Author: Joel Roberts

2m5f  (Old) Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)  (Class 1) (4yo+) I’ve been backing MONTE CRISTO for this race for months. He was super impressive over Christmas round Kempton but was slapped with a 12lb rise to 145, which is hardly generous yet perfectly fair. We’d be banking on him improving again…

2m½f (2m87y) (Old) Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4-6yo) We’ve little evidence to go by but THREE STRIPE LIFE looks a good bet in the bumper at 8/1. He impressed on the clock at Navan and it’s telling that Jamie Codd put him up…

2m½f (2m87y) (Old) Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) This is looking the race of the week as all the big guns are turning up and there are a few unexposed angles to keep things spicy. I had a 1pt each-way selection on Silver Streak all written up and…

2m½f (2m87y) (Old) Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Registered As The Fred Winter) (Grade 3) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo) This race is ridiculously competitive so I wouldn’t be going anywhere near the favourites. SAGE ADVICE is the one I keep coming back to. Rated 79 on the flat, he only made his hurdles debut in…

At first glance of this market, I was surprised to see the brilliantly named BAREBACK JACK at 6/1 after he impressed last time out, remaining unbeaten and taking the scalp of the useful Third Time Lucki. My Drogo is very good and his form really stands up to scrutiny after…

There’s not much in the way of obvious value in the Grade 1 races for the upcoming Cheltenham races at this stage, but BOB OLINGER is several times the price he should be in the non-runner no bet markets for the Supreme. Make no mistake, his form entitles him to…

Nicky Henderson only has a couple of horses left in the Supreme as all have either fluffed their lines or been sidelined. GIPSY DE CHOISEL is a big price for the opener in March but his form stands up to scrutiny. He traveled powerfully at Ascot behind Metier on his…

I’ve backed Nicky Henderson’s LECALE’S ARTICLE to win the Ballymore non-runner no bet at 20/1. He was bought for €320k two seasons ago after winning a point but missed last season through injury. He’s been campaigned very similarly to Shishkin as a novice hurdler, starting out by landing the same…

Joseph O’Brien hit a bit of form on Saturday with a 1-2-4 in the handicap hurdle and Fakir D’oudairies placing second in the Dublin Chase. He has been out of sorts this season and that might just be a valid reason to expect his runners are underestimated. BUSSELTON was a…

The market has clearly forgiven both Minella Indo and Delta Work for their falls in the Savills Chase, but Kemboy was clearly close to his best in that race and his best form might be a notch above anything the fallers have achieved. Kemboy prefers better ground and that might…