3m Dave Dawes Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (Class 1) The Silver Cup Handicap looks wide open at Ascot on Saturday judging by the market and currently Yaltari is heading the market for Venetia Williams. He races off a nice mark and will love the ground. But he has…
1pt win Not So Sleepy @10/1, 15:35 Ascot, Saturday
1m7½f (1m7f152y) Betfair Exchange Trophy (A Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) At the time of writing, Ascot have downgraded the going for Saturday’s card to soft, heavy in places, and I strongly suspect there will be significantly fewer than the 18 currently declared for the Betfair Exchange Trophy turning up. Ante-post favourite…
Saturday Cheltenham selections: Elysian Flame (11/1)
2m1f (2m179y) (New) JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (Class 2)(3yo) If he can jump, ELYSIAN FLAME could well be a class above this field based on his flat rating, where he would have a huge amount in hand versus the other flat converts in the race. The bar is…
1pt each-way Brelan D'As @7/1, 13:55 Cheltenham, Saturday
2m4½f Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) Frodon picked up his second victory in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup before going on to claim the Ryanair Chase last season. He was chased home by Cepage, who comes into this on a 12lbs higher mark after…
1pt win Lucky Lilac @10/1, 05:40 Sha Tin, Sunday
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…
Saturday Sandown selections: Crossgalesfamegame (9/2), Ashutor (7/1), Song For Someone (10/1), Sceau Royal (15/2)
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…
1pt each-way Walk In The Mill @17/2, 1pt each-way Definitly Red @11/1, 13:30 Aintree, Saturday
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…
Newbury Saturday tips: Elusive Belle (5/1), Two Taffs (16/1 ew)
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…
Cheltenham Sunday selections: Harambe (16/1 ew)
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…
Cheltenham Saturday tips: Happygolucky (10/1), Allmankind (13/2), Siruh Du Lac (13/2)
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…