Henry Brown

13:45 Aintree Giovinco 0.5pts E/W @9/1 (2 places) This is such an average race with lots of these making the switch from handicaps which can be a struggle. Giovinco is an interesting angle and might just be the key too this race from so far down in the market. Unlike the rest this horse hasnt been running just in handicaps and are proved in grade 1 races after running an absolute blinder at Cheltenham. This was on similar ground and this course is less testing on the stamina which should help them as well. Iroko is the main danger i feel after their chase debut was so impressive however im not sure how they will be turned out after a poor run last time out! 14:20 Aintree Making Headway 0.5pts E/W @13/2 (6 places) Making Headway made late headway last time out on their handicap debut. They are 1lb lower than that day and this longer trip looks like it should suit them nicely. Their jumping wasnt always brilliant last time out so if they have tidied that up then they can have a real good go here. The ground is not an issue and if taking to this new trip they should be in the picture with alot of extra places being offered here. 14:20 Aintree Champagne Twist 0.5pts E/W @9/1 (6 places) Another one in the second race i like and will most likely be playing is Champagne Twist. This horse loved the longer trip when scoring well last time out and a 7lb raise might not stop them. This yard has been in the form of their life as of late and this horse has been improving with every run. If they can continue this trend they should be somewhere near the front when it gets to the business end of proceedings. 16:05 Aintree Shakem Up'arry 0.5pts E/W @13/2 (6 places) This horse won for me at the festival and i thunk a 6lb rise might end up being a little on the light side. They won well and only came back to the field when they were left alone at the front and started idling a little. This course is a little less demanding on the stamina which might be good for them from a rising mark. This is a wide open race however with the extra places on offer here i think they are going to make a cracking attempt at the hattrick.

1.45 Giovinco 2.20 Making Headway 14.55 15.30 Jonbon 16.05 Shakem Up'arry 16.40 17.15 Go Dante

13:45 Il Etait Temps 1pt Win @11/4 Although Grey Dawning has been impressive this season and won well at Cheltenham i think there is an angle to take them on here. They are obviously the horse to beat however Il Etait Temps is where i will be siding. Grey Dawning has been known to have some jumping frailties and at odds of even money i think is very very short. Il Etait Temps was underwhelming at Cheltenham however they didnt really travel with any sort of intent and their jumping was uncharacteristically poor. If they can sharpen that back up the step up in trip could prove very effective as they stayed on strongly up the Cheltenham hill late in the day 14:55 Gerri Colombe 1pt win @9/4 As much as i love Shishkin im going to be backing elsewhere here as with the previous Nikki Henderson issues and the complexity of the horse being a major put off. I think the play here is Gerri Colombe who ran very well in the goldcup this year and we know will appreciate the ground and also the distance. These are not real doubts to Shishkin however I think Gerri Colombe could be a class above them and in this staying division they can continue to make a real mark. 16:40 Saint Roi 1pt E/W @11/2 (4 places)_nSaint Roi was mighty unlucky at Cheltenham the whole way round and can rewrite their wrongs here at Aintree. They were found short of room on multiple occasions and were found in an unideal position. This is a mighty competitive race with a few with chances. I think the best of the 2 skelton runners is Heltenham however u think both of them are a bit short in the market so ill be siding here!

1.45 Il Etait Temps 14.20 Sir Gino 14:55 Gerri Colombe 15:30 Impaire Et Passe 16.05 It's On the line 16.40 Saint Roi 17.15 Baby Kate

15:30 Ludlow Kestrel Valley 1pt win @5/2 This horse was massively out of their depths at the Cheltenham festival when last seen however they ran well in a listed chase before that at Exeter and are now only 7lbs higher than when they won by 20 lengths when last in handicap company. They have won both of their last 2 starts at this track and they hold no fears on the ground which is again due to be fairly tough going. The main danger here is Georges Saint however they are not guaranteed to enjoy the trip and the consistency of Kestrel Valley can be sided with here!

15:55 Wetherby Good Luck Charm 0.5pts E/W @17/2 (4 places readily)

After Many Days, dont know how I managed to miss that!

15:00 Wincanton Chloe's Court E/W 0.5pts @12/1 (3 places) 15:40 Hereford E/W 0.5pts @11/2 (3 places) 20:00 Kempton Win 2pts 11/8 Abraaj

Here are some previews I've written up for races at Hereford and a couple at Wincanton. Hereford 14:40 These National Hunt Maidens are always tough to call and can occasionally throw up abit of a shock. An interesting booking is Charlie Deutsch on My Monty however they would have to find a lot more than they have been to have a chance here. After a break The Sad Shepherd could have something to say if they are ready to roll and have improved any on a decent 2nd last time out only losing out to an odds on irish raider. Wee Tony improved massively on their penultimate start last time and if they continue that trend they could be somewhere near towards the finish for the flying Ben Pauling yard. The top 2 in the market are fairly strong and expect them both to be in the frame with slight preference for El Granjero who was unlucky last time and can remove their maiden tag here. 15:10 A Fairly open handicap here over the chase fences with a few who have good chances. Berliet Express wasn’t seen to best effect last time out and has since had a wind op. However neither of their last 2 starts have been disastrous and with Toby Wynne claiming 3 here again if the wind op has helped they have got a good chance at what i think is quite a big price. The very inconsistent Guillaume has claims if on best form however for the percentage play i would be staying clear of them. Famoso is an interesting contender who may have got stuck in the mud last time at Ludlow and the return to this track is likely to suit as they have got a good record here and can give a good account here. The current 2 at the top of the market have got their claims as well with Flash Gorcombe being very consistent as of late however im not sure the shorter trip will do them any favours. Recent winner Ferrybridge can have a say after winning a fairly weak race last time out if turned out well after only a few days! 15:40 A very poor mares handicap hurdle can send us to the top 3 in the market. A couple of outsiders to note are Fenney Brook and Inchiquin Spirit although they would have to markedly improve on their last runs to be in with a shout here. Damask has been consistent as of late at this track and shouldn’t mind the conditions here. However it appears to me that their mark is slightly on the high side here so can be left alone for win purposes today. After Many Days has been slowly improving coinciding with their mark falling and if continuing this trend here they have every chance of getting their head in front with the same 3lb claimer in the saddle. Only Fools blew the field away last time out and under a penalty have got obvious claims. However i think After Many Days are on better terms with them than their last meeting and with an E/W price being available are the safe bet here! 16:45 The final race ill be reviewing at Hereford is an interesting one with a few who you can make cases for. Family pot looked to take a step in the right direction on their penultimate start however were very disappointing last time out so can be looked past here. Amalfi Skyline ran well to shed their maiden tag however were subsequently disappointing last time out and will need a bounce back if they are going to have a say here. Cokytho’s mark has been slowly falling and their performances are showing that their is some talent their if they can continue to improve but may still be slightly to high in the weights here. Jack Doyen would have finished somewhere near if they had stayed upright and if the fall hasnt taken anything out of them then they have got a decent chance here. Walk In The Wild ran well last time out in when back in class last time and if they continue that progress from a very reasonable mark then they have got every chance of going close! Finally the market leader Grizzly James ran well last time out with good 5lb claimer Ned Fox on board and with Deustch back in the saddle they have also got a good chance however may need to find more back down in trip. I would personally be siding with Walk In The Wind as we can take them E/W and have a cracking chance here. Wincanton 14:30 A very interesting handicap that I personally wont be having a punt in but there are some interesting contenders right through the market. Begin The Luck is an interesting contender who had won 4 of their last 5 starts before being off since June. Since then they have changed yards and it would take an excellent training performance to get them to complete their belated hat trick here however it is not off the cards. Plenty Of Time is currently at an E/W price and their form reads rather well with the drop back in class being a positive. They are only 2lbs higher than when winning comfortably on boxing day and have claims here as well. Sherborne would have been closer last time out if they hadn’t slipped on landing at the last and were lucky that day to be able to continue so have got claims here if in the same form. Hatos is an interesting runner however their stamina is a big question here so can be looked beyond and current market leader Moytier smashed the field last time out however a 9lb rise might be slightly harsh and would do well to overcome it here. 15:00 A very interesting Mares class 3 handicap looks to be wide open. I think Chloe's Court has a cracking chance at a double figure price after running fairly well last time and maybe just getting stuck in the mud and being narrowly denied on their start before that after being miles clear of the rest. After a break Sabrina drops in class and if ready to roll they have got a good chance of going fairly close with good 5lb claimer Freddie Gingell on board. Gaye Legacy were last seen finishing 5th in a listed race and are an obvious player here back in handicaps and the current favourite for the Skelton yard being an obvious threat after falling at the last when every chance last time!

13:35 Ascot The Winslow Boy 0.5pts E/W @40/1 (3 places) 14:10 Ascot Jacks Touch 0.5pts E/W @7/1 (4 places)

14:40 Newbury 1pt Win Heltenham @6/4 They had been knocking on the door for a while and finally got the win they deserved last time out. A 6lb rise is probably fair and another bold show is likely for the inform Skelton yard. 13:20 Doncaster 1pt win Astral Beau Won this race last year comfortably and ran fairly well for the rest of the season, we know they love the ground and the track and another bold show is expected in what is a much more competitive renewal this year 14:25 Doncaster Harswell Duke 1pt E/W @11/2 (5 places) Winner of this last year and are 8lbs better of here today, another good draw has been given to them and any more rain would only enhance their winning chances as they love the ground and love the track. 15:35 Doncaster Spirit Genie 0.5pts E/W @16/1 (6 places) They love the ground and their last run can be left behind them back on turf after a break. There form on soft or worse ground is 4 runs 2 seconds and a first which is pretty impressive and have a definite chance here.

Takeit Easy hasn't been seen since last may when finishing a good 3rd in a premier handicap. They have gone well fresh in the past and booking of good 5lb claimer Alice Stevens can see them go well again in an easier race than that day! Takeit Easy 0.5pts E/W @16/1 (4 places) 15:33 Newbury

Falmouth Boy ran with credit on their handicap debut and any form of improvement here could see them get of the mark at the second time of asking in this sphere. The drop back in trip is likely to suit as they faded late on last time and the form from that race hasnt worked out too badly. They are off a slight break but if ready to go they will be bang there. 0.5pts E/W @8/1 (3 places)

Ayr 13:15 Follow Charlies .5pts E/W @7/1 (5 Places) Wolverhampton 20:00 Redborough .5pts E/W @9/1 (4 Places)

I Find this race over at Newbury quite interesting, 5 places available on sky or 4 on most other bookmakers, I've got 2 fancies here which I am backing 0.5 pts E/W because I cant split the 2, these are Certainly Red and Shanty Alley. I backed both of these at 9/1 on Sky with the 5 places and as I'm currently writing this Shanty Alley has been backed into 13/2 and Certainly Red into 15/2. I'm interested into what everyone else thinks but I don't believe the form of some of the horses higher up in the betting is that impressive and with something to fall back on I believe these 2 selections can hopefully both go close, obviously I could be completely wrong and they both come no where near but from looking through especially Shanty Alley the form of this last race in particular is quite impressive with the way its played out. I was there at Catterick this day and although not backing it or really watching it from looking back they ran a good race on seasonal return. Court at Slip went on to win their next race and the other too who finished ahead of these were 3rd if they ran again next time (good 3rds at that). Interested in what you guys fancy in this race and if you agree with me or not. please feel free to leave your opinion on this race or indeed anymore tomorrow (30/12/23)