The Punt Acca: Robbie Wilders' three horse racing tips on Friday

Scipion(2.10 Chepstow)

The Tom Lacey-trained Scipion is taken to follow in the hoofprints of the likes of McFabulous, Thyme Hill and Blaklion in the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow. Scipion was third in a couple of Grade 2s last season, albeit he was beaten by miles in the latter of those on heavy ground at Haydock as the top-class Hillcrest dominated that contest. My selection is better judged on his previous close third behind Stag Horn and Gentleman At Arms in the Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick on quicker going. That looks the standout piece of form in this field.

Nina The Terrier (4.00 Chepstow)

I fancy class-dropper Nina The Terrier to overpower early favourite Holly, whose performances in maiden hurdles so far hardly suggest she is thrown in off an opening mark of 125 in this 2m contest. Nina The Terrier brings rock-solid hurdles form to the table and arrives off the back of a fine effort in a Grade 2 mares’ handicap at Newbury in which she was beaten only a length into second by one receiving stacks of weight. She is rated 131 and that could underestimate a mare who was sent off at just 11-2 for a Grade 2 mares’ novice hurdle won by the smart Love Envoi at Sandown in February.

Ville De Grace (5.50 Newmarket)

Ville De Grace has failed to kick on quite as anticipated this year but she has been found a decent opportunity in the Group 3 Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes. In fairness to this four-year-old, her nose defeat at the hands of subsequent Group 1 winner Dreamloper in the Dahlia Stakes reads excellently, while her fifth in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes next time is forgiven as the race was slowly run. Ville De Grace is expected to step forward from her return from 125 days off at Yarmouth in September and although she has three-quarters of a length to find with the reopposing Shaara, I expect her to do so on 2lb better terms.

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