Author: Paul Davidson

2m4½f (New) AIS December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) Il Rodoto is favourite for this having finished fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup over C&D last time out when racing against several of the same opponents competing here. But I’m not convinced he…

2m (Inner) Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) It’s a super renewal of the Royal Bond on what is a cracking day of racing in Ireland. Champ Kiely has looked highly impressive in both his hurdles wins for the Mullins yard, he’s firmly the stable’s first…

3m Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase (Grade B) Frontal Assault is a very short priced favourite for the Troytown Handicap at a curent best price of 5/2. He has a similar profile to Run Wild Fred, who won this last year, for trainer Gordon Elliott and looks very handily…

3m½f Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) It’s hard to rule anyone out with any confidence in the stayers handicap hurdle over at Haydock. Might I clearly has eye-catching formlines behind the likes of Jonbon, Constitution Hill and Three Stripe Life – all top…

2m½f (Old) JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Registered As The Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1) (3yo) This may not be the deepest Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle you will ever find, but it’s an intriguing contest all the same. The current favourite, Blueking D’Oroux, a French import for Paul…

2m Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1 Handicap) (3yo+) The ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ offers, what on paper, looks like one of the weakest renewals for some time. The International raiders haven’t arrived in force despite a relaxation of the stringent vet requirements that kept them away last year. Nevertheless…

7f Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1) (2yo Colts & Fillies) (New Course) (Turf) (2yo) It doesn’t look like the strongest renewal of this Group 1 and only one horse really has notable form on ground worse than soft, Pivotal Trigger. It is in intriguing that he has…

5f Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Group 1) (2yo+) The draw is often such a massive deciding factor of the winner it what is probably one of the least aesthetically pleasing Group 1 sprints to watch in the flat calendar year. In truth, the Prix De L’Abbaye is probably…

6f Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) We have seen back-to-back winners of the Wokingham and the Stewards’ Cup this season, Bielsa bids to follow suit here having won off 1lb lower. Favourite Khanjar has to be feared, but he remains very inexperienced and these handicaps can catch those sorts of…

5f Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes (Group 1) (3yo+) The bookies have finally copped-on to just how good Highfield Princess is having let her go off at massive prices throughout this season. This massively progressive mare may be the best sprinter around these days and is tough to…