Emma Lavelle does very well with her handicap debutantes and Priors Glen looks decent value at 7-1 in the 4.05 at Sandown today.
The six-year-old has useful bumper form last season and showed plenty of promise when fifth of 11 to Ashfields Dream on his hurdling debut at Ascot.
After being held up he made smooth headway four from home before being slightly outpaced when the tempo quickened. He then kept on well to be beaten just under four lengths without being given a hard time.
The grey gelding then pulled far too hard for his own good when well beaten behind Duke Of Lucca in a decent contest at Newbury, before shaping far better than his finishing position suggests behind Nicky Henderson's Neptune hope Finian's Rainbow at Ascot.
Although eventually beaten just over 14 lengths, Prior Glen was bang there with every chance before weakening between the third and second last and was not knocked about once his chance had gone.
That run qualified him for handicaps, and his opening mark of 116 certainly looks exploitable for this promising type who is notably stepped up in trip by connections for his handicap debut having shaped as if a stamina test could be what he needs to be seen at his best.
Recommended bet: 3pts each-way Priors Glen (7-1 bet365, Paddy Power, Hills)
