Category: Members Only

Hi all,

Saint Calvados’ splendid Cheltenham win meant we broke even on the day.

Aintree

12:40 – Green Dolphin – 15/2 @ William Hill – The selection ran out an easy winner of a Wincanton bumper on his second career start last March before finding listed company a bit too hot when 5^th of 8 at Newbury. Hi cause that day wasn’t helped by racing keenly.  The 5-year-old makes his hurdle debut here over 2m 4f and this sort of distance should suit him over the smaller obstacles, and he’s expected to go well on soft ground. Needs to settle better than we last saw him in action but when he does, he should make up in a decent novice hurdler.

2:25 – Stoney Mountain – 7/4 – Gen –  Won a C&D maiden hurdle here 12-months ago on good ground before going onto win a novice hurdle at Southwell on soft ground in December. Struggled in Graded company on his final three starts.  A good chance of a win on his handicap hurdle debut here and trainer Henry Daly has his horses in winning form in the past 14-days. The one to beat for owner Trevor Hemmings who likes a winner or two at Aintree.

A lovely horse who will be stepping up in trip in due course but will probably start at 2m. He’ll start low key but could make up into a nice novice on soft ground. –

Wincanton

2:10 – Kiltealy Bridge – 3/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – An Irish point winner in Spring 2018. The selection made his bumper debut for trainer Jamie Snowdon when 2^nd of 6 at Warwick last month. That run came over 2m and given his dam is a half sister to Grand National winner Ballabriggs he should be well suited to the step up to 2m 5 ½ f on his hurdles debut. Trainer is in red hot form 5 winners from 14 runners 36% + 4.38 in the past 14-days. Can win races over hurdles.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Cheltenham

3:10 – Saint Calvados – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – His best two RPR’s have come on soft ground so the rain has come at the right time for the 6-year-old. Returns from a 227-day absence today but goes well fresh 2-2, after a 121+day layoff since joining Harry Whittington. Has top weight of 11-12 to carry but he’s the class horse of the race and this is a drop-in class from his last run when 7^th of 9 to Altior in the Champion Chase. Slight concern that twice he’s struggled twice here but they were in Grade 1 company so he’s worth another chance on his first run since a wind-op.

4:55 – First Assignment – 5/1- Gen – The selection won to handicap hurdles here last Oct/Nov last year including on his seasonal reappearance at this meeting 12 months ago and is possibly best off a lay off.  The 6-year-old makes his chase debut and if he takes to fences looks set for a decent season. Could prefer further in time, stayed 3m over hurdles, but if stamina is at premium it will suit the 6-year-old.

Chelmsford

6:30 – Philamundo – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I put the 4-year-old up when he ran here nine days ago. The return to a mile should be in his favour, both his career wins have come over C&D and he’s on a winnable mark if all the cards fall right. His price doesn’t scream value, but the trainer opts for the first time cheekpieces this evening, replacing usual blinkers. If the change in headgear has the desired effect, won first time in blinkers, this could be in chance back in Class 5 company.

Leopardstown

3:40 – Baladiya – 15/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection isone of the least exposed runners in this handicap. This will be only her 8^th career start. A winner of a maiden here over 6f back in May and won over this trip on her handicap debut at the Curragh in June. Not at that level on two subsequent starts but has been given a 70-day break and gets the first-time visor today. This is likely to be the softest ground she faced so far but she by Pivotal, so should handle it. Only 3lb higher than for her Curragh win and with Andrew Slattery taking off a useful 5lb, she’s worth chancing.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Southwell double yesterday meant Wednesday’s loss was wiped out.  Two selections today from Newbury & Doncaster.

Newbury

1:40 – Bright Eyed Eagle – Evens @ William Hill – Was a promising 2^nd of 11 to, this week’s comfortable Newmarket nursery winner, Convict on his racecourse debut 30-days ago. Will be all the better for that introduction to racing.  Granted heavy ground is an unknown but his dam’s best performances came on soft or heavy so there is encouragement that he will handle it. The one to beat if he does.  I would be looking for a minimum of evens but others maybe happy to take shorter.

Doncaster

4:10 – Teodora De Vega – 7/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The selection has winning form on heavy and last time bounced back to for to finish 2^nd of 10 at Ripon. Looks capable of winning off her present mark, although there are doubts about stamina for 1m 6f on pedigree. On the plus side trainer Ralph Beckett is 2 winners from 4 runners 50% +5.53 with his runners in the race in the past ten years.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Southwell

2:45 – Winningseverything – 5/2 @ William Hill & Unibet – Overcame greenness to win a bumper at Market Rasen on his racecourse debut last November. Not so good but not disgraced under a penalty in two subsequent bumper starts. Hurdle debut today and should be well suited to the step up to 2m 4 ½ f distance. Fitness on trust but the Harry Fry stable looks like it could be hitting top gear.

3:50 – Oscar Rose – 7/2 @ William Hill – Is a mare with plenty of ability but that hasn’t translated into a good win strike rate – just 1 win from 17 runs over hurdles. Returns to action after a 189-day break but looks on a good mark based on her best form of last season. More than capable of winning races this season.

Carlisle

3:00 – Donna’s Delight – 11/4 @ Bet365 –The selection a winner of a bumper and useful over hurdleshad four starts over fences, placing three times, last season. Although he’s yet to over the larger obstacles he showed enough promise to think he can win this season.  Returns from a 242-day absence but one first time up in 2017. Step up to 3m 2f is in his favour and any further easing of the ground won’t inconvenience the 8-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Fontwell

2:40 – Hier Encore – 9/2 @ William Hill – Both the selections career wins have come over C&D – 2 wins from 3 runs – and soft ground. So, he ticks the all-important boxes of going, course & distance. Last of those wins came on his final start of last season when putting in a career best to win by nine lengths. The 7-year-old is up 7lb for that success and there is the question of how fit he is for his seasonal reappearance? Apart form that can go close.

Newmarket

5:20 – Light The Fuse – 6/1 @ William Hill – The selection remains a maiden after nine career starts but has reached the frame on five of those starts. Most recently he was beaten just a short head in a heavy ground nursery at Yarmouth, 9 days ago. Effective on rain softened ground and can race off the same mark as last time.

Wolverhampton

7:25 – Joegogo – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Goes very well on the synthetics, three wins here, including 2 wins from 6 runs 4 placed over C&D. The 4-year-old put in a back to form effort when 3^rd of 11 at Sandown 35-days ago. The first-time visor he wore that day is retained and the prominent runner has a good draw in stall 3.  Capable of winning of this mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After a dreadful recent run, it was nice to bounce back with two winners: Shambra (11/2) & Prince Of Harts (9/2),

There are no selections today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Had to settle for a couple of seconds on Sunday. Here’s hoping for more luck today.

Plumpton

4:10 – Shambra – 11/2 @ William Hill – Returns from 132 day lay off but if fully fit has a good chance to add to her two wins over hurdles as a juvenile. A win after a 114-day lay off suggests she should be straight enough here. The mare can race off the same mark as when beaten a neck at Fontwell last November.

Windsor

3:30 – Mr Top Hat – 11/2 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Others come into this 1m 2f handicap in better form than the selection, but the top-weight is just 1lb higher than for a win on soft ground at Chester back in May and he’s also won on heavy ground. First time blinker tried today and with going to suit he’s got a good chance dropping into Class company.

4:00 – Prince Of Harts – 9/2 – Gen – The selection ran well on testing ground in the spring winning at Nottingham on good to soft, off 7lb lower and earlier had finished runner up, on soft ground, at the same venue. No match for easy winner Flashcard when runner-up at Ascot when last seen 86-days ago. The form of that race is strong, and it was a Class 2 handicap, and this is a Class 4. Well-being must be taken on trust, but he did win first time up this season off an even longer absence.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Monsieur Lecoq got me of the cold list yesterday after a battling success in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las at a BOG 7/2.

Naas

2:20 – Champers Elysees – 3/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection got off the mark at the 4th attempt when winning on heavy ground 21-days ago. Remains capable of better on her nursery debut. The softer the ground the better for the filly and she’s the one to beat with Andrew Slattery taking off a useful 5lb.

1:15 – Johan Zoffani – 2/1 @ William Hill – No problem with testing groundwhen runner-up to Champers Elysees at the Curragh 21-days ago and looks set for a win at the third attempt.

Kempton

5:00 – Net De Treve – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Made a good chase debut last May when 3^rd of 5 at Huntingdon before pulling up, after never travelling at Uttoxeter, 95-days ago. The 6-year-old is only having his third start over fences and retains plenty of scope for improvement over fences. Won first up time 12 months ago over hurdles and can run well.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A pretty dreadful run of form for the service that’s for sure but like at the beginning of September we will soon bounce back into profit. Today’s three selections run at Ffos Las and Leopardstown.

Ffos Las

4:15 – Monsieur Lecoq – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Looks a worthy favourite. A winner of a heavy ground C&D maiden last December. He then went on to win at Sandown before finishing 2nd of 13 back at the same track. Probably found the County Hurdle at Cheltenham came to quick after his Sandown run when only 10th of 24. Just 3lb higher than in the Imperial Cup he’s capable of better this season and with ground to suit can make a winning seasonal reappearance.

Leopardstown

3:05 – Faster – 8/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The selection goes well on soft ground, but his losing run goes back to September 2017. Shaped like he could win a handicap like this, in the spring and was an encouraging 6^th off 11 at the Curragh six days ago.  Gavin Ryan takes off a useful 5lb which could prove vital.

4:10 – Future Proof – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old carries top-weight here but he he’s 3lb lower than when 4^th of 14 at Naas back in April. Probably needed the run when 4^th over hurdles at Galway 33-days ago. Trainer Noel Meade’s runner remain in good form and with Gavin Ryan taking off 5lb, the selection should be bang there at the finish.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Newcastle

8:05 – Peachy Carnahan – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old, a winner over 7f at Leicester three starts back, has won here in the past over a furlong shorter and four times on the tapeta at Wolverhampton. Returned here, over 6f last time, to 2^nd of 13. Jockey Jimmy Sullivan who has won three times on the selection is back in the saddle today. Granted he’s 4lb higher than his last win but has won off higher in the past.

Uttoxeter

4:55 – Carlo Rocks – 13/2 @ Paddy Power – The selection is lightly raced since December 2016, just the four starts last season. Looked capable of winning off his present mark when 2^nd of 8 over C&D last December. The 9-year-old looks well suited to the mud and if his seasonal reappearance isn’t needed, should go close here.

Wolverhampton

6:55 – Lets Go Lucky – 9/2 @ William Hill – The 3-year-old filly has improved for the return to 7f, winning her last two starts. The last of those wins came over C&D 18-days ago. The handicapper has raised her 10lb for her last win and she’s up two notches in class here. Remains capable of more improvement but does need to find it.

Cheers

John