Author: Paul Davidson

Rebecca Curtis arrives mob-handed as she attempts to win back-to-back West Wales Nationals at Ffos Llas, where she has four out of the seven runners represented. Bob Ford returns on a 13lb higher mark than when he was successful here last year, and has to give weight all-round. He did…

The finale on Cheltenham Trials day may not be the highlight on the card, but by no means does it look any less competitive. It represents an intriguing little contest with several unexposed entrants sent handicap hurdling for the first time. Solstice Star goes in search of a five-timer with…

Minella Reception looked to be ahead of his mark on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock when falling three out. He had been jumping very smoothly for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Ryan Hatch, and look destined to be in the mix at the finishing line when going the best before he came…

Blood Cotil returns from a 261 day break in an attempt to win a race previously conquered by the likes of Foxrock and He’llberemembered. Mullins’s charge finished off last season strongly and there could be much more to come this season having largely disappointed as a novice. Top-weight and a…

The Classic Chase at Warwick looks a wide-open contest with several horses racing under a penalty for their last outing. Sego Success has a 7lb rise in the weights to contend with but looked in great nick when winning on his chase reappearance at Doncaster over 3m. Alan King thinks…

As is the norm for this time of year, the Welsh Grand National will be run in bottomless conditions and represents a great punting opportunity. In recent years it has paid dividends to side with a horse that loves cut in the ground, races off less than 11st and is…

Smad Place finished 27l behind Coneygree in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season and you could forgive connections for abandoning the prospect of another tilt this season. However, an operation on his epiglottis seems to have made him better-than-ever, and with the absence of Coneygree, this eight-year-old has a real live…

The Paddy Power Gold Cup form is asked a number of questions with several horses re-opposing over the New Course at Cheltenham. It’s fair to say the market is dominated by the outcome of that race with the first and second priced at 7-8/1 and locked in a battle for…

Cue Card’s trainer Colin Tizzard has had a stranglehold on this race in recent years with Hey Big Spender winning on three of the last four occasions. Having been retired in the spring, Tizzard attempts to add to that run with Masters Hill parachuted in for an in-form yard. He…