Aintree’s Grand National meeting kicks off on Thursday and, as ever, that means we have four consecutive Grade 1s to get stuck into. 13:45: Big Buck’s Celebration Manifesto Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) CYRNAME missed the Cheltenham Festival – where his form with JLT second Terrefort was firmly franked – and he…
1pt each-way Bellshill @10/1, 0.75pts each-way Squouateur @16/1, 17:00 Fairyhouse, Monday
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…
1pt each-way Mozu Katchan @14/1, 17:10 Meydan, Saturday
I really fancy the Japanese to play a big hand on World Cup night in Dubai, and having already advised Crocosmia to land the Dubai Turf earlier on the card, I can’t not fancy the chances of MOZU KATCHAN – who narrowly beat her in Group One company in their native Japan…
1pt win Crocosmia @22/1, 16:35 Meydan, Saturday
Japan have an excellent record in the Dubai Turf having won it three times in the past four years, and they look to have a strong hand to continue that dominance in today’s renewal. Two of those winners re-oppose this year and both have had their issues since their respective…
Al Quoz Sprint tips: Music Magnate, Conquest Tsunami and Stormy Liberal
We’ve a couple of weeks before the marathon Grand National, and there’s still plenty of jumps season left to go, but today our attentions turn away from soggy Britain and Ireland and towards the desert, where Dubai hosts its World Cup card. Nearly four miles shorter than the Grand National,…
1pt each-way Lord Glitters @6/1, 15:35 Doncaster, Saturday
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…
Triump Hurdle selections: Stormy Ireland and Farclas
Unusually for a Triumph Hurdle, we’ve only got a field of nine declared for this renewal and there must be a bet given we can rule out four of them with fair confidence. Apple’s Shakira flies the flag for England and she’s oh-so short in the betting at a shade…
0.75pts each-way Whiskey Sour @14/1, 0.75pts each-way Spiritofthegames @16/1, 0.5pts each-way Brelade @33/1, 14:10 Cheltenham, Friday
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…
2pts win's Cheltenham Gold Cup selections
The first thing to say about this season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup is it’s going to be a thorough test in every department, given the prevalent heavy ground places a huge emphasis on stamina, and the guaranteed strong pace will put jumping under the microscope. In 2015, the last time the…
Stayers' Hurdle tips: Yanworth and Wholestone
We made a fairly firm antepost play on YANWORTH reverting to hurdles from a scrappy novice chasing campaign to win an open renewal of the Stayers’ Hurdle. The 9/1 has disappeared and he’s been yo-yoing around the 5/1-6/1 mark ever since this became his confirmed festival target, and I’m still very confident…