It’s far from a vintage week on the racing front, but there is one race in particular at Fontwell on Wednesday that’s caught my eye.

Eight go to post for this 0-135 handicap hurdle over 2m3f, with Gary Moore’s Kansas Du Berlais a short-enough favourite as far as I’m concerned.

If allowed to dictate from the front, he could be dangerous off a lowly mark and on favoured soft ground. However, his first run for the yard back in December 2022 was bitterly disappointing – as was his subsequent effort after wind surgery and a 74-day break. I’m not sure he’s one to catch fresh.

There’s no fitness concerns surrounding Mr Freedom, who I think is a cracking price here.

Sheena West’s four-year-old was a progressive juvenile last term, finishing 5/21, beaten just four lengths, in ‘the Boodles’ at the Cheltenham Festival before another solid effort in a similar event at Ascot a month later.

He was busy – and successful too – on the flat over the summer and has already made his reappearance over sticks, when runner-up in a higher-grade contest over course and distance just 18 days ago. I thought he shaped like he needed that run and can now, dropped slightly in class, go one better.

Young Merlin is the other runner with a fitness edge but I don’t really rate his form and his trainer’s struggling for winners at present. The returning Issam rates the main danger, but ultimately I prefer the claims of Mr Freedom.