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Melissa, aka The Scout, is the current Racing Post National Press Challenge champion after she led the field of 11 tipsters to the finish in 2025. The stamina-sapping competition was based on more than 9,600 selections throughout the year. A good final furlong helped her cause, but Melissa has maintained her form - and set a new record by finishing top of the standings for a fourth month on the trot in February before tipping this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Gaelic Warrior.

We're spoilt for choice this week with plenty of quality horses holding entries under both codes. Stylish Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes hero Field Of Gold could be back in action at Sandown Park on Friday, where he is the early favourite for the Group Two bet365 Mile.

And Jonbon, the 12-time top level titleholder over jumps, is the best horse in Saturday's bet365 Celebration Chase, a contest he has won twice before. Ahead of that though his handler Nicky Henderson sends £205,000 purchase CRYSTAL ISLAND (4.38) to the South West Rail Solutions Ltd Novices' Hurdle at Ffos Las.

The Irish point-to-point winner is the latest smart recruit by agent Jerry McGrath, who used to ride for the Seven Barrows stable.

Crystal Island went into plenty of notebooks when hitting the target at Ascot before Christmas and although he has not been seen since, Henderson told Unibet recently that the five-year-old gelding is "only a baby" so he is looking to the future with this exciting type.

GOLDEN PRINCE (5.12) was a selection in the first edition of this column on March 31, when he gained a place at Bangor behind Coumeenoole. The winner was part of a Dan Skelton-trained four-timer which cost the bookmakers and my selection travelled kindly for Jack Tudor.

He just did not have that extra dimension to his game in the closing stages, but it was his first hurdles run over further on decent ground and his turn did not look far away.

I tipped CARAGIO (3.45) last time when lots went wrong at Chelmsford and he was in front just after the line and not before it. He won't be much value in Yarmouth's Infobond Technical Manpower Services Handicap and requires cover in this smaller field down a furlong, but is weighted to strike from 3lb higher.

The Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap at Pontefract is an interesting little contest and I like the Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned pair Reciprocated and Alaminos as individuals.

However this time I'm siding with CAPE ASHIZURI (2.52), a gelded son of St Mark's Basilica who bumped into Betfred 2,000 Guineas entrant Saber Strike when last seen and steps out with an opening mark of 88.

Gordon Elliott's entries for Perth's three-day meeting on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday go into double digits and he will have some strong chances to try and better the yard's 21 per cent strike rate (six winners from 29 runners) at the track season.

Jigoro has top weight in Wednesday's Bedmax Capercaillie Handicap Chase, however I have been impressed with the progress COUP DE COEUR (3.40) has made this term and Micky Hammond's charge should get an ideal pace set-up.

A non-runner for us previously due to a quickening surface, KAP QUEST (3.10) could be rerouted to Thursday's River Tay Handicap Chase. Once again he is set to carry a nice weight in a better event, with a 9lb rise applied for a five-length Exeter supremacy on March 6.

Conditions are soft at the time of writing and although there might be a going change, with a pleasant, breezy day forecast today, Kap Quest will hopefully be able to take his chance. Good to firm places feature in Warwick's ground description as the course prepares to host two of Cheltenham's rescheduled races for mares on the same afternoon.

COUNTRY MOUSE (3.30) meets a couple of her old rivals on decent terms in the Catesby Estates Mares' Challenger Series Final Handicap Hurdle.

Her third to Betty's Daisy and Diamonds Galore at Ludlow in December was a good run and she seemed to dislike Chepstow's ground when disappointing last time out.

A point-to-point winner on yielding in Ireland, she was only 10-1 for the bumper at the Prestbury Park fixture this race switches from and looks as though she has been brought along with handicaps on mind. If she is priced up at each-way odds and eight or more runners are declared, I make her a place contender.