My selections are highlighted in bold. Other horses mentioned should be considered as the main dangers.
Ffos Las
12.50 Rebecca Curtis has 3 runners in this. Salomo had some good form in France and was 3rd on his latest start over hurdles. He was 3rd behind stable companion Peckhamecho here last time. He runs over a longer trip tomorrow. Top of the Range won a bumper here in April and the runner up that day has won twice since.
1.20 Winning point to pointer Rev it Up showed a taking attitude to beat a Paul Nicholls runner at Chepstow on his hurdles debut with the 3rd well beaten off. Maiden point to pointer Romeo Desbois was runner up here in a bumper last season.
1.55 Fishoutofwater won twice over hurdles in May but was very disappointing in two subsequent efforts over fences.
3.00 Palace Jester reverts to hurdles after disappointing over fences.
Kempton
12.30 Darlan won a Haydock bumper without coming off the bridle and looks a nice prospect for hurdles. Sleeping City has been a beaten favourite on both his starts in bumpers. He is almost certainly better than he has shown so far.
1.00
Nicky Henderson takes on Paul Nicholls here with Chablais v Escort’men. The former was a beaten favourite on his chase debut at Fontwell and Chablais, a winning pointer who was very impressive when winning over hurdles at Kempton in January is preferred.
1.30 Whoops a Daisy a winner 3 times last season made an encouraging return when 2mnd over an inadequate trip at Wetherby last month.
2.05 This should be a penalty kick for Mossley. He just needs a clear round.
2.35 Fontano comes from an in from stable and may be suited by this trip.
Ludlow
1.10 Muldoon’s Picnic was 5th in a Grade 1 hurdle at Aintree at the end of last season but fell early on his chase debut at Huntingdon.
Nap of the day
Darlan
Dark Horse
Whoops a Daisy
From the archives
The big race this Saturday is the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. It was first run in 1957, but at Cheltenham rather than Newbury. 19 runners went to post with the top weight the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Linwell ridden by Peter Scudamore. The favourite was The Callant twice a winner over 4 miles at Cheltenham and who had recently beaten the Gold Cup runner up Kerstin over 3 miles at Ayr.
The youngest horse in the race was the 6 year old Mandarin who had only been beaten a neck in the Whitbread the season before. Other fancied runners were Whitbread Gold Cup winner Much Obliged trained by Neville Crump and Bremontier the Scottish National winner.
In the race Mandarin was always handy and led approaching the last fence where he was challenged by Linwell. In a rousing finishing Mandarin prevailed by 3 lengths with Linwell 2nd. Bremontier edged out The Callant for 3rd.
Today’s picture is by kind permission of the artist Sue Malkin.
ahorse 