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Hi all,

Both selections ran well on Saturday although neither looked like they would their respective races.  Selections from Naas & Southwell today.

Naas

4:50 – Court Maid – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in some good efforts in novice hurdle company last season including when an 11^th length 6^th of 16 behind Honeysuckle in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse last April. Put in here best effort of this season last time out when 3^rd of 12 back at the same venue 15-days ago. That was a return to form by the mare who gets the first time cheekpieces today.

Southwell

3:55 – Irish Odyssey – 11/2 @ Bet365 – A soft ground bumper winner at Fontwell hasn’t had many goes over hurdles but shaped like he can win races in the sphere when runner-up at Sedgefield on Boxing Day. Clipped heels with a rival and unseated his rider at the 4^th on his handicap hurdle debut at Huntingdon 44-days ago. Millie Wonnacott takes off a useful 7lb and hopefully that will enable the selection to gain his first win over hurdles.

I’m taking Monday off to prepare for Cheltenham so there won’t be any selections tomorrow so let’s hope we can go into the Cheltenham Festival with a winner.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It seems disappointing not have a winner yesterday as Chairmanoftheboard could only finish runner-up at Chelmsford on Friday. Two selections today from Ayr & Hereford.

Ayr

2:30 – Off The Hook – 9/2 – Gen – The mares sole win in 16 starts came in maiden hurdle over C&D last January. Ran when 4^th of 13 at Newcastle two starts back although not as good when occupying that same position at Doncaster 17-days ago. Now 2lb lower than at Newcastle and gets the first time cheekpieces which will hopefully eke out the improvement need to win this. Trainer Nick Alexander is 2 winners from 4 runners with horses racing in the first time cheekpieces in that past two years and also 3 winners from 9 runners in the past 14-days which is another positive.

Hereford

4:05 – Baby King – 9/2 @ Betway or 4/1 – Gen – Isn’t the force he once was but the 11-year-old who fell in this race 12 months ago before bouncing back to win at Ludlow last April. Started this season with a good 2^nd of 8 at Aintree, although below that form on his last two starts. Now 3lb below his last winning mark and capable of winning, if returning to form today which he could easily do.

Fingers crossed we can get back among the winners today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the one winner on Thursday and third placed efforts. Putthecashonthedash provided the win at Wincanton and as I hoped the first time cheekpieces helped his jumping.

With Sandown abandoned the remaining Friday racing is disappointing and it’s been hard to find solid betting opportunities.

Chelmsford

4:45 – Chairmanoftheboard – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Looked a smart prospect when bolting up on his 2-year-old debut at Goodwood in October 2018. Sadly, for connections it didn’t prove to be the case. Eight races later and the 4-year-old hasn’t won a race. At least he ended last year with a couple of decent efforts in competitive handicaps at Kempton. This is his first start for 130-days but we know he can win fresh. A hold up performer, there looks like there could be plenty of early pace in this 1m handicap which will suit. Capable of going close if fit enough.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Misty Adage put in a gutsy display to win at Clonmel yesterday, to keep the winning run going. Today looks a lot tougher. On Wednesday there was just the one betting opportunity. Today I have had to work with a shortlist of seven.

Wincanton

3:35 – Putthecashonthedash – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Has shaped like there is a race over fences in him before the season is out. Looked the most likely winner over C&D, two starts back, but made mistakes at the third last & final fence and had to settle for second. Fell at Sedgefield last time. Hopefully the addition of the first time cheekpieces will help his jumping and with a clear round should be hard to beat.

4:10 – Darsi In The Park – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ran out a fairly comfortable winner of a Uttoxeter maiden on his third attempt over hurdles 26-days ago. The runner-up has won since so the form looks reliable enough. Steps up 5 ½ f in distance for his handicap debut but shaped at Uttoxeter like a step up in trip would being out further progress. Looks on a competitive mark and shouldn’t be far away.

Newcastle

6:30 – Glenamoy Lad – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Bounced back to form when 2^nd of 9 here 23-days ago. That took the 6-year-old’s record to 2 wins from 4 runs 3 placed over C&D. On a winnable mark but is the type who needs all the cards to fall right to get his head in front. Should get an even gallop here and with conditions to suit should give it a good go.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A nice double with Punitive & Sizing Pottsie doing the business at Navan. Surprisingly the Irish selections doing much better than two at Exeter. Shade disappointed not to have got three winners but two winners and a profit will do nicely.

Today looks a bit grim for solid betting propositions so I’m trying my luck at over in Ireland again.

Clonmel

5:05 – Misty Adage – 3/1 – Gen – The selection put in an improved display in finishing runner up at Down Royal 36-days ago. That run came over 2m 4f but she was strong enough at the finish to suggest that a stiffer stamina test would be in her favour. A winning pointer she’s just having her 6^th start over fences and a reproduction of her Down Royal run would make her hard to beat here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

So near, yet so far on Monday as Big Lachie was beaten a short head at Wolverhampton. If he hadn’t hung in the final stages, he may have held on to win.

Navan

2:40 – Punitive – 4/1 @ Bet3655 – Made it 2 wins from 5 runs over hurdles when winning over C&D 45-days ago. The 6-year-old made most that day and showed a good attitude to battle on to hold his rivals on the run in. Up 6lb for that success so needs to improve further to defy his new mark but looks capable of doing so on going that suits, both wins have come with heavy in the going description.

3:40 – Sizing Pottsie – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Got off the mark on just his second start over fences when making all to win in a beginners’ chase in good style at Fairyhouse 10-days ago. Interesting to see connections step him up into Grade 3 company today. The 6-year-old is suited to 2m, on heavy ground and given he’s lightly raced is open to plenty of improvement over the larger obstacles.

Exeter

4:00 – Celma De Bois – 4/1 – Gen – Returns from a 476-day absence today.  The 8-year-old made a winning debut over fences at Lingfield when last seen in action. Up 11lb now but won with more in hand than the official margin of 5 lengths suggests and could be capable of defying his new mark. Long absence has to be a slight concern but he did win first time up last season off a 183-day layoff so he could be ready to roll.

4:30 – Demopolis – 6/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection’s form figures since the fitting of the tongue tie are 411. Won a soft ground handicap hurdle at Ludlow 5-days ago.  Up 5lb for that latter success but is capable of landing hat trick. Trainer Philip Hobbs is 2 winners from 2 runners with last time out winners returning within 7-days of their last run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Wetherby

4:15 – Flegmatik – 10/3 @ Bet365 – A winner of a juvenile hurdle over C&D last season. The 5-year-old put in a career best effort when runner-up here on his seasonal reappearance in November. Thrown in the deep end for his handicap hurdle when 13th of 24 in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Effective on soft, heavy is a slight unknown but he’s lightly raced and remains capable of further progress back in calmer waters here.

Wolverhampton

5:45 – Big Lachie – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is on a bit of a losing run but he’s a previous C&D winner and he showed his liking for the tapeta surface with placed efforts on his last two starts here. A disappointing run at Kempton 16-days ago but that was over 5f and a return to C&D can lead hopefully lead to better run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Shame we lost Newbury yesterday but Tralee Hills‘ Lingfield win at 6/1, early priced advised 8/1 ensured a profitable Saturday and made up for a couple of poor days.

There are no selections today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Newbury

12:55 – Yaa Salaam – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – A multiple winner on the flat when trained in Germany. The 6-year-old has yet to win after six starts over hurdles but put in a career best when 3rd of 12 at Kempton 22-days ago. Up 4lb but remains on a competitive mark and has an ability to win a handicap like this.

3:50 – Karakoram – 11/2 @ Paddy Power – A winner at Ludlow back in October hasn’t won on five subsequent starts but has been running consistently well. The 5-year-old has put in career best efforts on RPR’s on his last two starts at Taunton & Warwick. Sole win came on good ground but as he showed at Taunton & Warwick, he can be effective on rain softened ground too. Vulnerable to less exposed types but shouldn’t be far away if in the same form as last time.

Lingfield

4:20 – Tralee Hills – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hasn’t been in much form since winning over C&D 12 months ago. Although he didn’t shape to badly at the end of last year finishing 3^rd of 10 at Kempton before clipping heels and stumbling badly after 1f when still in with a chance at the same venue. Returns from a 116-day break so will be fresher than most and is 3lb than for his last win.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Back down to earth on Thursday.

Newbury

4:55 – Amoola Gold – 3/1 @ Paddy Power – Was only beaten a short head into second over C&D 62-days ago and does seem to like the track as he was also 3^rd of 11 here on his seasonal reappearance on his only other start at Newbury. The selection has only had the five starts over fences so remains open to further progress.

Doncaster

3:05 – Manwell – 15/2 @ Bet365 – The 10-year-old returned to form two starts back when 3^rd of 6 at Sedgefield. Not at that level but not disgraced when upped in class & distance in the North Yorkshire Grand National 50-days ago. Drop back in distance & class will be more in his favour and trainer Sam England is 2 winners from 5 runners 40% in the past 14-days.

Dundalk

7:30 – Calling Time – 7/1 @ Paddy Power – Was running consistently well in the autumn finishing runner-up on her last three starts here. Twice a winner at the track including C&D she returns from a short break, has won after a longer absence in the past, and if freshened up is capable of going close. Stall 11 could be better but trainer Jessica Harrington has her horses in great form at present.

Cheers

John