Author: Joel Roberts

Caspian Caviar Gold Cup aside, good punting opportunities are few and far between today but there may be some value about the Grade-2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Raced over just shy of three miles, today’s soft ground and Cheltenham’s hill will make this a proper test of stamina, which…

At 14/1, Private Malone stands out as the value bet in this three-mile novice chase. Never outside the top two in his five career starts, he looks to have been dismissed by the bookies despite an impressive seasonal début at Haydock. He travelled like the best horse, jumped well and got…

Five go to post for this 19-furlong Sunday Grade 2. Hurricane Desmond seems to have let the Huntingdon area off lightly, so the going remains good to soft, soft in places. Despite being the grand old age of 12, last year’s winner Wishful Thinking arrives in really good form, having finished…

A really tricky Grade 1 to call, though the weather may have the final say with an inspection due at 8am. Heavy rain has led to heavy going and, despite the two-and-a-half-mile trip, it’ll be a real test of stamina. That won’t help Shark Hanlon’s Hidden Cyclone, who arrives in good form…

It’s quality over quantity as just four go to post in this three-mile listed contest. Last season’s Hennessy, Betbright Chase and Grand National winner Many Clouds returns after making hard work of his seasonal debut behind Cue Card in the Charley Hall at Wetherby. The long-term target remains a repeat…

Sod the hurdlers, two-mile chasers represent the best the National Hunt game has to offer and this year’s renewal of the Grade-1 Tingle Creek Chase was shaping up to be classic. With the back-in-form Sprinter Sacre, his fragile stablemate Simonsig out after a near-three-year hiatus to finally deliver upon the promise of…

Coneygree’s absence has changed the complexion of this year’s Hennessy Gold Cup. His catch-me-if-you-can style would have strung the field out long before respective treatment by the handicapper came into play. I’m confident he’d have won. His absence is great news for our ante-post selection Bobs Worth, as he couldn’t cope with…

At a big price, I’ve been tempted into having a bet on Ubak in the Grade-2 Fuller’s London Pride Novices’ Chase. Not seen on track since 2013, his trainer Gary Moore has him “as fit as we can get him at home” so he might be a snip at 22/1…

There’s some nice racing at Newbury on Thursday, with the Grade 2 Bet365 Novices’ Chase standing out. French Champion Hurdle winner Un Temps Pour Tout is the favourite after a solid chase bow at Cheltenham’s Open meeting. He was beaten by the outsider Vicente that day, a defeat that his…