Author: Paul Davidson

A high quality card on the opening day of the Leopardstown Christmas festival. There is a competitive looking feel across the card, from the two opening maiden hurdles to the bumper, which are either side of the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice chase, which is set up for a mouth-watering…

There are strong predictions for heavy outbreaks of rain tomorrow, and it’s to be seen how much will have come down by 13:55 at Cheltenham, so I’d steer clear of good ground dependant horses. This factor combined with the short price of 10/3 for Rather Be, rules out what will…

Arguably one of the best trials for the Grand National is the Becher Handicap Chase and the first taste of the National fences this season. Last year’s runaway winner Blaklion returns for another crack, and is unquestionably the class horse in the race. He was brought down in the National…

OZZIE THE OSCAR went extremely close in the Haldon Gold Cup last month when just getting pipped by perennial Grade 1 performer God’s Own, who was benefitting from a lenient mark. This son of Oscar is rated 145 over hurdles and opened the campaign with a decent third to eventual…

This is an ultra-competitive renewal of the Greatwood Hurdle and it’s set to be run at a blistering pace on the final day of the November meeting. Verdana Blue is the current favourite and has looked better and better this year having had her preferred ground. She’s the class horse…

The BetVictor Gold Cup looks wide-open on the Saturday card at Cheltenham, so we’ve taken a closer look at the Grade 3 Handicap Chase at 13:50, with ever-present in these races Singlefarmpayment seemingly going to go off favourite again. He is likely to run his race, but he never quite…

The Melbourne Cup has transformed over recent years with the European bred stayers tending to dominate the home team in terms of the number of challengers. The prize money on offer has seen plenty of International winners with the Australian bred stayers not quite up to the level. Lloyd Williams…

The Breeders’ Cup is clearly taking centre stage this Saturday and John Gosden has an opportunity to make history with Enable later in the day. But closer to home, we like a three-year-old of his that’s running in the Price Bailey Ben Marshall Listed Stakes at Newmarket. GRAFFITI MASTER may…

The flat season is beginning to wind down with just the Breeders’ Cup and Melbourne Cup of the big meets remaining. The feature race this Saturday at Doncaster is the juvenile Group 1 later on the card, which appears to possess several horses that can make their presence felt in…

Willie Mullins is set up nicely to do a glorious Cesarewitch double with the Irish instalment of this cracking handicap taking place at Navan on Sunday. Another rampage of runners from the champion trainers’ yard here, fielding seven, with several possessing an interesting chance. But the pick of his bunch…