I wasn’t too far away with my tips last night so let’s see if we can have more of the same.
Fairoak Lad has not been at his best this season but he has crept down the weights a little and should have the ground in his favour tomorrow in the Doncaster 2.55. The stable are in good form which is another plus.
In the 3.25 both Alderburn and Noir et Vert will like the ground. Of the two I slightly prefer the latter who was a shade unlucky last time out.
In th bumper at 4.00 there is a good word for Alan King’s Lidar. Fidelis, a beaten favourite on his only previous start might be interesting at a bigger price.
I suppose West End Rocker is the likely winner of the 4.35 although I am not over keen on the race to be honest. I would be tempted to support Nom de Guerre but for the fact that he failed to get round last time.
Beggar’s Cap really likes a sound surface with 3 of his 4 career wins having come on good to firm, quite unusual for a winter jumper. If he gets his ground he would be interesting in the 5.10.
Kelso next and I hope that Open de L’Isle will give us a run for our money in the 2.00. He has put in a couple of fair runs over hurdles since the turn of the year and is back over fences tomorrow.
In the 3.35 Cloudy Lane looks the pick at the weights. Money Trix has plenty to do based on official ratings but has always been held in high regard by his trainer and may well be better than he has shown in his few runs to date. Evens about Cloudy Lane though looks a good bet if you can get it.
Dolessthanme and Knockara Beau represent my list to follow in the 4.10. Dolessthanme is the selection. He looks over priced at around 10/1.
Down at Kempton I am going to take a chance with King Brex in the 1.45. He is still a maiden but he has been getting closer and should appreciate the better ground after his 2nd to Den of Iniquity on heavy last time out.
In the 2.20 the pair I like are Captain Americo and Missoula. Captain Americo was a nice winner at Wincanton a couple of weeks back and looked a horse on the upgrade. Missoula, a very useful stayer on the flat was a winner at Fontwell but then failed to sparkle when beaten at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Free World has not quite been getting home in his races but he is a bold jumping front runner and the track at Kempton should suit him. I think he will be able to get out in front and stay there in the 4.30.
At Newbury I have 3 horses in mind for the 3.10, Ouzbeck, Hold Em and Money Order. Ouzbeck will like the ground but needs to come back from an early fall last week. Hold Em has been running consistently and last week was 3rd in the arcing post chase. The drying ground will suit both of these two. Money Order is a lightly raced type and is a course winner. My concern is that the trip might just be on the short side for him. Hold Em, with Richard Johnson on board, is my selection.
My only selection at Navan is Let Yourself Go each way in the 3.15.
As the Cheltenham Festival creeps ever nearer today’s illustrations are of triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate and the grey Rooster Booster, a past winner of the Champion Hurdle. My thanks to the artist Lisa Miller for permission to use these.
ahorse 