A Wincanton whim

The first Premier fixture at Sandown scheduled for tomorrow was abandoned earlier today on account of recent heavy rain.

I didn't hold out too much hope for tomorrow's card at Wincanton either, given that Paul Nicholls had to evacuate horses from his yard at Ditcheat on Thursday due to flooding. 

However clerk of the course at Wincanton, Daniel Cooper, is optimistic; an inspection is planned for 8.00 am. 

All that preparation for the Veterans' Series Final has been gently shoved into the pending tray.

Seven are set to go to post in a trappy-looking Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Chase at 2.40; the going is heavy.

Favourite Georges Saint looked held in third at Fakenham last time but stayed on well to win going away. 

The handicapper has raised Venetia Williams' charge seven pounds and, with Charlie Deutsch replacing Lucy Turner in the plate, the grey effectively starts off a mark 12 pounds higher.

Huelgoat won over course and distance on his penultimate start (Go Steady seventh, Dibble Decker ninth) but has tended to show better form on better ground.

Jacamar finished second in a Class 4 handicap chase at the track 11 days ago; the yard is going through a quiet spell.

Iconic Muddle and Go Steady are the two veterans in this field. 

The former makes his seasonal debut for a yard in flying form - 7 wins from 25 runs in the past fortnight.

At twelve years of age the latter, seventh here behind Huelgoat on seasonal debut, is entitled to finish a lot closer to that opponent tomorrow; his fourth behind Cepage in a veterans' chase at Cheltenham last time reads well.

I think Dibble Decker is another who prefers better ground which leaves Honneur D'Ajonc. 

This one has been on the radar for some time and will certainly handle the ground; he won at Hereford off a mark of 127 in January. 

He hasn't really shown any noteworthy form since to be honest, failing to complete on three occasions and finishing a remote third behind Stormy Flight at Exeter last time. Jane Williams' charge wore cheekpieces for the first-time on that occasion yet weakened out of contention up the home straight.

He's not the biggest of individuals but in a Straight from the Stable article [RP Weekender 15-19.03.23] his handler described him as a 'fabulous jumper' who 'always tries his best'. 

He's feasibly handicapped and, with the yard going well (2 wins from 5 runs in the past fortnight), I'm going to take a chance that Honneur D'Ajonc can return to some sort of form.

Honneur D'Ajonc is the each-way suggestion, currently priced at 11/1, with bet365 and Coral both paying three places.