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Today’s selections are from Newmarket and Cheltenham.

Cheltenham

2:05 – Precious Eleonor – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection was rewarded for her consistency when getting off the mark at the sixth attempt over fences last month. One of her main assets is her bold jumping which was on display at Warwick last time. A 7lb rise in the weights makes life tougher for her but I still expect to her go close.

3:50 – Addosh – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Addosh gained her second success over hurdles at Huntingdon three weeks ago. Returning from a 4-month absence she impressed with the manner of her success and her jumping was much better than on her three previous starts.  Looks on a competitive mark for handicap hurdle debut and goes well on good ground.

Newmarket

4:10 – Ibiza Rocks – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Ibiza Rocks improved to put in a career best on RPR’s when finishing a good 2-length 2^nd of 17 to Sunray Major at Ascot on his penultimate start of 2021. Well below that form next time at Doncaster but that came on heavy ground. Looks worth another go, with the yards runners going well.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

High Fibre came out the wrong side of photo after being beaten a nose in the last race at Newmarket yesterday.  Today’s selections are from Newmarket and Cheltenham.

Newmarket

4:45 – Tylos – The Crisford yard is 4-11 (36%) in the past 14-days and I’m hoping they can have another winner here with top-weight Tylos. The selection finished runner-up on first two juvenile starts before improving again to a Wolverhampton novice. Back for the first time since August and is open to further improvement for the step up to a mile on his handicap debut.

Cheltenham

4:25 – Last Royal – Recent easy Wincanton winner Lord Royal looks interesting on his handicap hurdle debut off a mark of 122. The 7-year-old’s last win came on soft ground but he won a bumper on good ground so shouldn’t be inconvenienced by underfoot conditions. Stamina for 3m not guaranteed for this full brother to Honeysuckle shapes like it will suit.

5:00 – Herbiers – The top-weight is 5lb higher than for his Doncaster success three starts back but has run well on both starts since and wasn’t disgraced when 12 length 9th of 23 in Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle here last time. Two from 5 on good ground and with a useful amateur taking off a handy 7lb off the top-weights back, the 5-year-old should be in the mix.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s three selections are from Newmarket and day one of the Craven Meeting.

Newmarket

2:25 – Ribhi – 100/30 @ Bet365 – A winner on his racecourse debut at Salisbury. The colt was then pitched into the deep end in Listed company at Doncaster’s St Leger Festival. Ran a shade green when asked for his effort 2f and didn’t get the clearest of passages 1f out either before finishing a 2-length 5^th of 9^th. Had to dig in to prevail back at Salisbury (soft) on his final juvenile start. Another capable of more improvement this season Today’s better ground will suit as should the return to 7f.

3:00 – Magellan – 5/2 @ Bet365 – An appealing contender given his yard’s recent record in the race -3 winners from 6 runners +12.58 5 placed. He has 5lb to find with the favourite Master Of The Seas on OR’s. A winner of Salisbury Group 3 on his penultimate start last season. He ended last season with a respectable 5^th of 10 at Longchamp (1m 2f) where the ground might have been a bit soft for him. The colt looks the sort to do well as a 4-year-old and today’s intermediate trip could really suit him.

4:45 – High Fibre – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The selection looked a big improver stepped up to 1m 1f when a 5-length winner of a nursery here on his final 2-year-old start. Has been hiked up 10lb for that that win but should improve further for the step up to 1m 2f+ this season.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Pontefract and Windsor.

Pontefract

4:15 – Distinction – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection has fitness on his side and ran very well when a head 2^nd of 12 at Nottingham just five-day days ago. Took it up 1f out and looked set to win but was caught in the final strides. Can race off the same mark here and should go close if in the same form as last time.

Windsor

3:30 – Four Adaay – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Punters Poet 2-2 over C&D has to be respected especially with William Buick back in the saddle (1-1 on the horse). However, I’m going with the ground versatile selection, who won first time up last season and who’s best RPR came over C&D when a ¾ length 2^nd of 6 to Whenthedealinsdone in June.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A good end to the Aintree Grand National Festival with another two winners yesterday and it’s a shame that Flooring Porter couldn’t have made it three.

Today’s selections are from the Curragh and Wincanton.

Curragh

3:05 – Georgeville – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Improved with each run for Ger Lyons on a sound surface ending last season with close-up efforts in, albeit weak Group 3 & 2 contests before winning a 14-runner listed race at Leopardstown. If the 6-year-old can reproduce his latest effort on his seasonal return he’s the one to beat.

Wincanton

1:30 – Judicial law – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A Exeter novice hurdle winner on New Year’s Day, took advantage of a good mark when winning on his handicap debut at Ludlow (soft) 46-days ago. The selection exhibited a good attitude to prevail and was suited by the step up to an extended 2m 5f last time. Up 7lb on quicker ground but looks capable of winning again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Aintree.

Aintree

2:25 – Three Stripe Life – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Has finished runner-up to Sir Gerhard on his last two starts, including the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. I don’t think there is Sir Gerhard in today’s field. His is the best form show on offer so far, by the 14 runners and the one to beat.

3:00 – Gentlemen De Mee – 4/1 – Gen –The selection can take advantage should Edwardstone underperform after a long season.  The 6-year-old has won his last two starts over fences, making all to win the Grade 3 Flying Bolt Novices’ Chase at Navan last month. He’s got 3lb to find on official ratings with favourite and looks worth is place in Grade 1 company.

3:35 – Flooring Porter – 13/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was able to dictate the pace when winning the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham for the second year running. Not sure that get an easy lead today with the front running Ashdale Bob also in the field but remains the one to beat.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Once again, all today’s selections are from Aintree’s Grand National Festival.

Aintree

2:20 – El Fabiolo – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I’m taking on the favourite Jonbon with the Willie Mullins trained El Fabiolo. The selection created a good impression when running out a 13-length winner of a Tramore maiden hurdle 97-days ago. It was heavy ground when he won last time so his effectiveness on a sounder surface is untested but he seems capable of a lot better though.

3:30 – Fakir D’oudairies – 6/5 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Handled heavy ground when winning the Grade 1 Ascot Chase last time. Last season’s easy winner of this missed the Ryanair Chase to come here again. No problem with drying ground and he’s the one beat again.

4:40 – Skytastic – 6/1 @ Bet365 – A winner of both his bumper starts and is 2-2 over hurdles. The 6-year-old handled the soft ground well enough when winning an Ascot novice last time. Trainer Sam Thomas told the Racing Post after his Ascot win “That’s not his ground by any stretch of the imagination and he learned a lot”. He’s progressive, should stay 3m and looks worth his place in Grade 1 company.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

First day of Aintree’s Grand National Festival and all today’s three selections are from Aintree.

Aintree

1:45 – Pic D’Orhy – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Should be favourite on ratings. However, the form of the Paul Nicholls and the prospect of softening round mean he’s bigger in the betting than expected. Still the one to beat though and the value pick.

4:05 – Latenightpass – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection took well to the fences when runner-up in this race 12 month ago.  Comes into the race in good nick after an easy win a point-to-point last month and looks set for another a bold bid.

5:15 – Naughtinesse – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The Irish raider confirmed her debut promise when beating eight rivals in a Fairyhouse bumper on New Year’s Day. She’s bred to be useful when going hurdling but can go well here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After three decent enough months April is proving more challenging. Today’s selections are from Leopardstown and Nottingham.

Leopardstown

4:15 – Pearls Galore – 15/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner in Group 3 company last season. The mare also finished runner-up in two Group 1 contests last autumn. She wasn’t disgraced from her wide draw when 3 length 6th of 13 to Space Blues in Breeders’ Cup Mile last time. Has a 5lb penalty to carry back in Listed company today. Fitness taken on trust but the Paddy  Twomey horses have been running well.

6:20 – Sweet November – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection seemed to return to form when a 6 lengths 6th of 14 here over a mile, four days ago. His cause wasn’t helped by a slow start last time. A wide draw in 13 to negotiate here today’s extra furlong is a positive.

Nottingham

2:50 – Pepper Steak – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Made all to beat three rivals in a Newcastle maiden in February. That was the filly’s first run since switching to the Adrian Nicholls yard. Looks capable of a bit better an was suited by an easy surface when trained in Ireland,

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Pontefract and Exeter.

Pontefract

4:25 – Gainsbourg – 11/4 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Twice a winner at around a mile last season, including a C&D soft ground success in October. Back in 0-75 company here and if ready to roll from a 160-day absence should go close.

Exeter

4:10 – San Agustin – 13/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Got off the mark at the third attempt over fences when winning at Leicester in December. He showed that day that quick ground held no terrors for him. The cheekpieces that he wore last time are retained and he should be capable of handling a 3lb rise in the weights.

4:50 – Johnny B – 100/30 – Gen – The selection bounced back to form when a 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 12 to stablemate Raddon Top over C&D two starts back. Not in the same form over fences 17-days later. He does remain a maiden after 13 starts over hurdles but a reproduction of his penultimate run would see him go close.

Cheers

John