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Hi all,

Could do with a winner after two blanks days. Not the most exciting of days quality wise but plenty of potential qualifiers today. Here are my three for Sunday.

Wolverhampton

5:30 – G For Gabrial – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Not the most exciting of profiles 1-16 but he’s been knocking on the door in handicaps this autumn. Best of those runs came over C&D, two starts back, when 3^rd of 9 beaten 1 ½ lengths and would haven been closer but didn’t get the clearest of passages inside the final furlong. Capable of winning of his present mark when all the cards fall right.

Uttoxeter

15:38 – Le Grand Fromage – 9/2 @ Coral & Paddy Power – Has finishedthird on each of his two handicap starts this season at Bangor & Exeter. Just the six starts so the 5-year-old remains open to a bit more improvement and trainer Tom Lacey 2 wins from 4 runners 3 places in the past 7-days.

Exeter

1:33 – From The Heart –9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has bounced back to form over fences of late winning at Chepstow & Taunton, both wins on a quick surface but today’s softer ground shouldn’t be big issue for the 6-year-old. Up 8lb for his last success but can make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Things didn’t go to plan on Friday. Here’s hoping for better today but it looks competitive  

Today’s selections are from Ascot, Huntingdon, and Wolverhampton.

Ascot

12:55 – Young Bull – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Finished third behind one of today’s rivals Demachine in what looks like it was a good novices’ handicap chase at Uttoxeter. The selection might well have needed the run more than the winner and he’s entitled to get closer on 9lb better terms for a 7 ½ length beating. The step up to 3m should also be in his favour and I think he can win this.

Huntingdon

1:23 – Sizing Cusimano – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes Showed ability in four starts over fences last season and was steadily progressive on RPR’s. Was racing at around 3m last season and returns over 2m 4f here. A mark of 118 looks workable and the first time cheekpieces and the booking of Tom Scudamore for his seasonal return look positives for his chance today.  

Wolverhampton

4:30 – Beau Geste – 13/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is 3-4 here, including C&D. Was doing his best work at the finish when 3^rd of 14 at Kempton (1m) 19-days ago. The 4-year-old could be slightly better over a furlong further but the return to the tapeta is a positive as is the booking of Tom Marquand.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

We didn’t have to wait too long to regain the winning thread with a nice double at Wincanton courtesy of Carys’ Commodity and an impressive Tamaroc Du Mathan on his chase debut.

I’m globetrotting with a selection from the most valuable race of the day the £250,000 Bahrain International Trophy.

Sakir – Bahrain International Trophy

1:00 – Deirdre – 13/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Japanese trained mare had a good 2019 headlined by a win in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.  Just the three starts this season best of which came when 5^th behind Ghaiyyath in the Eclipse at Sandown. Not so good on either start since although the heavy ground in the Arc wasn’t suitable. Needs a strongly run 1m 2f and quick ground to be at her best and if she gets it can win this.

Dundalk

6:00 – Never Back Down – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – It’s two years since the selection last won a race off 32lb higher. Yet to win since joining present yard but has been running well over C&D this autumn, including when third over C&D 16-days ago.  Capable of winning this from a handy draw in Stall 6, if all the cards fall right.

7:30 – Fridtjof Nansen – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Another who finds winning hard just 1-31 but he’s often run well in decent handicaps on turf. Finished one place ahead of Never Back Down here over 7f last time, despite being drawn out in stall 16. Drop back to 6f shouldn’t inconvenience the 5-year-old who looks set to go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The winning run came to an end as Wednesday’s selection Catamaran Du Seuil could only finish third at Ffos Las. Today’s selections are from Market Rasen and Wincanton.

Market Rasen

3:03 – Lonimoss Bareliere – 5/1 @ William Hill – Well beaten at big odds in three starts in juvenile hurdles last season. First signs of ability when an eyecatching 4^th of 11 in a jumpers’ bumper at Wolverhampton in February. First start since and makes his handicap hurdle debut off a mark of 98.  Trainer & Jockey combined to win this race 12 months ago.

Wincanton

1:40 – Carys’ Commodity – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Made it 2-4 over hurdles with an easy win at Fakenham last month. Handicapper has reacted by putting the 5-year-old up 12lb for that success which does make life tougher here but he looks capable of more progress.

3:12 – Tamaroc Du Mathan – 3/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Lightly raced over hurdles. The 5-year-old put in arguably a career best effort when 5^th of 24 in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February. Had a summer wind-op but looks a useful prospect for fences and a mark of 131 looks fair enough for his handicap chase debut.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Midnight’s Gift class did tell at Fakenham to keep the winning run going yesterday. Just the one selection again today.

Ffos Las

2:15 – Catamaran Du Seuil – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Is on a losing run that dates back two years but he’s dropped 3lb below his last winning mark. Ended last season with a decent 2^nd of 8 at Leicester. Twice a winner on heavy in the past he returns to action on a good mark and did win first time up in 2018.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Jack Berry House saved the day and maintained the recent winning run. Just the one selection today from Fakenham.

Fakenham

2:33 – Midnight’s Gift – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Wasn’t disgraced when 3rd of 7 in Listed Mares race at Wetherby last time and drops back into Class 3 handicap company today. Might need a stiffer stamina test but she will be suited by today’s sounder surface and can make her class tell here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After a frustrating Saturday it was 3-3 on Sunday. It doesn’t get any better than that.  I would be amazed if we could repeat that today and would happily settle for one winner.  Monday’s three selections are from Wolverhampton & Dundalk.

Wolverhampton

3:10 – Rockets Red Glare – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection looked in need of the experience when 4^th off 11 on his racecourse debut over C&D last month. With normal improvement the juvenile colt should be able win a race like this.  

4:40 – Kaser – 17/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Five of his six career wins have come here at Wolverhampton, including 4-9 over C&D. The 5-year-old is 2lb higher than his last winning mark on the all-weather but showed he could add to his five course wins when 3^rd of 8, beaten a length, in March.  Back from a short break and Ray Dawson takes off a handy 3lb.

Dundalk

3:15 – Jack Berry House – 11/4 – Gen – Has been knocking on the door on his last two starts here. Was beaten just a nose over C&D 5-days ago and can race off 1lb lower here. Stall 10 could be better but if the selection is in the same mood as last week, can win for the first time since joining his present trainer.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another day of “seconditis” with all three selections finishing runner-up at Wetherby. Today’s three selections go at Cheltenham & Punchestown.

Cheltenham

2:25 – Put The Kettle On – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Despite his poor run in the Champion Chase Defi Du Seuil is the one to beat. However, the selection bids to show her win in last year’s Arkle was no fluke. The time of her Arkle success suggests it wasn’t. Gets the allowances from the favourite and with normal improvement on her second season chasing won’t be far away.

4:05 – Good Risk At All – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Sam Thomas has his runners in tremendous form another double yesterday and that makes it 5 winners from 9 runners 56% + 22.46 in the past 14-days. He saddles the selection in the bumper that concludes the Cheltenham card. The 4-year-old shaped with encouragement when 2^nd of 13 on his racecourse debut at Newton Abbot last month. Interesting that connections pitch him into listed company for his second start.

Punchestown

2:10 – Abacadabras – 9/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Saint Roi advertised his well being when winning a Grade 3 at Tipperary last month. He’s an improving 5-year-old who puts his Champion Hurdle credentials on the line here.  Potentially very smart but I am going to give the selection another chance after he disappointed at when runner-up at Down Royal 16-days ago. Might just have needed the run and a reproduction of his head second to Shishkin in the Supreme would see him win this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A steady 2-4 on Friday and we landed on a 12/1 (BOG) winner with Daheer winning the luck last at Wolverhampton yesterday evening.  

All three of today’s selections come from Wetherby.

Wetherby

1:13 – Miah Grace – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The selection improved with each of five starts over hurdles, winning three times. A low-key return to action here last month but her best form has come on soft or heavy ground so better expected today. Looks ready for a step up in trip and is bred to improve for 2m 4f.

1:48 – Schiehallion Munro – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Ran well for a long way on his seasonal return over C&D before a lack of race fitness told. The 7-year-old really improved for going chasing last season winning three of his four starts. Capable of more progress this season and shouldn’t be far on ground that suits, form figures 31211 on soft ground.

3:33 – Lithic – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Remains a maiden over fences after 19 starts but returned to action with a solid 3^rd of 7 at Ffos Las last month. Goes well in the mud and is well handicapped on his best form with the useful Kevin Brogan taking off an additional 5lb. Interestingly all three career wins came when the 9-year-old started favourite.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Four selections today, one each from Fairyhouse & Dundalk and two from Wolverhampton. Let’s s hope they perform better than yesterday four who were dreadful.

Fairyhouse

12:55 – Howaya Aoife – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of a Punchestown handicap hurdle last November before finishing a close-up 2^nd of 13 here last December over today’s distance, off 4lb higher. Bred to be a better chaser than a hurdler she has already shaped well on both starts in beginners chases and makes her handicap chase debut off what looks a competitive mark. Effective on soft/heavy over hurdles and should be suited by the step to an extended 2m 7f.

Dundalk

6:00 – Blue Shadow – 11/2 @ Paddy Power – Showed signs of ability on three starts on turf but left his previous form behind when 3^rd of 14 over C&D last month. That was the 3-year-old’s first run since July so he’s entitled to have improved for it. Handy low draw and capable of going close.

Wolverhampton

5:15 – Araifjan – 100/30 @ Ladbrokes – Has been knocking on the door in 7f handicaps on the all-weather this autumn since winning here back in September. First run today for new connections and given he’s shown plenty pf pace in his races the drop back to 6f looks worth another go.

8:15 – Daheer – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Seemed to enjoy the tapeta surface when winning over C&D 93-days ago. First run since leaving Owen Burrows and first start since winning here so fitness must be taken on trust. Can win races on the all-weather of his new revised mark over the winter.

Cheers

John