Marleno is on a potentially lenient mark now switched back to hurdles in the 4.50 at Wincanton and looks overpriced at 14/1.
The gelding was a progressive sort over the smaller obstacles in 2010/11 when trained by Milton Harris, winning a handicap at Taunton off 106 and going on to finish runner-up at Uttoxeter off 112.
Since then he has been with a couple of different handlers and has mainly been campaigned over fences.
His best run over the larger obstacles came when third at Southwell last November off a mark of 112, but he didn’t really take to fencing and his form over hurdles was far better.
Now in the care of Tony Middleton, he gets into this contest off a mark of just 104 and that gives him a major chance from a handicapping perspective if ready to go after 220 days on the sidelines.
The six-year-old has run well in the past after a break – most notably when third in a listed novice hurdle at Kempton – so there are reasons to believe his absence will not prove a hindrance.
He also has conditions to suit and returns to the fray in a class 4 event having last been successful in class 3 company.
Everything looks in place for a big run, and at the odds on offer I think he is cracking each-way value.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Marleno (14/1 Paddy Power, Stan James – BOG)