Author: Paul Davidson

1m2½f Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1) (3yo Colts & Fillies) (Turf) (3yo) There doesn’t appear to be a standout colt in this year’s French Derby and so often the French 2000 Guineas is a great trial for this race. Camille Pissarro finished third in the French 2000 is…

3m5f BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) (5yo+) Gavin Cromwell looks to have a very strong hand here and his challenge is spear-headed by NOW IS THE HOUR who might just be the type to put it altogether today over this trip and in awful ground…

3m (3m20y) CPMS Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+)  The top two set a decent standard here but have to give quite a bit of weight away to WHISTLE STOP TOUR who I fancied to run a big race in the Ultima before getting badly hampered by a faller early on…

3m1f (3m210y) (Mildmay) William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB) (Class 1) (5yo+) This isn’t the strongest of renewals so it may be that HAPPYGOLUCKY can step forward to win this having won it in 2021 off a 10lbs higher mark. He’s only had…

4m2½f (Grand National) Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (7yo+) The days of big-priced winners of this race are few and far between with only Noble Yeats winning at odds of greater than 14/1 in the last seven runnings. That is partly down to how…

3m (New) Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) I’m not convinced this is a high-class renewal of this race, but as we have seen for many years, anyone can win the Albert Bartlett. The Big Westerner is a big…

3m (2m7f213y) (New) Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo) D Art D Art possesses a hugely progressive profile and was unlucky not to claim a 3m 1f Qualifier on soft ground at Carlisle three months ago. That was his first try over three miles…

3m (2m7f213y) (New) Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) Teahupoo goes in search of his second Stayers Hurdle in a row, but last years renewal was poor and he got his favoured soft ground. The ground is quickerthis week and Teahupoo could be vulnerable to…

2m (Old) Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) Unexpected Party has got to be feared for target trainer Dan Skelton in his attempt to claim a second Grand Annual in a row. But the handicapper hasn’t relented by that much…

3m1f (Old) Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) I have a soft spot for the Ultima as the first handicap chase of the week and its shaping up to be a brilliant betting race. Lucinda Russell produced Corach Rambler to win back-to-back Ultima’s and WHISTLE STOP…