We’ve had a tough time of it lately with 14/1, 12/1, 9/1, 6/1 and 2/1 selections coming second in April alone, as well as Al Boum Photo and Bellshill throwing away big races at the last when booked for victory. I really do feel jumps racing is really tough on…
2pts win Farclas @3/1, 16:25 Punchestown, Saturday
FARCLAS was very good winner of the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and I’m not sure what logic makes him third favourite behind Mr Adjudicator and Stormy Ireland, who looked well held at Cheltenham – it’s really bizzare. 3/1 is a fantastic price and I see absolutely no reason not to go…
17:15 Sandown tips: Wolf Of Windlesham, Le Breuil and Zubayr
Old favourite WOLF OF WINDLESHAM returns from a break off a lenient mark of 132 in the closing handicap hurdle of Sandown’s Saturday card. Information regarding his absence is hard to come by but he’s definitely well handicapped if in the same form as 2016, when he won the opener of this…
1pt each-way Blaklion @7/1, 0.5pt each-way Rathlin Rose @20/1,15:35 Sandown, Saturday
An entire season’s worth of preparation was wasted when BLAKLION was brought down at the first fence during the Grand National at Aintree a fortnight ago. He was strongly fancied off top-weight and it would have been a massive disappointment for connections seeing him depart so early. But with Blaklion…
Sandown Friday tips: Stormy Antarctic (6/1), Chilean (10/3) and Stephensons Rocket (11/1)
Flat racing is back at Sandown for Friday before it hosts the closing card of the jumps season on Saturday, and unfortunately the weather is threatening the party. There will be juice in the ground – potentially quite a lot – and that’s going to have a big impact on…
Punchestown day three tips: Penhill (2/1)
Thursday’s feature race sees dual-Cheltenham Festival winner PENHILL attempt to land a big seasonal Stayers’ Hurdle double, and I’m struggling to find a better price in the race than the general 2/1 available. He won at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance – and what a performance it was, cruising around the field on…
Punchestown day two tips: Sizing Granite (50/1) and Delta Work (9/1)
There were scarcely believable scenes at Punchestown on Wednesday as our 5/1 selection Al Boum Photo was booked for Grade 1 victory before his jockey, Paul Townend, appeared to panic approaching the last and attempt to steer him around – around – the fence, taking out Finian’s Oscar in second…
Punchestown day one tips: Sharjah and Al Boum Photo
Punchestown hosts its annual bonanza this week with almost all of Ireland’s finest jumpers out in action. This year, like last, sees Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott battle it out for the training championship and it’s safe to assume the two will dominate the many Grade 1s throughout the week.…
1pt each-way Vicente @10/1, 0.75pts each-way Sizing Tennessee @16/1, 16:05 Ayr, Saturday
Paul Nicholls horses always come to the fore at this part of the season and I see no good reason not to be on VICENTE, who seeks to claim a historic treble of Scottish Grand National victories. He comes in to this race 4lbs higher than his winning mark last…
1pt win Connect @14/1, 15:10 Newbury, Saturday
Flat racing is back at Newbury with the Greenham Stakes – which so often produces Group One winners – the feature race on Saturday’s card. Favourite Expert Eye flopped at Newmarket when odds-on at the back end of last season and connections aren’t giving out positive noises about his chances…