Author: Joel Roberts

Epsom hosts its Derby Trial at 2.45 today, attracting seven runners in what looks a wide-open heat. Cape Of Good Hope, a full brother to the brilliant Highland Reel as well as Royal Ascot winner Idaho, is the 7/4 favourite and there to be shot at on the back of…

Spring is in the air and flat racing is back at Newmarket for the Craven meeting, with the feature Craven Stakes one of the main domestic trials for the 2,000 Guineas over the same course and distance in May. Last year’s spoils went to a 9l winner in Masar, who…

In the Scottish Champion Hurdle I’ve got a lot of time for the smart novice Mister Fisher, but at 11/2 I can’t say he’s much of a price and, in contrast, the 9/1 about REDICEAN is too good to ignore. As a juvenile he looked electric when running away with…

The big one at Aintree is off at 17:15 on Saturday but there’s plenty of good racing on the undercard. I’m backing THE BIG BITE for his first attempt at 2m4f, as I suspect 16/1 is a generous price. He jumped poorly two starts ago at Kempton and notably improved…

Aintree’s Grand National meeting begins on Thursday with four consecutive Grade Ones, which sentimentally feature several 2pts win favourites from past and present. The first and most obvious value bet of the day is LA BAGUE AU ROI at 2/1 in the 2m4f novices’ chase that opens the card. We…

We’ve had four good winners this week with Frodon’s dramatic Ryanair win the undoubted highlight, and it’ll be a profitable Cheltenham regardless of what happens on Friday. However, with 25% of the Festival left to go there’s still time to make a good Cheltenham into a great one. Gold Cup…

Paisley Park has been all the rage for the Stayers’ Hurdle since his demolition job in the Cleeve Hurdle, but I can’t take that form too seriously given West Approach – who is barely a 150 rated horse – has chased him home the last twice. I think he’s there…

DEFI DU SEUIL will win. 1pt win Defi Du Seuil @3/1, 13:30 Cheltenham, Thursday Tweet

Thursday’s Ryanair Chase looks brilliant, with so many holding live chances. The first and easiest to rule out on price grounds would be last year’s Arkle winner Footpad, who has been poor this season and has no right to be favourite for this race. His stablemate Un De Sceaux is…