicap Chase.
The 10-year-old is 4lb lower in the weights than when recording a narrow victory over the course and distance last season and 5lb lower than when claiming the notable scalp of Malystic in a Listed event at Ayr's Scottish Grand National meeting in the spring.
His drop in the ratings is a consequence of a few disappointing efforts during the summer, but he can be forgiven those following a tough campaign and is better judged on his second place at Kelso on his return from five months off the track in early December.
Return Ticket looked to find things happening too quickly for him on his latest appearance in the Scottish Handicap Champion Chase at Musselburgh and is given another chance in West Yorkshire.
Foster'Sisland has run some good races in defeat at Wetherby and looks poised for another bold showing in the Frank Dawn 90th Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle.
Micky Hammond's charge won five times in 2021 and while he has failed to add to his tally in his last seven races, he has finished second three times, including a head defeat here on Boxing Day.
He was a well-beaten fourth on his latest visit to the track last month, but was given plenty to do on that occasion, while it was later reported he scoped dirty post-race.
If he is back on-song, Foster'sisland can get back on the winning trail from his current perch.
Tim Vaughan appears to have found Jean Genie an excellent spot to finally break his duck in the Cazoo Maiden Hurdle at Hereford.
Zero wins from 25 attempts hardly inspires confidence, but the seven-year-old finished second four times on the spin last year and there does not appear to be much wrong with his attitude.
Jean Genie is clearly no star, but reverting to hurdles for the first time since May, he will find few better opportunities than this to record that elusive first success.
Nikhi appears a likely winner for Peter and James Bowen in the Follow @attheraces On Twitter Fillies' Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.
The Nathaniel filly was a decent performer on the Flat for Jedd O'Keeffe and there was plenty of promise in her hurdling debut when third at Ffos Las a fortnight ago.
The winner, She's A Saint, had previously finished second in Listed company twice, while runner-up Poetic Music is also a high-class operator and has since gone one better at Carlisle.
That Ffos Las form is clearly strong and Nikhi will not need to improve much to hit the bullseye.
Silky Wilkie will not be winning out of turn if he can land the Try Our New Price Boosts At Unibet Handicap at Kempton.
Karl Burke's four-year-old has been knocking loudly on the door this winter, finishing second in three of his four outings.
He was denied by only a short head in a valuable handicap sprint at Lingfield last time out, and may well have won with a clearer run through.
It is not ideal he is creeping up the weights without winning, but he remains capable of winning from his elevated mark if things drop right.
SELECTIONS:
DUNDALK: 1.20 Mephisto, 1.50 Kuwait Direction, 2.20 Betrayed, 2.50 Relevant Range, 3.25 Malacanne, 4.00 Celtic Revival, 4.35 Nevada Queen, 5.10 No Trouble.
HEREFORD: 1.30 Jean Genie, 2.00 Nikhi, 2.30 Born At Midnight, 3.00 Malaita, 3.35 Makety, 4.10 Family Pot, 4.40 Sister Julienne.
KEMPTON: 5.00 Harry With Style, 5.30 High Ovation, 6.00 McLean House, 6.30 Dutch Kingdom, 7.00 Abbey's Dream, 7.30 Asdaa, 8.00 Silky Wilkie, 8.30 Dovena.
WETHERBY: 1.40 SINCE DAY ONE (NAP), 2.10 Halpha Soleil, 2.40 Elogio, 3.15 Foster'sisland, 3.50 Return Ticket, 4.20 East Street, 4.50 Millie Of Mayo.
DOUBLE: Since Day One and Nikhi.
