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STORM GORETTI may yet have a major say on which race meetings get the green light this afternoon, depending on how much rain or snow fell last night and into this morning.

At the time of writing I would be hopeful of Warwick going ahead as long as the rain doesn’t change too much to snow, but with milder temperatures expected that may well prove academic.

What is almost certain is that the going at the track will change from the described “good” on Thursday with up to 25mm of rain expected and that will make the 3m5f of the Classic Handicap Chase a real slog through the likely deep ground.

A considerable change on the going would certainly put in jeopardy the participation of the ante-post favourite Myretown, which would be a shame as the up-and-coming nine-year-old would have a lovely racing weight here of just 10-08. He is fully 15lbs higher than for his win at the Cheltenham Festival last year in the Festival Trophy Handicap Chase for which he was, in hindsight, absolutely thrown in at the weights.

But if it does get testing then that giant of a chaser Mr Vango will come into his own alongside the other real mudlark in the field, Val Dancer. The last named is some 4lbs out of the handicap, but the 2024 Welsh Grand National winner will have a featherweight on his back and had a lovely warm-up in the Becher Chase when third to Twig and the aforementioned is 3lbs better off with Mr Vango for a three-and-a-half-length beating with the Sara Bradstock trained runner. Top weight L’Homme Presse remains lightly raced for a horse of his age, but is another who wouldn’t want the ground too soft and my each-way preference at a price is for DESTROYTHEEVIDENCE (2.55) trained by Kim Bailey and Matt Nicholls.

Still unexposed as a chaser, one win from eight, he could be very well suited by this stamina test. Soft ground is certainly no problem for this son of Kayf Tara and it is also worth remembering that he was a close second in a novice chase here on testing ground some 11 months ago.

But the best bet of the day could well come in the extended three-mile Handicap Hurdle Qualifier in the form of LORD SNOOTIE (3.32) who has been very well backed since the declarations came out at the 48-hour stage.

He had a mere pipe-opener over an insufficient two-and-three-quarter miles at Ascot on a quicker surface when he was given a very easy time in the closing stages. Back up to a more stamina-sapping trip and over a course and distance he has won at before, his mark is becoming more reasonable at 123 and he could be a springer in the market. Of his 10 rivals, I am not so sure that favourite Lud’Or is crying out for this deep test so a bigger danger could come in the form of outsider Spike Jones who fell early on behind Ma Shantou at Cheltenham last time out.

Earlier on, I fancy a huge run from RULE ME IN in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at 1.15. A well-backed favourite last time out at Windsor, his jumping was rather in and out that afternoon, but a clear round on this much slower ground could well be right up his street off a 3lbs lower rating under the classy chase jockey Jack Tudor.

The Grade Two Hampton Novices’ Chase may only have six runners, but it is full of young horses that love to be at the sharp end of a race and it could very well set up this contest for the mare HOLYGROVE CHA CHA (1.52) with her stepping up to three miles for the first time in her career.

Jamie Snowden’s charge started off her season with a cracking running on second behind Resplendent Grey in the Colin Parker at Carlisle and then won an egg and spoon race as she liked at Exeter in a mares contest. Back up against the boys and receiving weight, I think she will relish this test and I have already backed her at double-figure odds to upset the likes of the hat-trick seeking Wade Out and the freewheeling Doyen Quest.

Gee Force Flyer has been disappointing this season for the Murphy/Bowen combination in two outings and could once again prove vulnerable in the opening Maiden Hurdle with MY OWN LOVELY LEE (12.45) getting an each-way vote. This galloping track should prove perfect for the chestnut gelding and I fancy him to be staying on late to reach a place in the frame at big odds at the very least.

Kempton Park remains in the balance at the time of writing so I will just pick the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle out there with a big field of 17 set to go to post. JUST A ROSE (3.17) was hugely disappointing at Taunton last time out, but now looks feasibly well treated on last season’s form and could well surprise ahead of the likely favourite A Pai De Nom and the big outsider IKE SPORT who may well be worth a saver at 33/1 or bigger.

I have just a couple of fancies in the Tapeta surface later on at Newcastle with TIME TURNER (3.10) and COURT OF SESSION (6.50) expected to go well. The first named ran well behind Latin at Wolverhampton and the first time visor should help sharpen him up. The latter has been hugely disappointing this season but showed a big run was just around the corner when a good second to Call Glory at Southwell.