Author: Paul Davidson

Alary is the unexposed quantity in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase having raced in Grade 1’s over in France. He carries an entry for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, and if he can defy the burden of top-weight off a mark of 162 then he will be well worth his…

Sandy Beach is favourite for this primarily due to his trainer Colin Tizzard. The jolly returned to action to comprehensively beat weak opposition on his seasonal reappearance, and receives an 8lb penalty for that win. He could be progressive, and you can understand his position at the top-of-the-market, however, the…

The Welsh Grand National was run in arguably the most disastrous conditions that you could ever run a jumps race in last season, and just about went ahead in January, having been postponed from its usual spot on the 27th December. Mountainous prevailed in that slog, and is guaranteed a…

Go Conquer heads the betting in the market and is respected to put in a career best in the Silver Cup at Ascot. He does need to improve for the longer trip of 3m, and must beat a number of horses with superior chasing form already in-the-bag. He is favourite…

Village Vic returns to the scene of the greatest success of his career, and is an obvious contender to run well under the usual aggressive ride from Richard Johnson. Village Vic loves it around Cheltenham and looked exceptional when going down to Taquin De Seuil in the BetVictor Gold Cup…

The Betfred Becher Chase is always an excellent precursor to the Grand National and with unseasonably quick ground and a high quality field, it looks a cracking opening race over the National fences this season. There ought to be plenty of pace on with the likes of The Last Samurai…

Gordon Elliott has no fewer than eleven runners in a bid to win the Troytown Handicap Chase for a third year running at Navan. His challenge is headed by current favourite, NOBLE ENDEAVOUR, who looks to be going in to this off an extremely handy mark based on his efforts…

The last race at Haydock looks set to be an attritional staying handicap. Firebird Flyer was a winner of the Midlands Grand National last year in similar conditions, but it will take a career best off his current mark to be victorious here. Midnight Prayer will also need to produce…

An incredibly open listed handicap hurdle with six co-favourites all priced at around 8/1. Fingal Bay (2/2 over timber at Cheltenham) and Irish Saint drop in class, switching from fences for their opening run of the season. They occupy the top two spots in the handicap for the Hobbs and…