A SIX race card at a very rain-sodden Chepstow will certainly favour those with a penchant for severe tests of stamina.

In the opening race, the CSP Caring Safe Professional Handicap Chase over the best part of three miles, it should pay to stick to the top two in the weights.

Both bring strong chances to the table, with the Nigel Hawke-trained Alminar surely to benefit from having a 7lb claimer on board, and if he jumps better than he did last time out will be there for much of the way.

On The Road for Evan Williams is dropping down the weights and his time is likely to come sooner rather than later, however whether he will appreciate this trip on such heavy ground is debatable.

I'm going to suggest siding with Lac Sacre, who despite giving a 5lb rise for winning last time out, is clearly in the form of his career and with top claimer Ben Jones on board, should be able to saddle this extra burden

The 1.45 Barton Hill Old Boys RFC Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles, on the face of it at least, looks like a straight up two horse racing between the only two previous winners in the line-up.

Both must saddle penalties, but they are clearly progressive-looking types, with the form of Getaway Fred definitely making him the clear favourite to return to winning ways after two consecutive placed efforts. The Colin Tizzard inmate won on his debut before finding a couple of graded types probably a little hot to handle on his next two starts.

Kepagge is two from two under rules for David Pipe and it would be no surprise to see him continue the winning thread here.

One who might give the front two in the market something to think about is point to point winner Fado Des Brosses, who looks the type who will improve with every run and it would be no surprise to see him run well.

The 2.15 Hillside Brewery Maiden Hurdle over nearly three miles should go the way of the Olly Murphy trained Port of Mars, who ran well enough on his debut under rules, when he wasn't helped at all when hampered.

He won his point to point in good style, so this step up in distance should prove to be a problem and in a first time tongue tie, he should prove to have enough in his locker to beat Kingsplace, who is a lightly-raced maiden and brings a decent level of form into this type of contest.

In the TPS 360 Mares' Handicap Hurdle (3.20) it could well be worth siding with Rebecca Curtis' Just A Thought, who despite being a maiden over hurdles, has shown enough to suggest that first victory in this sphere is going to happen soon.

She is tried in first-time cheek pieces here and also has the assistance of the champion jockey on her back and could prove to be pretty well handicapped going back to race against her own sex.

Her biggest danger might well come in the form of Skewiff, who might not jump out as one likely to appreciate such testing conditions, but she has won on soft and finds herself on a pretty tasty looking mark.