Nigwilliam

4th.      + £18.               minus. £7

Ayr 1.15 The first of five races covered by ITV is the 2M 1/2F Scotty Brand Premier Handicap Chase with just six runners going to post. Paul Nicholls’s Sans Bruit did us a favour at Aintree when given a peach of a ride from the front by Bryony Frost who came home 4L to the good and despite a 10lb rise in the weights he may still be well handicapped on his back form in France. Expect Frost to employ the same tactics and if getting into a good rhythm will be tough to pass. Willie Mullins sends a formidable team to the West Scotland track and his Uncle Phil maybe the one to chase the selection home.   SANS BRUIT 1 point win @ 3/1 BetVictor   Newbury 1.30 It’s Greenham Stakes day at Newbury and proceedings kick off with the 1M 4F Group 3 John Porter Stakes which has attracted ten runners. Ground on the easy side are very much in the favour of the front two in the betting, William Haggas’s Hamish who has to shoulder a 3lb penalty for his group 3 victories last year and John & Thady Gosden’s Arrest who was last seen when finishing runner up in the St Leger at Doncaster. The Gosden runners have all been seen to be needing a run this week but the vibes are strong for this Frankel four year old and he’s the pick.   ARREST 1 point win @ 11/8 William Hill   Ayr 1.50 Thirteen face the judge for the class 2 3M Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase. Willie Mullins’s Sharjah heads the weights in his first handicap chase and shouldn’t be dismissed despite the big weight. Richard Bandey has his string in good form and he can take this with his MacLaine who looks favourably weighted towards the bottom of the weights. Formerly trained by Oliver Sherwood he’s shown promise for his new trainer with his latest victory at Newbury coming over the furthest trip he’s tried in his career over 2M 6 1/2F where he was strongest at the finish passing the line an eased down 3 1/2L ahead of his field. A rise of 8lb will make things tougher for him but with his stamina drawn out further he looks a good value each way bet in a competitive contest.   MACLAINE 1 point each way @ 10/1 bet365 1/5th 1234   Newbury 2.05 Just six three year old fillies go to post for the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes with the highest rated being the William Haggas trained Relief Rally who isn’t certain to stay this trip of 7F mind and is opposable. John & Thady Gosden could be in for a good day with Arrest in the John Porter and can take this with their Frankel filly Regal Jubilee who will certainly enjoy any ease in the ground having won the listed Montrose Stakes on heavy ground at Newmarket last backend. Marco Botti has taken charge of a decent unbeaten Italian filly in the shape of Folgaria and she’s very hard to assess having won five times in her native country last year including in Group 3 and 2 company.   REGAL JUBILEE 1/2 point win @ 5/2 bet365   Ayr 2.25 We have a good turnout of fifteen runners for the Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle which is a handicap run over a distance of two miles. Last year’s winner Rubaud heads the weights but is 13lb higher now than last year’s victory and has it to do. Willie Mullins has three stabs at the race with Paul Townend presumably choosing Bialystok over Westport Cove and Alvainy although he was 19L behind L’Eau Du Sud in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last time and I can’t see any reason why he would turn the form around despite a pull of just 3lb. Dan Skelton trains L’Eau Du Sud and he’s put up two excellent efforts in defeat in the Betfair Hurdle (2nd to Iberico Lord) and in the aforementioned County Hurdle (2nd to Absurde). A 3lb rise in the weights is unlikely to stop him from being highly competitive again and he is the one they all have to beat. Nicky Henderson has his string in great shape now and his First Street is worth a small each way saver. 8th in this last year he has a 20lb pull for 18L with the winner Rubaud and looked back to form when third to Lossiemouth in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham when last seen in January. He’s also had a wind operation since last seen and can run well. A tough race but L’Eau du Sud is the selection.   L’EAU DU SUD 1 point win @ 4/1 Coral FLEET STREET 1/2 point each way @ 12/1 bet365 1/5th 1234   Newbury 2.40 The trial for the 2000 Guineas is the Greenham Stakes run over 7F and we have a field of eleven. Ralph Beckett’s unbeaten Zoum Zoum heads the market but looks far too short in my eyes for a horse that on official ratings is only third joint best and joint seventh best on Timeform ratings. He’s not even got an entry in the 2000 Guineas and even though he is very promising I can’t be going near him at his current odds of around even money. The value bet may be Adrian Keatley’s Ballymount Boy who showed good progressive form as a juvenile finishing runner up in group races won by Vandeek and Indian Run and ended the season with a listed win at the final Doncaster meeting on heavy ground. James Doyle takes the ride for his new employers Wathan Racing and can be backed each way.   BALLYMOUNT BOY 1 point each way @ 8/1 William Hill 1/5th 123   Ayr 3.00 Next up is a class 2 3M 70 yard mares’ handicap hurdle which has attracted a field of eleven. Willie Mullins saddles three here in his quest to maintain the advantage in the British jockeys championship and with A Penny A Hundred the pick of stable jockey Paul Townend she looks the one to be with. The lightly raced five year old is asking her handicap debut but has looked useful in winning a bumper and a novice hurdle before being placed in listed and grade three mares company. She was a 66-1 chance when not being disgraced in fourth (beaten 20L) in a grade one mares race won by the smart Jade De Grugy three weeks ago and a mark of 133 seems fair enough. The Dan Skelton runner Coco Mademoiselle (Chepstow novice hurdle winner last time) and Paul Nicholls’s Larchmont Lass look dangers but this can be one for the Irish maestro Willie Mullins.   A PENNY A HUNDRED 1 point win @ 10/3 bet365   Newbury 3.15 The big handicap of the day at Newbury is the 1M OLBG Spring Cup with a big field of 21 spread across the straight track. As you would expect it has a wide open look about it. Lincoln Handicap runner up Lattam looked a tad unlucky to me and can confirm that form with the third Navarro, fourth Alpha Crucis and seventh Thunder Ball and run well. Julie Camacho is not really firing at the present and for only that reason the selection is the Richard Hughes trained Real Gain. Hughes has been in unstoppable form recently winning with 7 of his 20 runners at time of writing and he took a handicap at Newmarket apart last September off of a mark 11lb lower than today’s on fast ground. He’s been gelded since last seen and he has to prove his effectiveness on softer ground but he wasn’t disgraced on soft group in a Group 3 when last seen and can reward an each way wager in a wide open mile handicap with a small each way saver on Lattam.   REAL GAIN 1 point each way @ 14/1 bet365 1/5th 12345 LATTAM 1/2 point each way @ 10/1 bet365 1/5th 12345   Ayr 3.35 A near maximum field of 26 line up for this year’s renewal of the 4M Coral Scottish Grand National. There’s plenty here who will struggle at the trip with five of the six Willie Mullins having stamina to prove with Mr Incredible the exception although he’s hardly had the best prep for this having unseated at the chair in last weekend’s Grand National. My short list include Sara Bradstock’s Mr Vango who stays so well having won the Devon National by a staggering 60L prior to a creditable third in the NH Chase at Cheltenham won by subsequent Grade 1 winner Corbetts Cross. He holds decent each way claims despite a 3lb rise. Out and out stayer My Silver Lining ran a stormer in the Midlands Grand National finishing third to the re-opposing pair of Beauport and Mr Incredible and can come out best of those who finished ahead of him over this 2F less distance. My main fancy though has to be the Jamie Snowden trained Git Maker who is stepping up in trip here but has always looked an out and out stayer throughout his career. He’s only gone up a pound for finishing runner up to the handicap blot that was Inotherwayurthinkin in the Kim Muir with 18L back to the third , the re-opposing Whacker Clan. The winner has gone on to win a grade 1 at Aintree to frank the form and had he not been in the race at Cheltenham we would be looking at a 18L winner of that race who would have gone up an awful lot more than 1lb. As long as he stays he looks easily the best handicapped horse in the field. I’ve managed to tip/back the Irish National and Grand National winners this year in Intense Raffles and I Am Maximus and my main pick for the Scottish version is Git Maker with each way savers on My Silver Lining and Mr Vango.   GIT MAKER 2 points each way @ 8/1 bet365 1/5th 123456 MR VANGO 1/2 point each way @ 16/1 Betfred 1/5th 123456 MY SILVER LINING 1/2 point each way @ 16/1 bet365 1/5th 123456

AW selection
Chelmsford 6.30
MYSTERY MONARCH
 

Garrus                                            3 00 New/                        1/40th of a pt ew  18/1
Mitbaahy                                        3 00 New/                        1/40th of a pt ew  30/1   - 4th

Won, profit £24
Monthly profit £ 137.96
 

Won, profit £ 72
Monthly profit £ 209.96

3rd.       Returns. £46.             minus. £25.

3rd.       Returns. £46.             minus. £25.

3rd.       Returns. £46.             minus. £25.

Ain't 400 Minella Indo 18/1
£10 ew bet365  6pl.

I'll have a small ew in the National on,
Roi Mage 66/1 skybet 6pl.

I'll have a small ew in the National on,
Roi Mage 66/1 skybet 6pl.

I'll have a small ew in the National on,
Roi Mage 66/1 skybet 6pl.

Lost.      11th.  &.   dh 4th

Ain't 400 Minella Indo 18/1
£10 ew bet365  6pl.

I'll have a small ew in the National on,
Roi Mage 66/1 skybet 6pl.

Hi Ladies and Gentlemen.
My name is Justin (and yes I'm very "Fat and Happy"). Been a passionate Horse Racing fan all my life (Great Uncle was a jockey, Grandparents were massive punters, Grandmother and her second partner were Bookmakers parents enjoy the game). Owned a small share in a Racehorse but love going Racing (especially Newbury). Love betting but find Online Betting worrying so a bit scared of that but wanting to try it. I am also passionate about Animal Welfare. I love racing people (I've met a number of lovely racing "personalities"). I also love my Horse Racing books and I am a huge fan of the great Alistair Down. I love a bit of writing myself. Too be honest I love everything "Horse Racing". I also enjoy Snooker and Rugby Union. Once I get the hang of this I can't wait to contribute! Justin. X. 🏇.

Aintree 1.45 Day two of a rain sodden Aintree Grand National meeting kicks off with the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase run over 3M 1F. Gavin Cromwell’s Inotherwayurthinkin is one of six runners declared and he made an absolute mockery of his handicap mark at the Cheltenham Festival 29 days ago when ridden with upmost confidence by Derek O’Connor in sauntering to a eight length victory in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase and although this is a step up in grade is the highest rated in the field by 4lb. He can take this with both trip and ground conditions to suit from anther Cheltenham Festival winner in the Kim Bailey trained Chianti Classico who took the Ultima Handicap in good style. Both Iroko and Heart Wood have stamina to prove whilst the first time cheek pieced Broadway Boy also has claims.   INOTHEWAYUTHINKIN 1 point win @ 11-4 William Hill   Aintree 2.20 A maximum sized field of twenty two face the starter for this William Hill sponsored Premier Handicap Hurdle run over a trip of 2M 4F. It has a wide open look about with Dan Skelton throwing five into the race so with stable jockey Harry Skelton apparently choosing Kateira, she should be on anyone’s short list. One who catches my eye is the bottom weight Making Headway, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. A lightly raced 3M Irish point to point winner he should relish stepping up to 2M 4F for the first time and with his two victories at Carlisle and Newbury both coming in heavy ground today’s boggy terrain will be of no concern to his connections. His fourth to Go Dante at Sandown in a similar handicap last time was decent form especially as he was staying on up the run in looking to all that a step up in trip will suit. He sports first time cheek pieces as well and looks a good each way bet.   MAKING HEADWAY 1 point each way @ 8/1 bet365 1/5th 123456   Aintree 2.55 A field of eight line up for this Grade 1 Trustatrader Top Novices’ Hurdle run over 2M 103 yards. A strong fancy is the Willie Mullins trained, J P McManus owned Mystical Power who had both Firefox and stable mate Mistergif 3 1/2L and 6L respectively behind in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham and there seems no real reason why either should turn the tables on the pick. I worry about the very testing ground for Fergal O’Brien’s smart mare Dysart Enos, who missed Cheltenham through injury and a bigger danger may well be Jeremy Scott’s mare Golden Ace who took the mares novice hurdle at Cheltenham four weeks ago. This looks one for Mullins and J P McManus though with Mystical Power.   MYSTICAL POWER 2 points win @ 2/1 William Hill   Aintree 3.30 A small but select field of seven go to post for the 2M 4F My Pension Expert Melling Chase. The highest rated is the Nicky Henderson trained Jonbon who will be the pick but only if there are signs on day one that all is well with his stable following his nightmare Cheltenham. Henderson has run nothing of real note since and with Jonbon missing Cheltenham will hopefully come here a fresh horse. He’s stepping up to 2M 4F for the first time but was a 15L Irish point to point winner over 3M so I don’t really see that as being an excuse. He will also have to jump better than he did when last seen at Cheltenham but he is a class performer who’s won 12 of his 15 starts having been runner up in his three defeats. Ryanair one - two Protektorat and Envoi Allen will have their supporters along with last years winner Pic D’Orhy but a fit and healthy Jonbon can score and put a smile back on the master of Seven Barrows.   JONBON 1 point win @ 5/2 bet365   Aintree 4.05 The day’s race over the Grand National fences is the 2M 5F Topham Handicap Chase in which we have a strong field of twenty five lining up. Last year’s winner Bill Baxter, from the in form (a double on Tuesday) stable of Warren Greatrex can run well although he’s shown very little this season, including last time when well backed on his favoured ground and is scant value at around the 9-2 mark. Harry Redknapp’s Shakem Up’arry won the Plate at Cheltenham and even with a 6lb rise can also be competitive for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones. Buckinghamshire trainer Stuart Edmunds has had his string in excellent form for a while now and his runner here Arizona Cardinal is an interesting runner. An easy winner at Leicester and Ludlow on soft ground this year (rising 14lb) this race was mooted after the victory at the latter track by his owners and he could be some each way value in a wide open contest.   ARIZONA CARDINAL 1 point each way @ 12-1 William Hill 1/5th 123456   Aintree 4.40 Nine staying novice hurdlers face the judge for this Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. The best form is brought to the table by Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Man who ran a stormer in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham when runner up, having been run down on the run in, by the 33/1 outsider Stellar Story. He had the Willie Mullins pair Dancing City 7L behind in third and the favourite Reading Tommy Wrong (pulled up) behind that day and can confirm that form under Kielan Woods. The interesting runner, especially if Nicky Henderson’s runners have run well coming into the race, is the Mrs J Donnelly owned Shanagh Bob who we haven’t seen since he won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham over today’s distance back in December. He missed, like all of Henderson’s stars, the Cheltenham Festival and will come here a fresh unbeaten stayer who’s won twice on soft ground. He’s worth a saver.   THE JUKEBOX MAN 1 point win @ 7/2 Betfred SHANAGH BOB 1 point win @ 9/2 Betfred   Aintree 5.15 Day two of the Grand National concludes with a nineteen runner 2M 103 yard conditional jockeys’ and amateur riders’ handicap hurdle. Plenty can be given a chance including Olly Murphy’s Go Dante who will love the heavy ground although he will have to overcome a career high handicap mark of 134. The horse which attracts me is the Ben Pauling trained Densworth who appeared to show much improved form for a wind operation when running away with a handicap hurdle on heavy ground at Doncaster on his re-appearance. It was a race where only four hurdles were actually jumped but you couldn’t be anything but impressed by his 16L victory especially as the horse back in second, his stable mate Getaway Drumlee, ran out a easy 17L winner himself later in the month at Fontwell. Densworth ran in this race last year as a 20-1 chance when pulling up, coming back with a dirty trachea wash according to his handler in a recent Aintree preview. A 10lb rise may not be enough to stop him from running well each way in a highly competitive handicap especially as his jockey Beau Morgan takes off 5lb thus halving the additional weight. Charlie Byrnes is a trainer to be feared and his runner here Maidenstreetprince was alongside, although not going as well, as Sir Gerhard when falling two out at Cork 12 days ago and when you consider that one is rated 155 it is possible that he could be very well treated off of just 128 today. He is worth saving on.   DENSWORTH 1 point each way @ 10-1 bet365 1/5th 12345 MAIDENSTREETPRINCE 1/2 point each way @ 6-1 William HIll 1/5th 12345    

Minus 140.00 
(shocking start to the month ... let's hope for some luck on my 72nd birthday!)
Ain 1.45 - Heart Wood 5/1
Ain 2.55 - Mistergif 8/1
Ain 3.30 - Pic D'Orhy 4/1
prices skybet
£5 Trixie

5th.    + £12.                               minus  £31.

Won. Profit £ 27.50
Monthly profit £ 91.96

Aint 515 Listentoyourheart 11/1
£10 ew skybet 5pl.

4th.

Ain't 515
I'll try a small ew on Park Princess  33/1 skybet 5places.

Aintree 1.45 Five line up for this Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase run over 2M 4F with the first and second from the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham back to renew rivalry. Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning out stayed Paul Nicholls’s Ginny’s Destiny to the tune of 2L at the line and can confirm that form although it may be close between the pair. Willie Mullins saddles his Arkle third Il Etait Temps who is stepping up in trip today. It’s hard to fancy either Blow Your Wad and Colonel Harry who are safely held by Ginny’s Destiny so the selection here is Skelton’s exciting grey Grey Dawning who can confirm Cheltenham form and start the meeting off well for the Skelton camp who are keen to keep ahead of his old boss Paul NIcholls and Willie Mullins in the jumps trainers championship.   GREY DAWNING 2 points win @ Evens bet365   Aintree 2.20 Just six have declared for the Grade 1 2M 1F Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle including Nicky Henderson’s highly promising Sir Gino. Obviously we don’t know for certain what sort of form the stable are in as they’ve only had a handful of runners since Cheltenham and none of them where of much interest. If the stable was in top form Sir Gino would be a very strong fancy and he’s still has to be the pick here although it would of been nice to know for sure what form the Seven Barrows team are in. Willie Mullins saddles Kargese who was runner up in the Triumph Hurdle whilst Paul Nicholls runs his exciting unbeaten ex French gelding Kalif Du Berlais. He looks a proper horse having impressed twice at Kempton and may be the one to chase Sir Gino home.   SIR GINO 2 points win @ 10/11 Coral   Aintree 2.55 The 3m 1F Grade 1 Aintree Bowl Chase has attracted a field of seven. Cheltenham Gold Cup runner up Gerri Colombe is the form horse as he had Bravemansgame (5th) and Gentlemansgame (pulled up) behind that day and looks sure to run well at a track that he won at last season as a novice and may have most to fear from Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin. A good run from Sir Gino in the previous race would obviously be a major boost for him and likewise a poor run would see Shishkin’s odds lengthen. He won this last year from the re-appearing Ahoy Senor, who doesn’t look the same horse this year, and on his best form he’s a big player here. Corbetts Cross impressed at Cheltenham but this will be much tougher and the selection is Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe who brings the best recent form to the table.   GERRI COLOMBE 1 point win @ 13/8 William Hill   Aintree 3.30 The Grade 1 2M 4F William Hill Aintree Hurdle sees eight runners line up with the top two rated both coming from Ireland. Henry De Bromhead’s Bob Olinger who’s looked back to his best this season, winning Grade 2 contests over 2M 4F at Navan and Cheltenham prior to a creditable 5 1/2L second in the Irish Champion Hurdle to State Man. He looks sure to run well but may struggle to fight off the Willie Mullins trained Impaire Et Passe who like Bob Olinger missed Cheltenham. A smart novice last season winning the Ballymore at Cheltenham and has placed behind Teahupoo and State Man this season. Today’s trip and ground look ideal and he can out stay Bob Olinger. Champion Hurdle third Luccia may have been flattered last time whilst Coral Cup winner Langer Dan has plenty more on his plate here.   IMPAIRE ET PASSE 1 point win @ 15/8 bet365   Aintree 4.05 A bumper field of twenty two will line up for the first race of the meeting over the Grand National fences the Randox Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase over 2M 5F. Cheltenham Foxhunters runner up Its On The Line will love the testing ground but didn’t really travel that well at Cheltenham and they may go a bit faster here so I’ll pass over him. Ante post gamble Spyglass Hill looks too short now despite winning one of the bigger hunter chases of the early part of the season at Haydock in the Walrus Hunters Chase. Hannah Roach’s Time Leader ran a blinder at 50-1 at Cheltenham finishing 5 1/2L behind Its On The Line and is also a player with the drop in trip a positive but the value may well be last years runner up Bennys King who’s looked in great form this season including when bolting up at Leicester last time when making all under today’s jockey Sean O’Connor for trainer Dan Skelton on ground that he’ll love.   BENNYS KING 1 point each way @ 17/2 William Hill 1/5th 12345   Aintree 4.40 Fifteen face the starter for the 2M Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase and has a very competitive look about it. The Grand Annual winner from Cheltenham, Unexpected Party, trained by Dan Skelton re-appears off of a 8lb higher mark with the third Path D’Oroux, sixth Saint Roi and eighth Triple Trade all taking him on again. One horse who catches my eye towards the bottom of the field is the Paul Nicholls trained Sans Bruit, an ex French performer who has plenty of smart form on heavy ground so should love the conditions. He’s had just the three runs for Nicholls, twice down the field in competitive handicap hurdles and a fine 3/4L second at Chepstow to an improver in Prince Quali. He’s 2lb out of the handicap here but as he actually goes up 3lb for that latest run in future handicaps is a pound well in here and has the assistance of Bryony Frost (presuming that Harry Cobden can’t do the weight of 10-2). In a wide open race the six year old mudlark could be the value play each way with additional places.   SANS BRUIT 1 point each way @ 12/1 1/5th 1234 Coral   Aintree 5.15 The final race on day one of the Grand National meeting is the 2M 1F Goffs Nickel Coin Mares’ National Hunt Flat Race with several promising mares here. Willie Mullins saddles Baby Kate who’s not been seen since November when winning a listed bumper at Cheltenham and has to be on the short list. Dan Skelton will be desperate to secure more prize money at the meeting as he attempts to keep clear of the chasing Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins and saddles Honky Tonk Highway who’s unbeaten in a 3M maiden point to point and a listed bumper at Sandown when making his rules debut which takes some doing. There are many other potentially nice mares in the race but it’s the Skelton’s Honky Tonk Highway the one for me.   HONKY TONK HIGHWAY 1 point each way @ 5/1 bet365 1/5th 1234