Author: Joel Roberts

Lots of good racing at Kempton on Saturday but the cards are real head scratchers. In the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle there’s a scarcity of hurdles experience in the race, which is why I’m backing the super-slick jumping SONG FOR SOMEONE to make his experience count. He seems to have improved since being gelded…

We’ve only advised one ante-post bet so far for the Cheltenham Festival – Clan Des Obeaux to win the Gold Cup at 10/1 – and it’s high time for another with just three weeks to go. The Supreme Novices’ and Ballymore Novices’ hurdles are open betting markets – and perhaps…

Reikers Island looks the wrong favourite in the 14.10 handicap chase, as his price suggests he’s definitely got improvement in him when that’s not assured. He’s up against an ex-Gold Cup winner in CONEYGREE and might be in for a shock when the old horse blasts off at his fairly…

Despite picking Waiting Patiently for last year’s renewal of the Ascot Chase, which he duly won, he looks a horse to take on this time around having run just the once this season when lucklessly unseating in the King George. He’s a short price and this looks a deeper field…

Maiden winner Klassical Dream must show a lot at home for Ruby Walsh to pick him over ARAMON in this Grade 1 novices’ hurdle, but Paul Townend’s mount looked really good last time out. Aramon is proven on good ground and at the track, two big pluses, so he’s got to have…

Delta Work is all the rage for the Flogas Novices’ Chase on Leopardstown’s Sunday card but I’m not sure he has the best form in the race, despite it being franked again on Saturday. La Bague Au Roi won the Grade 1 at Kempton at Christmas and I do think…

Apple’s Jade has been the star of the season so far by winning two Grade 1s by wide margins, and she drops back to two miles for the first time in years to contest the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. I think she’ll beat Supasundae, Melon and her three Gigginstown…

Vinndication might be favourite for the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown, Saturday, but I doubt he’s got the best form. It’s difficult to split Defi Du Seuil and Lostintranslation based on recent Cheltenham form, where DEFI DU SEUIL hit the front at the last but appeared outstayed up the…

Festival hopefuls go on trial at Cheltenham on Saturday, where the 3m Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle probably looks the best race of the day, attracting plenty of the names in the mix for the Stayers’ Hurdle back at the track in March. I think the betting market has it spot…

We’ve had no rain this winter and good ground prevails with Kempton officially ‘good’ on Lanzarote Hurdle day. Flat Kempton on such going demands a bit of speed, which is why ex-flat horses often show their best form in those conditions, and that’s what I’m looking for. The favourite Kloud…