Author: Paul Davidson

DIVIN BERE could be very well-handicapped on the basis of his neck-victory over the current Triump Hurdle favourite, Masterblueyes. It’s hard to ignore that form, which was his first for the Nicky Henderson yard. He was an experienced hurdler in France and is perhaps more battle-hardened than his UK excursions would…

There is no good reason to stop BAIE DES ILES from following-up his impressive success in an Irish Grand National Trial at Punchestown three weeks ago. The handicapper gives him a 5lb rise for that, but with this being a conditions race, he picks up a handy 7lb for his…

Europe’s most valuable handicap hurdle looks typically competitive on Saturday. The younger generation have had the upper hand in recent years with five-year-olds winning six of the last ten. The novices head the market with last years Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy, a 9/2 outright favourite at the time of writing,…

A wide-open handicap features as the penultimate race on the Sandown card, with a nice mixture of improving novices and experienced stayers. Loose Chips finished third in a veterans handicap here last time out, a course specialist, who remains in good form and is likely to set a high tempo…

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…