Stat Selector: Tuesday 7 February

Half Dozen - 14:30 Taunton

Smart Stat: 29% - Harry Cobden's strike rate at Taunton

Half Dozen showed improved form when making a successful handicap debut at Hereford last week, travelling fluently throughout and quickly asserting after the last to win by a length and a half in ready fashion. The manner of that victory suggests a 7 lb penalty is unlikely to prove beyond him, particularly given his scope for further progress after just four starts over hurdles. This will be a quicker-than-ideal turnaround, but Half Dozen remains one to be positive about and is fancied to follow up under Harry Cobden, who rides this track particularly well.

African Dance - 15:15 Market Rasen

Smart Stat: 21% - Olly Murphy's strike rate at Market Rasen since the start of the 2018/19 season

African Dance presumably hasn't been the easiest horse to train having spent 14 months on the sidelines since his winning chasing debut at Ayr in November 2021, but he could be a cut above his five rivals here if returning to action in anything like top form. There was certainly plenty to like about that performance at Ayr, jumping soundly in the main and rallying well after the last to win by half a length. Crucially, he can line up from the same mark today and it will be disappointing if he can't go very close at a venue where trainer Olly Murphy has enjoyed plenty of success in recent years.

Blazeon Five - 18:30 Wolverhampton

Smart Stat: £101.04 - Roger Teal's profit to a £1 level stake when having one runner at a Flat meeting

Blazeon Five ran another solid race when filling the runner-up spot on her latest outing at Kempton, sticking to her task well to pass the post just half a length behind an unexposed stayer. She is only 1 lb higher in the weights today and looks to hold very solid claims in a contest where several of her rivals have something to prove. Blazeon Five, on the other hand, could hardly be in better form for Roger Teal having completed a hat-trick before running so well in defeat last time.