2pts win

1m4f  Longines Hong Kong Vase (Group 1) (3yo+) (Course A) (Turf)  (3yo+) I’m backing LUCKY LILAC in the early hours of Sunday morning over in Hong Kong. Trained in Japan and sired by 2012 and 2013 Arc-second Orfevre, she looked a chip off the old block when landing a Group One in…

2m4f  (2m3f173y) Elmbridge Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)  (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-130) I’m backing CROSSGALESFAMEGAME on his handicap debut. There’s plenty of exposed opponents in opposition and his initial mark of 125 is a bit of a guess from the handicapper. Interestingly, he won well last time out on heavy ground…

3m2f Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1) Not many horses have managed to win the Becher Chase and the Grand National in one season, although these lot will be hoping to do the mighty double. I can see the logic in Mulcahy’s Hill being favourite for this…

2m½f  (2m69y) Ladbrokes “Where The Nation Plays” Intermediate Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (Listed Race)  (Class 1) (4yo+ 0-155) I like two in this race. Dan Skelton’s Antunes looks progressive and should outrun her mark, but Nicky Henderson’s ELUSIVE BELLE could be very generously treated off a mark of 134. She split the 150-rated Reserve…

2m½f  (2m87y) (Old) Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)  (Class 1) (4yo+) This looks a typically competitive renewal but HARAMBE screams a bet at 16/1. Soft ground will inconvenience many but it should be no issue on pedigree. He pulled way too hard over a 3f longer trip on his reappearance at Chepstow, but was…

The jumps season is very much back and we have three selections from a saturated Cheltenham. 2m5f  (Old) Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Hyde Novices’ Hurdle)  (Class 1) (4yo+) Thyme Hill clearly has the best form in this, having placed in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Festival and opened…

2m Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1 Handicap) (3yo+) I hate to see the back of the flat season. But, with it, comes the Melbourne Cup. The ultimate international staying handicap has last year’s winner Cross Counter lining up for back-to-back wins. The first since Makybe Diva managed to achieve the…

5f Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+) This looks a fun race and it could feasibly go to any of the runners. The drop in trip to 5f from previous years is absolutely crucial to unlocking this race as it won’t be won by stamina – this will be…

1m Breeders’ Cup Mile (Grade 1) (3yo+) Circus Maximus is seeking to take the Breeders’ Cup Mile for Coolmore and is certainly the leading European raider on his best form. But he’s more of a grinding-type and you can see him possibly struggling to handle the pace of this race…

1m  Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore (Grade 1) (2yo Colts, Geldings & Ridglings) (Turf)  (2yo) This looks an ideal betting market as hot favourite Arizona is drawn out in stall 12 and trying a mile for the first time. He’s a very skinny price for those reasons and I’m going…