Author: Paul Davidson

An entire season’s worth of preparation was wasted when BLAKLION was brought down at the first fence during the Grand National at Aintree a fortnight ago. He was strongly fancied off top-weight and it would have been a massive disappointment for connections seeing him depart so early. But with Blaklion…

Paul Nicholls horses always come to the fore at this part of the season and I see no good reason not to be on VICENTE, who seeks to claim a historic treble of Scottish Grand National victories. He comes in to this race 4lbs higher than his winning mark last…

The Grand National had its first Scottish winner of the race for a number of years in 2017 with One For Arthur, who unfortunately misses out through injury for this renewal. But the Scots could follow up again with another winner in the race with Sandy Thomson-trained SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT, who I…

It remains incredible to think that Willie Mullins still goes in search of his first win in the Irish Grand National. Pairofbrowneyes switched to the Champion trainer at the start of the year and shades favouritism for the race. He showed massive improvement on his first start for the yard, winning…

It’s the official start of the flat racing season this weekend and normally I’d say it’s a time to keep your powder dry. But the Lincoln is difficult to resist, especially when you’ve arguably got a black type horse in the making in LORD GLITTERS bidding to collect another big…

The County Hurdle is arguably the most competitive handicap of The Festival and was won by none other than the classy Arctic Fire last year. Going conditions remain extremely testing, and with all of the last ten winners (other than Arctic Fire) winning from a mark lower than 140, it…

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