Infantry each-way the way to go in National

Betfair London National

3.00, 3m5f handicap chase This marathon looks wide open but RED INFANTRY is one that I can see going well at an each-way price.

He hasn’t been the most consistent since returning from a spell on the sidelines but he showed the ability remains with a Doncaster win in March and wasn’t disgraced at Warwick two weeks ago, racing up with the pace until getting tired close home.

Strictlyadancer got back to winning ways at Cheltenham in October and has quickly added two more victories, most recently at Haydock two weeks ago when he beat Empire Steel. He had more in hand than the official margin would suggest and the handicapper may not have caught up with him yet.

He is also on the shortlist, along with The Mighty Don. He isn’t always the most fluent jumper but a recent second at Cheltenham shows that there are races in him off this mark.

1 RED INFANTRY 2 Strictlyadancer

3 The Mighty Don December Handicap Hurdle

3.35 Sandown, 2m Listed handicap hurdle

HUDSON DE GRUGY can enhance an already impressive course record in the Listed handicap hurdle.

Gary Moore’s gelding was runner-up on his stable debut over course and distance last December and has won all three subsequent visits, most recently four weeks ago when he saw off Will Sting despite a tardy jump at the final flight. There is more to come if he can brush up his jumping.

Metier would have to enter calculations if the ground softens. The Harry Fry-trained five-year-old didn’t fire at the Cheltenham Festival but he had previously looked a really smart prospect, including here in January when he won the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle.

Samarrive could only finish midfield on his handicap debut at Cheltenham in November but he travelled well until his lack of match practice told in the closing stages. The four-year-old made a good impression at Kempton in April and might be worth another chance.