Master Rooney ran quite well at Beverley recently despite not being well drawn. He could go close in the Newcastle 4.10 tomorrow where Rebel Duke and Roker Park are others to consider.
At Windsor my selections are Pekan Three (7.10) and Contredanse (7.40).
There are a couple of decent races at Bath tomorrow. Anglezarke has a good record first time out and looks the one they all have to beat in the 4.25. he Henry Cecil runner Tomintoul Singer looks the main threat.
Cool strike has shown marked improvement since being fitted with a visor. The firm ground at Bath should suit him and he is the selection in the 3.50.
The curtain comes down on another jumps season tomorrow with the mixed card at Sandown. The last big handicap pf the season, which I still think of as the Whitbread Gold Cup has been a bad race for favourites in recent years and it may pay to look for a bigger priced selection. Tamarinbleu has possibilities. He looks as though he may have been laid out for this by trainer David Pipe, he is a course winner, he will handle the ground and he was second on his last run and the winner and the third that day have both won since. At around 14/1 he looks a fair each way bet.
Twist Magic should be too good for his rivals in the Celebration Chase at 2.30 but he refused to race just 4 days ago in Ireland and could be something of a risky proposition. Oh Crick returns to 2 miles here which looks his best trip and he has form on good ground. If Twist Magic fails to fire he could be the one to capitalise.
Paco Boy is the class act in the 3.40, a race he won last season and his stable have won 4 times in the last 6 years. He is a short price though and it could be worth looking for an each way alternative. Border Patrol is a course and distance winner and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him in the first 3. For my selection though I am inclined to side with Confront who was progressive last season and should come on for his seasonal reappearance last month.
A case could be made for most of the runners in the 4.15. Crowded House and Glass Harmonium make most appeal, with slight preference for the former.
Up at Haydock the cleverly named Think it’s all Over looks the one to be on in the 7.35 where the booking of Jamie Spencer to ride looks interesting.
The 3.00 at Leicester is a trappy little race even though there are only 5 runners. Mark Johnston runs two in Exemplary and Green Lightning. The latter won at Nottingham last season but was a beaten favourite at Doncaster last month when only 4th of 6. It is too early to write him off yet though. A winner at Bath on fast ground last season Exemplary was 3rd at Ffos Las 18 days ago. The tough and consistent Aquarian Spirit comes from a stable in good from and is narrowly preferred to the Johnston pair.
At Ripon I like the chances of King of Wands in the 5.45. He has his first run for his new trainer John Gosden who had a winner today at Sandown.
Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
The big race tomorrow is the Irish Champion Hurdle. Solwhit, Medermit and Punjabi all try their luck after finishing down the field in the Cheltenham version while Dunguib, beaten when an apparent “certainty” at Cheltenham and Hurricane Fly returning from injury are other fascinating contenders. If Hurricane Fly is back to his best he would take some beating while Punjabi is proven on both the track and the going.
The Punchestown 4.55 looks ultra competitive. Quiscover Fontaine looks the pick of the home team although the ground may not be ideal for him. The British challenge comes from Kangaroo Court who was a first fence faller last week and Cheltenham winner Copper Bleu. I fancy this pair to go well.
I have been following Luska Lad this season with some success. He comes into the 6.05 on the back of a hat trick of wins. His most recent success was at Fairyhouse and the form of the race was boosted this week when the runner up won. Whether the ground will suit Luska Lad may be questionable but he is a serious contender. Reve de Sivola was runner up to Peddler’s Cross and Cheltenham and that horse has since won well at Aintree. Quantativeasing and Fionnegas are others to consider but Luska Lad and Reve de Sivola would be my main fancies.
The 6.40 could go to Arvika Ligeonniere from a stable very much in form.
At Sandown Invincible Soul looks well handicapped in the 1.10 while Simenon looks over priced in the 1.45. I would be inclined to look for some value in the 3.55 where Zahoo, Rock a Doodle Doo and Higgy’s Ragazzo all make some appeal.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Karen Davies.
Our good run continues with a couple more winners from last night’s preview.
At Fontwell tomorrow Latin America looks to have a lot going for him in the 2.20 and should record his first win of the season after a couple of seconds.
It seems that most of the heroes from the Cheltenham Festival have failed to reproduce their best form since. The latest Festival winner to reappear in Quevaga in the 5.30 at Punchestown. She should win although she will not have the benefit of Ruby Walsh in the saddle this time. Bensalem would be an interesting each way alternative back over hurdles after falling in the William Hill Trophy. Riverside Theatre ran a strange race in the Arkle, absolutely flying home after getting seriously left behind. He may not have been suited by the track at Cheltenham and warrants another chance in the Punchestown 6.40.
Wulfreda ran twice last season showing promise on her second outing at Yarmouth. She runs in the 3.00 at Beverley tomorrow where she looks to have a good chance. She is actually bred to appreciate further so if she fails this time I wouldn’t necessarily give up on her.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Maura Clarke.
Today’s “best bet” Atlantic Tiger won at 5/2.
In February Tajaarub beat Atlantic Tiger on the all weather at Lingfield. That was his only run to date and he looked to have plenty of improvement in him. He is my selection in the 3.45 at Catterick.
My selections at Epsom are Rocket Rob (2.20), Trip the Light (2.55) and Alainmaar (4.05). At Kempton Hypnotized looks well handicapped in the 8.20.
Denman should win the big race in Ireland while my other fancy at Punchestown is Ad Idem in the 4.55.
Today’s picture, courtesy of the artist Jenny Lupton, is of Beef or Salmon who won Punchestown’s Guinness Gold Cup back in 2004.
My only selection today, the previously unraced Bated Breath won at 5/2 at Pontefract. He is a half brother to Cityscape who was 4th in the Newbury Spring Cup at the Weekend.
We have been doing well recently with Saturday proving a most profitable day. My Scottish Grand National selection, Gone to lunch, finished 2nd at 15/2 but the 18/1 winner Merigo was advised each way. My two against the field in the John Porter Stakes were Harbinger (won 11/2) and Manifest (2nd 9/2). Other winning selections were Andytown (9/2), Dangerous Midge (5/1), Fair Trade (15/8) and Forte Dei Marmi (100/30) while there was also a positive write up about 40/1 winner Brunston.
Tomorrow there is an interesting newcomer in Affinity who runs in the 3.20 at Kempton. She may well need the race on her debut but she is bred to win races and is one to watch out for. In the same race Gay Mirage may do better than last time with the benefit of first time blinkers.
My best bet at Kempton though is Atlantic Story in the 3.55. He is a progressive sort and looks on a reasonable handicap mark.
Uncle Keef is probably no world beater but with the benefit of a recent run and with George Baker in the saddle he may be good enough in the 3.45 at Wolverhampton. Raktiman is my each way selection in the 4.15.
My thanks to Mike Smith for today’s photo.
Just the one selection for Monday, Bated Breath in the 4.10 at Pontefract.
Just 2 selections for Sunday.
The 2.35 at Ascot looks to be between Cockney Trucker and You’re the Top. Slight preference is for Cockney Trucker.
At Wincanton Brenin Cwmtudu looks well handicapped in the 2.45.
30 runners are set to line up for the Scottish National at Ayr tomorrow in a race that has only gone to a horse at odds of shorter than 12/1 once in the last 9 years. The lighter weights have also tended to do well although Grey Abbey did carry 11 stone 12 to victory back in 2004. Halcon Generlardais has run well in the race in the past finishing 2nd in 2008 off a mark of 169. He runs off just 150 tomorrow so the handicapper has given him a real chance if he can recover his old form. He probably needs more cut in the ground than he is likely to get which is a negative. Another to consider at the top of the weights is Gone to Lunch. He was second last season and now runs off a mark 8 lbs lower. He was 5th in the Hennessy earlier in the season off a mark of 11 lbs higher than he will have tomorrow. He will like the ground and has the benefit of Barry Geraghty in the saddle. At the other end of the weights I would give both Merigo and Dom D’Orgeval a chance. Merigo stays well as he showed when winning the Eider Chase last season and is on a reasonable mark. He has won twice before at Ayr and although most of his form is on soft ground he has won on good. Dom D’Orgeval has rediscovered his form of late and has been placed in his last 3 starts all in good company. If he handles the ground OK he could go well.
Gone To Lunch would have to be the selection although the other 3 all have each way chances.
Elsewhere on the card at Ayr Kangaroo Court could upset the favourite in the 2.15. He will handle the conditions and didn’t run badly last time at Cheltenham. Paul Nicholls can take the 3.55 with the in form Red Harbour with AP McCoy on board. I would be inclined to have a small each way saver on Andytown in this as long as all 8 runners stand their ground.
All Middleton Dene’s career wins have come on good or good to soft ground so he should be suited by conditions tomorrow in the 5.05. He won last time out and goes well for Graham Lee. Although his jumping can be suspect this longer trip might help him in that respect. Of the others Nikos Extra is not without a chance.
The best of the flat racing comes from Newbury. Marcus Tregoning has trained the winner of the 1.30 twice in the last 8 runnings and is represented this time by Latansaa. He was a good 3rd on his only run last season which was over course and distance. Another once raced colt, Engulf looks over priced at 20/1. A little juice in the ground would probably aid his cause.
The three that make the most appeal in the 2.00 are Akmal, Manifest and Harbinger. Akmal might find the trip a bit too short so the lightly raced pair of Manifest and Harbinger would be my two against the field.
The 2.35 is a trappy looking handicap. The Roger Charlton pair of Brunston and Cityscape are interesting runners at big prices with the latter having the best chance as he is well drawn and more likely to be suited by the ground. He lacks a recent run though and it could pay to side with the Lincoln 3rd Mull of Killough.
In the 3.05 the selection is Lady of the Desert although Deirdre could go well at a bigger price. The 3.40 sees Arcano and Canford Cliffs renew their rivalry from last season. I like both these two but over this trip I fancy Canford Cliffs to come out on top. Rodrigo De Torres could just surprise a few people at a very big price.
Total Command showed enough when 2nd at Newbury last season to suggest he will be winning races sooner rather than later and the 4.15 looks an opportunity for him to get off the mark.
Fair Trade was only beaten a head in a Newmarket maiden on his only start last season and although the form of the race has not so far worked out particularly well he looks the percentage call here. Udabaa was third on his racecourse debut at Kempton and looks the type to improve. He looks the obvious danger.
Luca Cumani is always a trainer to follow in the better handicaps and his Forte Dei Marmi, who has been gelded since his last run, looks to be in with a good chance in the 5.20.
There is an evening meeting at Doncaster where Haadeth and Deacon Blues look the pair to concentrate on in the 5.40. Deacon Blues may want a little more cut in the ground so I have a narrow preference for Haadeth. In the 6.50 I quite like the chances of the course and distance winner Dangerous Midge.
At Bangor-on-Dee Cool Mission and Abbevillian clash in the 2.05. Coool Mission has created a good impression when winning his last two starts while Abbevillian has quite strong form both in bumpers and over hurdles and comes here fresh. It is difficult to split the pair but if pushed for a selection I would go with Cool Mission.
The picture of Paris Pike, former winner of the Scottish National is courtesy of the artist Jenny Lupton. The picture of the parade ring at Newbury is courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
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