Kempton – Betbright Chase

PHOTO : http://www.sportinglife.com

It's not too bad a day today for racing. A few pointers to the festival and a couple of competitive handicaps in the Betbright Chase and the Eider Chase. Not ling to go now until the festival and I'm starting to draw up my list!! Brimg it on! Here are today's selections :

OPENING BATSMAN 1535 KEMPTON (nap)

This fella won this race when I napped him a few years ago as a novice, read it here. He has dropped to the same mark again of OR140. Good ground is crucial to him and he ran a cracker here a couple of starts ago and came up the home straight in the lead. He just didnt last the trip in the ground. He carried 11st 10lbs that day and with the apprentice's claim he only has 10 stone on his back today!! That is a huge difference and I'm expecting a huge run from this sound jumper. He will be up with the pace which is important here and I think he'll tussle it out with his stablemate. Huge price too!

 

BATAVIR 1545 CHEPSTOW (nb)

I have backed this guy all year as I'm convinced he will win a race like this. He has been very disappointing so far and looks a shadow of the horse who bounced onto our shores a few seasons ago. I still think he's got it though, and interestingly he's finally back down to his last winning mark. It's a cracking race this but I really do fancy him today and their is support in the market too.

 

WYCK HILL 1450 NEWCASTLE (treble)

Another previous winner, and another returning to his last winning mark of OR133. He won this off that mark two years ago and he will relish the trip and despite the ground maybe not being as heavy as he likes, soft ground over four miles at a decent clip will help him!

 

MUTHMIR 1345 LINGFIELD

Performed very well last year and was third in both the Kings Stand and the Prix De L'Abbaye to the sprint revelation of last year, GOLDREAM. He won at Glorious Goodwood and has shown enough class and speed in his tank to take this. My only thought is the about the surface?

 

My dad's selections are :

ROCKY CREEK 1535 KEMPTON

DRAYTONIAN 1420 KEMPTON

SUMMERY JUSTICE 1450 NEWCASTLE

BATAVIR 1545 CHEPSTOW

 

Standings

 

FATHER 2-5 SON

PROFIT/LOSS

Father – £79.34

Son +£17.96

 

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A Soggy Saturday!



The Bandit writes the blog from a very soggy, miserable Sheffield this morning and the ground at nearby Doncaster is going to be very testing. Not the greatest Saturday on the betting front I’ve seen and I know a few of my fellow twitterati are looking to opt pout today. However, jumps is my baby so I’ve had to have a look and hopefully I’ve found a few to whet the appetite ready for the first being meeting at Cheltenham next weekend. I always bet with my heart and have to follow the horses who I know have the class in the bag there are a few of those today, so please as always remember these are my thoughts and my horses that are close to me, so I’m not saying slap all your wages on them! I hope they run a good race and that we get a good cheer, potentially there are four decent winners here!

Sit back and enjoy the best you can on this dreary day!

OPENING BATSMAN 1440 WINCANTON (NAP) – (unplaced = -£5.00) this boy is a cliff horse for me and one I always keep an eye on and follow. To say he had a disaster last season is an understatement, yet here he is at a decent 12-1 in a competitive race, why not be a big outsider based on last year? Easy, he’s a class horse and his mark today is very eye-catching. The handicapper has given him a real chance today. He beat ROLLING ACES in the Racing Plus Chase the other year of a mark of 140 – so now you see! I just hope the rest over the summer and the cheekpieces have rekindled the old fire in his belly. Fehily will stoke him up if so!

JACK DEXTER 1425 DONCASTER (NB) – (unplaced = -£5.00) he won this race last year off a big penalty and comes here in form off the back of a veery good second on horrible ground to GORDON LORD BYRON at Ascot. He is also albs better off today with the second placed horse that day TROPICS. He also loves it here and will love the mud, and boy oh boy has it been raining here this morning! Has to have a super chance!

ROCK ON RUBY 1515 WINCANTON (TREBLE) – (3rd – 4-1 = £2.50) the star is back! A class horse in this sphere and proved that when getting beaten a head by THE NEW ONE at Aintree after a dismal showing when chasing earlier in the year. That form, plus his earlier hurdle form, is by far and away the best of offer here. He has to give lumps of weight away to IRVING but that one needs to prove he has it at this level, and I’m not sure he has it, especially based on his Cheltenham run.

POLLY PEACHUM 1405 WINCANTON – (WON 6-1 = £18.75) this one comes with a warning. She’s one I love and there are a few question marks against her today. That being the ground, she needs decent ground as you saw when she beat L’UNIQUE last year and was just pipped by SOUTHFIELD THEATRE, smart form you’ll agree! The weight she has to give away is the second question against her. However, she is a class mare and I have thought highly of her since I saw her demolish her rivals in a bumper at Warwick. Can she lug the weight? Yes, she’s going to be even better than her current mark suggests in my opinion, the ground is my sticking point today. She’s one for your notebooks though.

My Dad’s selections are :

HAWKEYETHENOO 1350 DONCASTER (NR)

TROPICS 1425 DONCASTER (unplaced = -£5.00)

STANDING OVATION 1450 WINCANTON (PU = -£5.00)

MELVIN THE GRATE 1605 DONCASTER (unplaced = -£5.00)

Standings after Week 2

Father 1-1 Son

Money Scores

Father -£16.73

Son £7.39

Sandown, Ripon and a Monster Scoop6



The curtain comes down on another fantastic jumps season. My favourite part of the season has to be HOLYWELL winning again at the Cheltenham festival. Love that horse! Probably every man and his dog are having a go at the Scoop6 today with the forecast jackpot, to pick 6 winners in itself is a miracle, never mind with 90 odd runners covering the races, more chance of winning there lottery, but someone has to, I hope its me, my family or one of you twitter friends! Good luck!

I went to Ripon racecourse in the Easter break for the first time, its a beautiful little course and the photo above is of ROUDEE winning the first at that meeting. I’m opting for a few selections again there this afternoon. The weather is key today and there has been a lot of rain, as I type the blog, Ripon reports as being on the slow side of good, Sandown – good to soft, good in places and Haydock good to firm! A right mixed bag! Looking forward to two weeks today as I will be in Warwick for my annual jaunt there!

Here are my selections for today, with my dad’s too, I’m currently whooping his ass! Whatever you select today good luck!

PEARL ICE 1450 RIPON (NAP) – (unplaced -£5.00) Looked a decent horse a few years ago and has disappointed a little bit to be fair. However he is a course and distance winner here on good to soft beating BECKERMET off 90. He also won at Doncaster over this distance on good to soft also off 90. Has raced off a high mark of 98 and has now dropped to an appealing mark of 92. He is well drawn and the visor may sharpen him up. I think he has a cracking chance here! I watched BARKSTON ASH win here the other week and he did it well and he is a danger despite his low draw.

POLLY PEACHUM 1625 SANDOWN (NB) – (2nd – 100/30 = £2.08)this mare ran a cracker again last week at Cheltenham and she has won me a good bit of money from here last two runs. The ground is key to her success so I’m slightly concerned on that front and advise caution here. However, a mare in form is always worth following and she has been raised 15lbs for her win at Cheltenham. I still think she has more to offer to be honest and Barry Geragty was very positive about her chances too in his blog.

CAESAR MILAN 1730 SANDOWN – (TREBLE) (3rd – 4-1 = £2.50) this is a cracking little race and some good horses running. L’UNIQUE may well have had his form boosted if POLLY PEACHUM goes in again and is a worthy top weight. However, my selection has been given some sharp rises by the handicapper and I think rightly so as he is a decent prospect. Two wins on heavy were impressive and the tongues tie really sorted him out. He ran really well back in a Grade 3 at here behind BRAVE VIC. Both DOCTOR HARPER and BROTHER BRIAN have gone on to win again from this race and my selection has been raised another 3 lbs to 134, the same mark BROTHER BRIAMN now has. He has to have a chance although I would have preferred the ground a bit softer.

STIFF UPPER LIP 1405 SANDOWN – (unplaced = -£5.00) won very easily in a novice event at Towcester on Sunday and interestingly is chucked back in here off the same mark. He also won very well at Newbury earlier in the year destroying the field on heavy ground. A versatile horse that could be on the up. Worth a punt at a good price seen as some of the more favoured horses have question marks against them.

As for the BET365 Gold cup I think ROALCO DES FARGES has a great chance, he was second in this to TIDAL BAY two years again off a pound lower and the Scottish National was too far for him. That said I have to chance my arm with my old favourite OPENING BATSMAN, he has ran like a pig all year and the trainer doesn’t know why as he shows all his ability at home. He has been given blinkers to day to hopefully sharpen him up and the increased distance will also help too. This guy has bags of class but hasn’t fancied it, interestingly Nick Scholfield rung up wanting the ride when Fehily got off! IF, and its a big IF he runs to his form when he beat ROLLING ACES last year he has a cracking chance. Co-incidently he is back down to the mark he won that race off!!

My Scoop6 selections are :

Leg 1 – STIFF UPPER LIP

Leg 2 – SIR REGINALD

Leg 3 – PEARL ICE

Leg 4 – YOURARTISONFIRE

Leg 5 – MOIDORE

Leg 6 – OPENING BATSMAN



My Dad’s selections today are :

KELTUS 1405 SANDOWN (unplaced = -£5.00)

ARKDIILY WITNESS 1550 SANDOWN (unplaced = -£5.00)

CAESAR MILAN 1730 SANDOWN (3rd 4-1 = £2.50)

MY KINGDOM 1655 DONCASTER (WON 9-1 = £28.12)

Current standings – FATHER 7-8 SON

Profit – FATHER £68.04 SON £124.24

2013 – The Bandit’s review

I figured as it was the last day of the year that I should look back on my blogging exploits of 2013. Firstly can I say a huge thank you for all you guys and gals that take time to read my blog every week. I really enjoy sharing my views on a sport we all love and I've really enjoyed interacting with some of you over Twitter this past year. I've been able to join #Teamchoochoo and get a share in a race horse! Cheers @ianmallard. I've also had over 11,000 views of the blog this year – awesome stuff. Another big thank you to those of you who RT the blog on Twitter.

 

So here are my blogging highlights this past year!

 

HOLYWELL

I tracked this horse all last season and knew it had a big race in it! I mentioned it as one of my strongest bets at Cheltenham of the week here. He only went and obliged at 25-1 – I napped him that day and it was great to get some responses on twitter from people who had read my piece and thought they would have a go too. Cheltenham was quite a good festival for the blog as I also had BACK IN FOCUS, LORD WINDERMERE, CHAMPAGNE FEVER, HURRICANE FLY, AT FISHERS CROSS AND BOBS WORTH that won for me. Took some money off the bookies that week.

 

OPENING BATSMAN

I napped this fella on the blog just before Cheltenham when he beat Rolling Aces at Kempton. Was great to as thr race panned out just like I thought and I also had a top treble that day with my nb IRISH SAINT and my treble horse GRANDIOSO also landing. Read the blog here

 

PACHA DU POLDER

My form was pretty hot in and around this time and I napped this horse at Newbury. It was always rated highly by Paul Nicholls but never seemed to get his ground. It did this day at romped in at 18-1. Another huge winning nap! Read the blog here

 

TIDAL BAY

I have mention this old boy! He's my favourite horse in training and what a year it has been for him, his Lexus techincally came in 2012 but what a turnaround Paul Nicholls has made with this horse! It makes you wonder what he could have achieved had he been there all his career and how poor Howard Johnson really was! His performance in the Hennessey giving Bob's Worth 6lbs and only just being beaten was ace and also what a brave fight he gave in the Welsh National just last week. He for me is already a National Hunt legend!

 

That was the end of the jumps season really except for the Aintree festival, this always seems to elude me and I never quite get the winners there! I'm still waiting for a National winner too – getting a bit like AP did before his success – just cant seem to pick the winner! Tidal Bay this year? Who knows!

 

I'm not as good on the flat with my selections as I seem to be over the jumps and to be fair I love the jumps more! The flat season revolved around these blog highlights for me

 

KINGSGATE NATIVE

An old favourite of mine and I put him up on the blog to win the Temple Stakes at Haydock and he obliged at 14-1 that day.

 

DECLAN CARROLL

Now Mr Carroll is a northern trainer I've followed for a few years and he is good to watch around York, Catterick and Beverley. Particularly with sprinters on their first or second run. Last year he sent out LASTCHANCELUCAS to win at 100-1 at York. This year I selected TWEETY PIE of his on the blog and it romped in at 66-1! Keep your eye on him, he sends a few big priced winners out every year. Read the Tweet Pie blog here

 

We of course cant forget the passing of one of the greatest horsemen of all time in Sir Henry Cecil. What a man he was – a privelege to have seen him train. We were also treated the the likes of TORONADO, DAWN APPROACH, DANK, and of course the blistering display from TREVE in the Arc.

 

It's been quite a year and I've loved every minute of it, I look forward to blogging more this year and maybe sharing a few more winners with you.

 

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Charlie Hall Chase

Today sees the return of the jumping season. Am I looking forward to it, just a bit! My all time favourite horse, Tidal Bay, goes again aswell. The picture above is of him winning the Lexus Chase last year under an awesome ride from Ruby Walsh. There are some cracking races today and some old favourites and some potential new stars in the offering. This is what racing is all about!

If you're having a bet, good luck, and whatever happens lets hope all these favourites of ours get round in one piece. The Charlie Hall Chase is always the grand curtain raiser, today I'm not having a bet in the race as I think the up and coming horses have alot to find with Long Run, especially on softer ground.

 

CHRIS PEA GREEN 1445 ASCOT (NAP) – (2nd – 8-1) this horse is a potential huge improver this year and he ran very well behind Our Conor in the Triumph at Chletenham, despite not having a smooth run. He is a horse I will follow closely and with the conditions being a bit softer I think it will play to his strengths even more. COURT MINSTREL is a class horse and I backed him both times when winning las year, he is one to follow but I think the ground will be against him today, he needs genuine good ground in my opinion and I don't think he'll get it today.

 

ROLLING ACES 1505 DOWN ROYAL (NB) – (WON – 9-4) Paul Nichols has an awesoem record in this race and I think my selection will win again for him. He ran some excellent races last year and his form with OPENING BATSMAN is strong despite him being pipped by his rival at Kempton. He has been targetted for this race and should deliver

 

TIDAL BAY 1500 WETHERBY (TREBLE) – (WON – 11-4) what a horse this guy is, and a real character too. Paul Nicholls has really got the best out of him and he won this race last year off the same mark. He went on to have an incredile season over the timber and compounded my fondness of him. At the weights he would have had a difficult time against AT FISHERS CROSS, however, now that foe is a non runner he has every chance of repeating his success. Win or lose I don't care, he's owes me nothing.

 

OPENING BATSMAN 1520 ASCOT – (PU) another horse that owes me nothing after winning at Kempton last year when I napped him on this blog. That was a smooth performance and there was alot to like. He is another horse with a big future and I think you can forget his run at Aintree towards the end of last year. He was tired, Aintree is a specialist course and BATTLE GROUP made it a ferocious pace which meant my boy had to be niggled along and he son faded. Today should be more smooth and pedestrian and his is a massive price considering ROLLING ACES is 2-1 fav for the Powers Irish Whiskey Chase.

 

FAIRY RAITH 1410 ASCOT – (unplaced) won here and at Haydock towards the end of last season and has very strong form in the book, including a defeat of CONQUISTO who franked the form last week under AP. Has lots of things in his favour and should run a big race.

 

SWIFTLY DONE 1420 NEWMARKET – (4th – 20-1) my old mate Declan Carroll sends a few to headquarters and he has a decent record there. My selection is running a pound below his last winning mark and cries out for soft/heavy ground. He has that today and could run a big race.

 

TULLIUS 1530 NEWMARKET – (3rd – 7-2) I was really disappointed with his run when I napped him on here the other week, he obviously needed it. Let's hope today he shows his true colours, SOVEREIGN DEBT helped the form of his last success when running well in defeat the other week at Doncaster. Has to run better today!

 

PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE 1430 DOWN ROYAL – (3rd – 7-1) this guy was favourite for the National before injuring himself and I cannot believe he is 12-1 for this race, yes there are a few others that are well treated, but he has class and 3 miles in yielding ground is right up his street.

 

FINESSE 1600 NEWMARKET – (unplaced) I watched this filly win well at Warwick earlier in the year, she has good form on quicker ground but also has won on soft. She was thrown in the deep end last time out in a Listed contest and drops back to Class 4 this time. She may be forgotten, but I haven't!

 

BLOG STATS :

Naps 43/213 = 20.2%

Wins 179/1095 = 16.3%

Placed 284/1095 = 25.9%

Win and Placed = 42.3%

@Tweet_Naps overall record. Click the link. All Time Profit/Loss currently +£61.83

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Grand National Day

Here it is, the biggest racing spectacle in the world. Hundreds of thousands of pounds will be bet, millions of people around the world will watch. I really love this race as it is so exciting, this race irritates me though as I haven't picked the winner since Rhyme n Reason! Lets hope today is my day!

 

You can read my selections below, but these are my National bets, all each way of course!

 

ON HIS OWN

BALTHAZAR KING

CHICAGO GREY

 

Whatever you back lets hope they all get round safe.

 

ON HIS OWN 1615 AINTREE (nap) – (FELL) this is what carries my main money today in the race. I backed him last year when he was going well before falling at Becher's second time around. He is a sound jumper though and moves well through his races. He hits most of the trends other than experience, I reckon he has a huge chance. I am also putting some coins on CHICAGO GREY, he is another sound jumper and stays all day. With the better ground I have also had to have a bet on BALTHAZAR KING who will love the ground, the trip and he goes well fresh.

 

OPENING BATSMAN 1525 AINTREE (nb) – (PU) he won for me on my blog last time out at Kempton when he was given a peach of a ride and he jumped them silly. I think he will take all the stopping again today in similar conditions. He is a progressive horse and his rise for his Kempton success is indicative of that. Huge run expected!

 

OVERTURN 1415 AINTREE (treble) – (2nd – 11-4) the ground was the excuse in the Arkle and with todays better ground we should see the true Overturn. He will jump well and travel strongly from the front I think.

 

UTOPIE DES BORDES 1335 AINTREE – (3rd – 9-2) won well at Sandown and Doncaster before the Festival. That day I think they chose the wrong race as 3 miles was too far. This distance is better and DODGING BULLETS and UP AND GO could set this up for him over the last.

 

HOLYWELL 1450 AINTREE – (2nd – 9-1) this horse owes me nothing after coming in for me when I napped it at Cheltenham. This is a huge step up in class but I think he has the quality to bridge the gap. His battling attitude will keep him in the race and I'm excited to see how he runs against these better horses. A damn good each way chance at least!

 

MAKBULLET 1710 AINTREE – (unplaced) I used to follow is one on the flat and he needs good ground and a fast pace. He has been off for a long time but this race may just be perfect for him. 25-1 is a huge price.

 

VAGO COLLONGES 1740 AINTREE – (2nd – 10-1) this one will turn into a smart hurdler I reckon but his stable have held off with this race in mind. He ran well last time at Newbury and that is pretty decent form. My only doubt is the ground!

 

BLOG STATS :

Naps 34/150 = 22.6%

Wins 141/767 = 18.3%

Placed 205/767 = 26.7%

Win and Placed = 45.1%

@Tweet_Naps overall record. Click the link. All Time Profit/Loss currently +£62.83

 

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Cheltenham 2013 Day 3

 

Day two was just as action packed and eventful as the first wasn't it! SPRINTER SACRE has the potential to be one of the all time greats, what a performance that was. How good is it to see jumping gods like him! I felt for BOSTON BOB today but I still think my tip LORD WINDERMERE would have beaten him. I also felt RIVAL D'ESTRUVAL may well have gone on to beat BACK IN FOCUS and I was relieved I had a wager on both!

 

So on to day three and one of my big fancies for the whole week.

 

1.30 JEWSON NOVICES CHASE

DYNASTE is an obvious pick for this race, however I feel a drop back in trip is against him and the stable aren't exactly flying at that moment and 13/8 at the time of writing this is short. CAPTAIN CONAN is an obvious choice too but he had to work hard last time to beat THIRD INTENTION. I'm therefore opting for TEXAS JACK (unplaced) who has some very smart form. He split BOSTON BOB and LORD WINDERMERE last time out and look what they did yesterday. He has also finished behind BACK IN FOCUS when 3 miles looked long for him. Unlike the style of BOSTON BOB and LORD WINDERMERE he is better at this trip and has to have a fantastic chance.

 

2.05 PERTEMPTS FINAL

This is one of my top selections for the festival. HOLYWELL (nap) (WON – 25-1) has performed gamely all year with four gutsy performances. He looked even more effective when being stepped up to three miles. Running in snatches last time cost him the race but he showed immense battling qualities to stay on up the hill behind ELY BROWN. The trip, the speed of the race, the pure test of stamina and more importantly the track will play into his strengths. I can see him being delivered over the last just behind and then bound on up to the line. He's my best bet of the day. I am also having an each way squeak on ACCORDING TO TREV (unplaced) who will appreciate the drying ground and you cannot ignore the win he had here in October.

 

2.40 RYANAIR CHASE

MENORAH (PU) is a favourite of mine and I have to side with him in this despite the worry of the poor form of the stable. In my opinion this distance and this track bring the best out of him. His performance when beating HUNT BALL at Kempton had to be noted as he probably hated the ground. He is impressive here as I said with 3 wins and a place from 6 runs. He has the class and remember he did beat CUE CARD here in the STAN JAMES INTERNATIONAL HURDLE a couple of years ago and despite getting beat in the HALDON GOLD CUP to CUE CARD he did give him 3 lbs that day. I'm hoping what I've stated backs up my gut! With the ground drying I am also having a little nibble at ALBERTAS RUN (PU) his record here speaks volumes and but for the ridiculous winter we've had he would have been our sooner. He's pure class and depending on how much the ground dries he could be a huge price for a horse of his stature.

 

3.20 LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE

A wide open contest in my opinion, the injury to BIG BUCKS gives plenty of these a shout. None more so than REVE DE SIVOLA who was very impressive last time. OSCAR WHISKY proved the doubters wrong last time by staying the distance. However, I'm opting for WONDERFUL CHARM (unplaced) this horse has been kept for this since the forecast was to be dry. He takes his chance here instead of the Coral Cup. Both the trainer and jockey think they potentially have a good one here, I'm happy to go with them judged on their experience of winning this. He has a fair bit to find on the figures, but he coud be anything. Well worth a sniff in a wide open contest!

 

4.00 BYRNE GROUP PLATE

I'm opting for an outsider in this who caught my eye last time out. HECTOR'S CHOICE (unplaced) ran an absolute stormer behind OPENING BATSMAN the other week at Kempton. He only dropped out close home and this drop to 2m5f will help. He won here last year in a Class 1 chase defeating AERIAL after getting nowhere near in this last year off a mark of 147. He's now rated 144 and I just fancy him to run well on better ground and as I say he really caught my eye last time out.

 

4.40 FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHASE

PRINCE OF PIRATES (unplaced) for me is the answer here. He is a progressive horse, who despite a few dodgy jumping rounds produced a good effort at Kempton last time. He is another one that prefers good ground and has won round here before. A talented amateur jockey on board with a few big races successes this year will also help. Bring on the bucks.

 

5.15 CROSS COUNTRY CHASE – re-arranged.

 

I don't really like or pay much attention to these races so am just looking at form briefly for this and suggest taking a chance with the French one, especially if the ground is tacky. So for me SACREE TIEPY (unplaced) is the selection.

After a couple of successful days so far, I'm hoping for another few wins here, especially HOLYWELL. Enjoy the day whatever, I'm n a course all afternoon so will have no idea what's been going on!

Here's a summary of my tips :

1.30 TEXAS JACK (nb)

2.05 HOLYWELL (nap) (WON – 25-1) ACCORDING TO TREV (ew)

2.40 MENORAH (treble) ALBERTAS RUN (ew)

3.20 WONDERFUL CHARM

4.00 HECTORS CHOICE (ew)

4.40 PRINCE OF PIRATES

5.15 SACREE TIEPY

 

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Saturday at Kempton

With a couple of weeks to the Festival stables will be putting the final touches to their hopes. I’m not into ante-post betting so will just wait until the day before finally selecting my horses for each day. It’s a shame Newcastle was off today due to more inclement bloody weather. I can’t remember such a period of cold and wet weather before. I hope we have a few dry weeks up to the festival and get good racing ground. Remember though if that happens that the form book can go as most big races this year have been contested on soft or heavy ground. The ground is good at Kempton today which will help good old NACARAT in what may be his final appearance. I can’t back him today though on recent form.

Here are my selections for today :

OPENING BATSMEN 1550 KEMPTON (nap) – (WON 12-1) ran well in defeat behind ROLLING ACES last time at Wincanton. He has taken well to his fences and is on the upgrade. He will prefer the better ground and is in receipt of an extra 6lbs today from ROLLING ACES, with that concession and better ground he has a great chance in my opinion. That said there are still some other potential winners in this race other than these two.

IRISH SAINT 1405 KEMPTON (nb) – (WON 5-4) won well here on his British debut and then just seemed to get outpaced by ROLLING STAR last time out. Another who I think will benefit from the better ground and he should have too much for the others today.

GRANDIOSO 1440 KEMPTON (treble) – (WON 9-4) has been a bit of a revelation this year and has been progressing well. His run away success at Ludlow was impressive last time and he has every right to have a stab at this level. Paul Nicholls has a cracking record in the race too with six out of the kast seven winners including NATAL and HERECOMESTHETRUTH.

LAC FONTANA 1515 KEMPTON – (3rd – 9-4) got run out of it abit over the final couple of hurdles last week at Newbury. Not saying he would have won bumthe never got the chance, possibly why he is back this week. Another one on better ground should run better, I think he will win easily.

FILBERT 1330 KEMPTON – (4th – 13-2) had a successful introduction to fences at Ludlow and whilst off top weight he is probably least exposed of all these and open to further improvement.

HAND ON BACH 1625 KEMPTON – (unplaced) has been running in some hot maiden and novice hurdles against the likes of PUFFIN BILLY and last week against LAC FONTANA and CHATTERBOX. He is pitched in here for his handicap debut and he could prove to be a good each way snip. The stable won this last year too.

HENRYVILLE 1700 KEMPTON – (unplaced) finished third behind PUFFIN BILLY on his debut and then lost in a jumpers bumper. Hoping the form of the bumper behind Puffin Billy will hold up against these.

PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE 1435 FAIRYHOUSE – (2nd – 8-11) this boy is a monsterof a horse and one I’ve always followed since Graham Wylie acquired him. He won this last year before injuring himself and being ruled out of the National. He should be too good for these and this will put him in good order for the big on in April.

There we are then, these are who my well earned shillings are on today. Lets hope there is a winner or two here. If you are having a flutter do so within your means and good luck!