Author: Paul Davidson

Another devilishly competitive handicap with plenty of horses possessing a live chance in this. Recent trends suggest that horses who carry less than eleven stone seem to have the edge in this and eyes are immediately drawn to David Pipe’s French import, KING’S SOCKS who is having just his second…

The Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle tends to produce some massive priced winners with horses generally towards the bottom of the handicap coming out on top. The ideal profile tends to be of a lightly-raced, unexposed sort with a mark below 134. Nick Williams saddled last years’ winner in Flying Tiger,…

Unusually heavy going on the opening day of The Festival with the first handicap, the Ultima Handicap Chase, failing to attract its full compliment of runners with just 18 lining up. It has been a graveyard for favourite backers with just one winner in the last ten runnings. I really…

BAIE DES ILES faces its first marathon chase trip of the season over perfect conditions at Punchestown today, as the seven-year-old mare goes in search of her second victory in this race having hosed up off a 4lb lower mark last year. (more…) Tweet

There are cases to be made for many in this field and Irish Roe looks an interesting favourite for the richest handicap hurdle of the season. The last ten winners of this race have been aged five or six so it certainly pays to stick with the unexposed horses and…

Coo Star Sivola could be getting into his first handicap off a decent mark with plenty of promise shown on his previous three attempts over fences in novice company. That included defeats to both Finian’s Oscar and Kalondra so he may find this field of more exposed horses a much…

Haydock has managed to pass a late inspection this morning with the threat of a frozen track posing a risk to proceedings on the card today. It is set to be a grueling 3m 2f trip here in the Peter Marsh with plenty of dour stayers in the line-up. The…

It isn’t a vintage renewal of the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick this afternoon with fourteen runners going to post. With the lack in depth we want to be on the jolly for Warren Greatrix who has that touch of class. MISSED APPROACH ran better than the bare form in…

Testing conditions for the New Year’s day meeting at Cheltenham which has whittled the numbers down across much of the card. The BetBright Grade 3 Handicap Chase still has nine runners remaining, but looks to be a contest between the first three in the betting. Sametegal has run well on…

After the postponement of this race ten days ago, we remain firmly on our two previous selections. Unfortunately, their prices have since contracted having come in for support. The Coral Welsh Grand National was privileged to have one of the top staying chasers of last season in the field with…