Darran

In the end I couldn't make up my mind what to do at Fontwell so I just left the race alone. The rain stayed away for Law Of Gold and he ended up landing a fairly comfortable success at the line. As Dale said after the race though Maxwell set the race up nicely for him on Shantou Flyer as he gave him a good gallop to aim at. My eye kept being drawn to the times on screen and there seemed to be plenty of red furlongs which suggests to me that the favourite was going too fast and he had little left at the end. Dale gave the winner a good ride though because as they jumped the first on the last circuit he realised he needed to wake his mount up and go and challenge Shantou Flyer. My guess is he will be heading to Stratford for their Foxhunter in a couple of weeks and if the ground remains decent then he will have a leading chance. Dundrum Wood wasn't good enough to go with the front two, but I also suspect he wanted the rain to come and in the end he was only just in front of Keltus.
Tonight Aintree host the 2nd of 3 point-to-point bumpers and I was amazed when Crews Pitch was put in as a 5/4 favourite. This race looks stronger than the Exeter contest he was 2nd in last month so I am happy to pass him over.
Foxinthebox has become favourite on his first start for Olly Murphy after making his debut at Barbury in December when with Francesca Nimmo. He jumped terribly that day and did as well as he did to get as close as he did. No obstacles will clearly help him based on that and his former yard are well known for producing good young horses. My one concern though is he also got outpaced at Barbury so he might not want a sharp test like this.
If I Say is next in the betting and she beat Time Bandit on debut at Chaddesley Corbett last month. She came from off the pace, which was quite a strong one unusually for a bumper and hit the front about a furlong out. She then looked green but kept finding to win by just under 2L. I actually think that Time Bandit has a good chance of reversing the form. He helped make the strong pace and crucially he carried 7lbs more than the winner and here they will be off level weights with Darren's claim. We know how good the trainer is as well so that is another plus and I like the way he stayed on once he was past. Granted the winner should come on for the experience, but the price difference is too big for me.
Latenightfumble goes for the Ellis team and you always have to respect one of theirs, but I get the feeling she is running as she is the only one who qualifies for a bonus linked to the race. She did bolt up at Dingley in April in what is her only start over less than 2m and she doesn't seem to quite stay 3m as she showed again in a restricted at High Easter. That would suggest 2m might suit as well, but having first run 2 years ago she wouldn't have the scope for progress as the others.
That leaves us with Latitude who I think has a very good chance. He was disappointing in a 2m4f maiden at Chaddesley Corbett in December when a well beaten 3rd although he looked a bit of a non stayer. It could also be that he had a problem given we haven't seen him since. The key piece of form though is his first race in a bumper at Maisemore. He was really impressive that day and the form looks strong. The 12L 2nd has won since and is a horse his trainer thinks a lot off, but another 20L back in 3rd was Rose Above It who landed the Exeter bumper. Based on that at the very least he should be a shorter price than Crews Pitch. Back into a bumper I think we will see a much better performance given what he did on debut and since his trainer took out a rules licence they have done well in bumpers. Out of 13 runners in rules bumpers she has had 2 winners and 4 placed.
I certainly respect the claims of Foxinthebox and If I Say and if either of those won I wouldn't be shocked, but to me Time Bandit and especially Latitude look over priced.
Latitude 1pt @ 13/2 with Bet365
Time Bandit 0.5pts @ 16/1 with Bet365

In the end I couldn't make up my mind what to do at Fontwell so I just left the race alone. The rain stayed away for Law Of Gold and he ended up landing a fairly comfortable success at the line. As Dale said after the race though Maxwell set the race up nicely for him on Shantou Flyer as he gave him a good gallop to aim at. My eye kept being drawn to the times on screen and there seemed to be plenty of red furlongs which suggests to me that the favourite was going too fast and he had little left at the end. Dale gave the winner a good ride though because as they jumped the first on the last circuit he realised he needed to wake his mount up and go and challenge Shantou Flyer. My guess is he will be heading to Stratford for their Foxhunter in a couple of weeks and if the ground remains decent then he will have a leading chance. Dundrum Wood wasn't good enough to go with the front two, but I also suspect he wanted the rain to come and in the end he was only just in front of Keltus.
Tonight Aintree host the 2nd of 3 point-to-point bumpers and I was amazed when Crews Pitch was put in as a 5/4 favourite. This race looks stronger than the Exeter contest he was 2nd in last month so I am happy to pass him over.
Foxinthebox has become favourite on his first start for Olly Murphy after making his debut at Barbury in December when with Francesca Nimmo. He jumped terribly that day and did as well as he did to get as close as he did. No obstacles will clearly help him based on that and his former yard are well known for producing good young horses. My one concern though is he also got outpaced at Barbury so he might not want a sharp test like this.
If I Say is next in the betting and she beat Time Bandit on debut at Chaddesley Corbett last month. She came from off the pace, which was quite a strong one unusually for a bumper and hit the front about a furlong out. She then looked green but kept finding to win by just under 2L. I actually think that Time Bandit has a good chance of reversing the form. He helped make the strong pace and crucially he carried 7lbs more than the winner and here they will be off level weights with Darren's claim. We know how good the trainer is as well so that is another plus and I like the way he stayed on once he was past. Granted the winner should come on for the experience, but the price difference is too big for me.
Latenightfumble goes for the Ellis team and you always have to respect one of theirs, but I get the feeling she is running as she is the only one who qualifies for a bonus linked to the race. She did bolt up at Dingley in April in what is her only start over less than 2m and she doesn't seem to quite stay 3m as she showed again in a restricted at High Easter. That would suggest 2m might suit as well, but having first run 2 years ago she wouldn't have the scope for progress as the others.
That leaves us with Latitude who I think has a very good chance. He was disappointing in a 2m4f maiden at Chaddesley Corbett in December when a well beaten 3rd although he looked a bit of a non stayer. It could also be that he had a problem given we haven't seen him since. The key piece of form though is his first race in a bumper at Maisemore. He was really impressive that day and the form looks strong. The 12L 2nd has won since and is a horse his trainer thinks a lot off, but another 20L back in 3rd was Rose Above It who landed the Exeter bumper. Based on that at the very least he should be a shorter price than Crews Pitch. Back into a bumper I think we will see a much better performance given what he did on debut and since his trainer took out a rules licence they have done well in bumpers. Out of 13 runners in rules bumpers she has had 2 winners and 4 placed.
I certainly respect the claims of Foxinthebox and If I Say and if either of those won I wouldn't be shocked, but to me Time Bandit and especially Latitude look over priced.
Latitude 1pt @ 13/2 with Bet365
Time Bandit 0.5pts @ 16/1 with Bet365

In the end I couldn't make up my mind what to do at Fontwell so I just left the race alone. The rain stayed away for Law Of Gold and he ended up landing a fairly comfortable success at the line. As Dale said after the race though Maxwell set the race up nicely for him on Shantou Flyer as he gave him a good gallop to aim at. My eye kept being drawn to the times on screen and there seemed to be plenty of red furlongs which suggests to me that the favourite was going too fast and he had little left at the end. Dale gave the winner a good ride though because as they jumped the first on the last circuit he realised he needed to wake his mount up and go and challenge Shantou Flyer. My guess is he will be heading to Stratford for their Foxhunter in a couple of weeks and if the ground remains decent then he will have a leading chance. Dundrum Wood wasn't good enough to go with the front two, but I also suspect he wanted the rain to come and in the end he was only just in front of Keltus.
Tonight Aintree host the 2nd of 3 point-to-point bumpers and I was amazed when Crews Pitch was put in as a 5/4 favourite. This race looks stronger than the Exeter contest he was 2nd in last month so I am happy to pass him over.
Foxinthebox has become favourite on his first start for Olly Murphy after making his debut at Barbury in December when with Francesca Nimmo. He jumped terribly that day and did as well as he did to get as close as he did. No obstacles will clearly help him based on that and his former yard are well known for producing good young horses. My one concern though is he also got outpaced at Barbury so he might not want a sharp test like this.
If I Say is next in the betting and she beat Time Bandit on debut at Chaddesley Corbett last month. She came from off the pace, which was quite a strong one unusually for a bumper and hit the front about a furlong out. She then looked green but kept finding to win by just under 2L. I actually think that Time Bandit has a good chance of reversing the form. He helped make the strong pace and crucially he carried 7lbs more than the winner and here they will be off level weights with Darren's claim. We know how good the trainer is as well so that is another plus and I like the way he stayed on once he was past. Granted the winner should come on for the experience, but the price difference is too big for me.
Latenightfumble goes for the Ellis team and you always have to respect one of theirs, but I get the feeling she is running as she is the only one who qualifies for a bonus linked to the race. She did bolt up at Dingley in April in what is her only start over less than 2m and she doesn't seem to quite stay 3m as she showed again in a restricted at High Easter. That would suggest 2m might suit as well, but having first run 2 years ago she wouldn't have the scope for progress as the others.
That leaves us with Latitude who I think has a very good chance. He was disappointing in a 2m4f maiden at Chaddesley Corbett in December when a well beaten 3rd although he looked a bit of a non stayer. It could also be that he had a problem given we haven't seen him since. The key piece of form though is his first race in a bumper at Maisemore. He was really impressive that day and the form looks strong. The 12L 2nd has won since and is a horse his trainer thinks a lot off, but another 20L back in 3rd was Rose Above It who landed the Exeter bumper. Based on that at the very least he should be a shorter price than Crews Pitch. Back into a bumper I think we will see a much better performance given what he did on debut and since his trainer took out a rules licence they have done well in bumpers. Out of 13 runners in rules bumpers she has had 2 winners and 4 placed.
I certainly respect the claims of Foxinthebox and If I Say and if either of those won I wouldn't be shocked, but to me Time Bandit and especially Latitude look over priced.
Latitude 1pt @ 13/2 with Bet365
Time Bandit 0.5pts @ 16/1 with Bet365

First of all in years gone by we should have been looking forward to an all hunter chase card at Fontwell this evening, but sadly the course have decided to axe it this year. As sad as it is I am not all that surprised that it was axed as it had looked under threat for a few years. First of all no one went to it after the card moved from Folkestone and Fontwell was basically deserted whereas Folkestone was packed out. Secondly the fields usually cut up pretty badly and clearly ARC want runners for competitive racing to create money. I will always have found memories of the card though from having gone through the card at in the final year it was held at Folkestone in 2012 to having covered the meeting on At The Races for 3 years so it will always hold a spot in my heart. I also think it is a shame we have lost it because it gave horses a chance to win a hunter chase that wouldn't have had a chance otherwise and there are a few whose only hunter chase win did come on the card.
Anyway we still have one race on the card, but a quick look back at Perth last night first. I was worried when the ground went soft for Magna Sam and my suspicion is he didn't enjoy it although he dropped out at a stage which could suggest there was something ailing him. Refusal was also a spent force a fair way from home. In the end end the winner had little to beat given he was always likely to uphold the form with the 2nd. Pass The Way will need to find a pretty weak race to win again under rules.
Just the 5 runners for this evening's hunter chase then and another short price David Maxwell favourite in Shantou Flyer. He clearly has the best form in the contest and ought to be pretty hard to beat. Now he didn't have the race won for me at Wincanton when David fell off and Keltus does take him on again, but I thought David gave him a strange ride that day. He kicked him clear of Keltus going down the back for the final time and I don't think he was ridden to the best of his ability. His 3rd in the Kim Muir is way above what any of these can achieve and he deserves his long odds on quotes in my view.
Law Of Gold is 2nd in the betting and has been backed. He ran really well in last years Foxhunter when 7th although he does have 27L to make up on Shantou Flyer and whilst the weights give him a few lengths in his favour he would have had to improve and the favourite regressed to reverse the form and I'm not sure either of those things have happened. I thought Law Of Gold ran a creditable race on his seasonal return at Doncaster on ground which wouldn't have been ideal, but he then went backwards at Cheltenham as he ran a stinker. He then won a Mixed Open at Garthorpe last month, but wasn't exactly impressive in doing so. His main rival pulled up injured and the form looks pretty weak. The time was the slowest on the card, the 2nd was having its first start for 2 years and the 3rd was stuffed at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago. His best run of the season was the Doncaster effort and he seems to have gone backwards since. The ground is crucial for him though and if it did stay good, good to firm in places then that would increase his chances. If the rain hits then his chances diminish big time.
I think Dundrum Wood is better than he was able to show in the match with Royal Chant at Sedgefield last time and this should show him in a better light. His unproven over the trip, but the fact his trainer is running him in this suggests they think it will suit. He will need the forecast rain though as he likes cut in the ground as he showed at Newcastle in December when winning off 117. He was very poor here in February which is a concern, but it looked too bad to be true and he has a chance of finishing 2nd if the rain comes.
As mentioned above as much as Keltus might have beaten Shantou Flyer anyway at Wincanton I think he was flattered by the way Shantou Flyer was ridden. He then went to Cheltenham and ran with credit before not seeing out the 4m trip. I'm not sure he wants cut in the ground either although he was running well enough on soft ground at Ludlow 4 runs back until falling at 4 out. 
I feel a bit sorry for Tusa Eire's connections as I would imagine he was being aimed at the race he won on this card 2 years ago only for the race to disappear from the card. He's 15 now and it would be an even bigger shock than when he won 2 years ago if he were to win this.
It is an interesting little race where a lot depends on what the weather does so at this stage I am not putting a bet up as we could have quick ground, but we could easily have soft ground and that changes things a lot.

First of all in years gone by we should have been looking forward to an all hunter chase card at Fontwell this evening, but sadly the course have decided to axe it this year. As sad as it is I am not all that surprised that it was axed as it had looked under threat for a few years. First of all no one went to it after the card moved from Folkestone and Fontwell was basically deserted whereas Folkestone was packed out. Secondly the fields usually cut up pretty badly and clearly ARC want runners for competitive racing to create money. I will always have found memories of the card though from having gone through the card at in the final year it was held at Folkestone in 2012 to having covered the meeting on At The Races for 3 years so it will always hold a spot in my heart. I also think it is a shame we have lost it because it gave horses a chance to win a hunter chase that wouldn't have had a chance otherwise and there are a few whose only hunter chase win did come on the card.
Anyway we still have one race on the card, but a quick look back at Perth last night first. I was worried when the ground went soft for Magna Sam and my suspicion is he didn't enjoy it although he dropped out at a stage which could suggest there was something ailing him. Refusal was also a spent force a fair way from home. In the end end the winner had little to beat given he was always likely to uphold the form with the 2nd. Pass The Way will need to find a pretty weak race to win again under rules.
Just the 5 runners for this evening's hunter chase then and another short price David Maxwell favourite in Shantou Flyer. He clearly has the best form in the contest and ought to be pretty hard to beat. Now he didn't have the race won for me at Wincanton when David fell off and Keltus does take him on again, but I thought David gave him a strange ride that day. He kicked him clear of Keltus going down the back for the final time and I don't think he was ridden to the best of his ability. His 3rd in the Kim Muir is way above what any of these can achieve and he deserves his long odds on quotes in my view.
Law Of Gold is 2nd in the betting and has been backed. He ran really well in last years Foxhunter when 7th although he does have 27L to make up on Shantou Flyer and whilst the weights give him a few lengths in his favour he would have had to improve and the favourite regressed to reverse the form and I'm not sure either of those things have happened. I thought Law Of Gold ran a creditable race on his seasonal return at Doncaster on ground which wouldn't have been ideal, but he then went backwards at Cheltenham as he ran a stinker. He then won a Mixed Open at Garthorpe last month, but wasn't exactly impressive in doing so. His main rival pulled up injured and the form looks pretty weak. The time was the slowest on the card, the 2nd was having its first start for 2 years and the 3rd was stuffed at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago. His best run of the season was the Doncaster effort and he seems to have gone backwards since. The ground is crucial for him though and if it did stay good, good to firm in places then that would increase his chances. If the rain hits then his chances diminish big time.
I think Dundrum Wood is better than he was able to show in the match with Royal Chant at Sedgefield last time and this should show him in a better light. His unproven over the trip, but the fact his trainer is running him in this suggests they think it will suit. He will need the forecast rain though as he likes cut in the ground as he showed at Newcastle in December when winning off 117. He was very poor here in February which is a concern, but it looked too bad to be true and he has a chance of finishing 2nd if the rain comes.
As mentioned above as much as Keltus might have beaten Shantou Flyer anyway at Wincanton I think he was flattered by the way Shantou Flyer was ridden. He then went to Cheltenham and ran with credit before not seeing out the 4m trip. I'm not sure he wants cut in the ground either although he was running well enough on soft ground at Ludlow 4 runs back until falling at 4 out. 
I feel a bit sorry for Tusa Eire's connections as I would imagine he was being aimed at the race he won on this card 2 years ago only for the race to disappear from the card. He's 15 now and it would be an even bigger shock than when he won 2 years ago if he were to win this.
It is an interesting little race where a lot depends on what the weather does so at this stage I am not putting a bet up as we could have quick ground, but we could easily have soft ground and that changes things a lot.

First of all in years gone by we should have been looking forward to an all hunter chase card at Fontwell this evening, but sadly the course have decided to axe it this year. As sad as it is I am not all that surprised that it was axed as it had looked under threat for a few years. First of all no one went to it after the card moved from Folkestone and Fontwell was basically deserted whereas Folkestone was packed out. Secondly the fields usually cut up pretty badly and clearly ARC want runners for competitive racing to create money. I will always have found memories of the card though from having gone through the card at in the final year it was held at Folkestone in 2012 to having covered the meeting on At The Races for 3 years so it will always hold a spot in my heart. I also think it is a shame we have lost it because it gave horses a chance to win a hunter chase that wouldn't have had a chance otherwise and there are a few whose only hunter chase win did come on the card.
Anyway we still have one race on the card, but a quick look back at Perth last night first. I was worried when the ground went soft for Magna Sam and my suspicion is he didn't enjoy it although he dropped out at a stage which could suggest there was something ailing him. Refusal was also a spent force a fair way from home. In the end end the winner had little to beat given he was always likely to uphold the form with the 2nd. Pass The Way will need to find a pretty weak race to win again under rules.
Just the 5 runners for this evening's hunter chase then and another short price David Maxwell favourite in Shantou Flyer. He clearly has the best form in the contest and ought to be pretty hard to beat. Now he didn't have the race won for me at Wincanton when David fell off and Keltus does take him on again, but I thought David gave him a strange ride that day. He kicked him clear of Keltus going down the back for the final time and I don't think he was ridden to the best of his ability. His 3rd in the Kim Muir is way above what any of these can achieve and he deserves his long odds on quotes in my view.
Law Of Gold is 2nd in the betting and has been backed. He ran really well in last years Foxhunter when 7th although he does have 27L to make up on Shantou Flyer and whilst the weights give him a few lengths in his favour he would have had to improve and the favourite regressed to reverse the form and I'm not sure either of those things have happened. I thought Law Of Gold ran a creditable race on his seasonal return at Doncaster on ground which wouldn't have been ideal, but he then went backwards at Cheltenham as he ran a stinker. He then won a Mixed Open at Garthorpe last month, but wasn't exactly impressive in doing so. His main rival pulled up injured and the form looks pretty weak. The time was the slowest on the card, the 2nd was having its first start for 2 years and the 3rd was stuffed at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago. His best run of the season was the Doncaster effort and he seems to have gone backwards since. The ground is crucial for him though and if it did stay good, good to firm in places then that would increase his chances. If the rain hits then his chances diminish big time.
I think Dundrum Wood is better than he was able to show in the match with Royal Chant at Sedgefield last time and this should show him in a better light. His unproven over the trip, but the fact his trainer is running him in this suggests they think it will suit. He will need the forecast rain though as he likes cut in the ground as he showed at Newcastle in December when winning off 117. He was very poor here in February which is a concern, but it looked too bad to be true and he has a chance of finishing 2nd if the rain comes.
As mentioned above as much as Keltus might have beaten Shantou Flyer anyway at Wincanton I think he was flattered by the way Shantou Flyer was ridden. He then went to Cheltenham and ran with credit before not seeing out the 4m trip. I'm not sure he wants cut in the ground either although he was running well enough on soft ground at Ludlow 4 runs back until falling at 4 out. 
I feel a bit sorry for Tusa Eire's connections as I would imagine he was being aimed at the race he won on this card 2 years ago only for the race to disappear from the card. He's 15 now and it would be an even bigger shock than when he won 2 years ago if he were to win this.
It is an interesting little race where a lot depends on what the weather does so at this stage I am not putting a bet up as we could have quick ground, but we could easily have soft ground and that changes things a lot.

Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say you got a horse wrong and that certainly happened on Saturday as Dr Kananga stayed very well at Hexham. It was interesting listening to his jockey give an interview the next day as they really did fancy him compared to Matts Commission. He did add though that he had been gifted an easy lead and I think that helped big time especially as on paper there looked like there could have been a bit of a battle for the lead. Matts Commission travelled really well, but maybe he could have been a bit closer to the lead although it probably didn't make too much difference. The winner looks set to go under rules as his trainer, who also trains The Galloping Bear, is taking out his license.
The Perth contest tonight isn't the strongest in the world and that is proven by the fact Point The Way is such a strong favourite. He could win and clearly the 2nd to Alcala at Musselburgh in March stands out, but I don't think that form was anything to write home about at all. He finished 2nd over 4m1f last month although he was in front of Killer Crow and that one was even further behind him in that Musselburgh contest. He just looks short enough for me.
Royal Chant ran in the other hunter chase at Mussleburgh on March 3rd and he was a well beaten 4th to Captain Buck's, but I do think he has improved since then. Beating Absainte in a point on his next start was a solid piece of form especially as Absainte would have beaten him at Musselburgh had she not fallen. He then ran in the match at Sedgefield and he was travelling the best turning for home, but was just done for toe by the winner in the end. He then beat Refusual 10 days at Witton Castle where they went a crawl for most of the race, but he had too much pace for him late on. The concern with Royal Chant would be soft ground, but otherwise I think he holds a solid chance.
Magna Sam is at his best in a small field in my view as his best performances have been in 5 runner races. He was a lucky winner at Ludlow last January and then he ran a huge race as Ascot until coming down at the last. I am a bit confused as to why they have changed tactics with him to hold him up instead of making the running as they did when he won, but to be fair it worked at Ascot. After that effort he was a well beaten 6th in the Lady Dudley Cup, but I think he didn't stay that day plus it was a better race than this. He then went to Cheltenham and 2m was on the sharp side for him even round there. If it went really testing it would concern me although it shouldn't do that if the forecast is correct. This is the weakest race he's been in for a while and he is coming a long way for it as well. 
I can't see any other runner in this race being good enough to win a handicap off 120 which is something Fortunes Hiding did last July. The problem though is that effort stands out like a shore thumb from anything else he has done of late and as much as it came at Perth the trip was 2m4f. His pointing runs in the last couple of months just haven't shown enough for me to think he is a bet even though he's a big price on that handicap win.
Killer Crow and Son Of Suzie were 2nd and 3rd behind Bob And Co at Hexham last month, but they were not going very fast in the closing stages there and it is a very weak piece of form for me. I'd be surprised if Killer Crow reversed form with the favourite.
Refusal looked a very promising horse in 2018 and after winning a hunter chase at Cartmel he went to Stratford and finished 3rd to a very good horse. He then went missing until April where he pulled up behind Monbeg Chit Chat and then as mentioned above he was 2nd to Royal Chant. Clearly it is fairly hard to know where we stand with him at the moment, but there is every chance at the age of 13 he is going to come on for those two starts. I'd imagine a stronger gallop here compared to 10 days ago might just help reverse the form and if he can get back to that 2018 form he would be capable of winning this.
To be totally honest this race was giving me a right headache, but given I think the favourite is under the odds I think it is a race worth playing in. I don't really fancy Forthunes Hiding, Killer Crow, Son Of Suzie or Lord Ballim so that leaves me with 3 and I will cover them all. Magna Sam will be the main bet. He ran a huge race at Ascot and this is the worst race he's run in for a while. He's coming a long way for this as well and I don't think connections would be wasting the fuel money if they didn't think it was a winnable race for him. Royal Chant does seem to be getting better as the season goes on and he travels really well in his races although if the ground got really testing I'd be worried (as I would with Magna Sam). I also have to cover the horse he beat last time Refusal. Maybe he is nothing like the 2018 version anymore, but I have to cover him at big odds to improve for the 2 runs back after nearly 3 years off the track.
Magna Sam 1pt @ 3/1 with Bet365
Refusal 0.5pts e/w @ 18/1 with Bet365
NB Royal Chant is now a non-runner

Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say you got a horse wrong and that certainly happened on Saturday as Dr Kananga stayed very well at Hexham. It was interesting listening to his jockey give an interview the next day as they really did fancy him compared to Matts Commission. He did add though that he had been gifted an easy lead and I think that helped big time especially as on paper there looked like there could have been a bit of a battle for the lead. Matts Commission travelled really well, but maybe he could have been a bit closer to the lead although it probably didn't make too much difference. The winner looks set to go under rules as his trainer, who also trains The Galloping Bear, is taking out his license.
The Perth contest tonight isn't the strongest in the world and that is proven by the fact Point The Way is such a strong favourite. He could win and clearly the 2nd to Alcala at Musselburgh in March stands out, but I don't think that form was anything to write home about at all. He finished 2nd over 4m1f last month although he was in front of Killer Crow and that one was even further behind him in that Musselburgh contest. He just looks short enough for me.
Royal Chant ran in the other hunter chase at Mussleburgh on March 3rd and he was a well beaten 4th to Captain Buck's, but I do think he has improved since then. Beating Absainte in a point on his next start was a solid piece of form especially as Absainte would have beaten him at Musselburgh had she not fallen. He then ran in the match at Sedgefield and he was travelling the best turning for home, but was just done for toe by the winner in the end. He then beat Refusual 10 days at Witton Castle where they went a crawl for most of the race, but he had too much pace for him late on. The concern with Royal Chant would be soft ground, but otherwise I think he holds a solid chance.
Magna Sam is at his best in a small field in my view as his best performances have been in 5 runner races. He was a lucky winner at Ludlow last January and then he ran a huge race as Ascot until coming down at the last. I am a bit confused as to why they have changed tactics with him to hold him up instead of making the running as they did when he won, but to be fair it worked at Ascot. After that effort he was a well beaten 6th in the Lady Dudley Cup, but I think he didn't stay that day plus it was a better race than this. He then went to Cheltenham and 2m was on the sharp side for him even round there. If it went really testing it would concern me although it shouldn't do that if the forecast is correct. This is the weakest race he's been in for a while and he is coming a long way for it as well. 
I can't see any other runner in this race being good enough to win a handicap off 120 which is something Fortunes Hiding did last July. The problem though is that effort stands out like a shore thumb from anything else he has done of late and as much as it came at Perth the trip was 2m4f. His pointing runs in the last couple of months just haven't shown enough for me to think he is a bet even though he's a big price on that handicap win.
Killer Crow and Son Of Suzie were 2nd and 3rd behind Bob And Co at Hexham last month, but they were not going very fast in the closing stages there and it is a very weak piece of form for me. I'd be surprised if Killer Crow reversed form with the favourite.
Refusal looked a very promising horse in 2018 and after winning a hunter chase at Cartmel he went to Stratford and finished 3rd to a very good horse. He then went missing until April where he pulled up behind Monbeg Chit Chat and then as mentioned above he was 2nd to Royal Chant. Clearly it is fairly hard to know where we stand with him at the moment, but there is every chance at the age of 13 he is going to come on for those two starts. I'd imagine a stronger gallop here compared to 10 days ago might just help reverse the form and if he can get back to that 2018 form he would be capable of winning this.
To be totally honest this race was giving me a right headache, but given I think the favourite is under the odds I think it is a race worth playing in. I don't really fancy Forthunes Hiding, Killer Crow, Son Of Suzie or Lord Ballim so that leaves me with 3 and I will cover them all. Magna Sam will be the main bet. He ran a huge race at Ascot and this is the worst race he's run in for a while. He's coming a long way for this as well and I don't think connections would be wasting the fuel money if they didn't think it was a winnable race for him. Royal Chant does seem to be getting better as the season goes on and he travels really well in his races although if the ground got really testing I'd be worried (as I would with Magna Sam). I also have to cover the horse he beat last time Refusal. Maybe he is nothing like the 2018 version anymore, but I have to cover him at big odds to improve for the 2 runs back after nearly 3 years off the track.
Magna Sam 1pt @ 3/1 with Bet365
Refusal 0.5pts e/w @ 18/1 with Bet365
NB Royal Chant is now a non-runner

First of all I am going to look back to hunter chase night at Cheltenham before I get into the Hexham preview.
Race 1
I was surprised to see Envoye Special so strong in the market, but he was ridden more prominently just as he had been at Kempton. It was a sensible decision from James to sit off the very strong gallop set by Rafferty and Jungle Legend although I just wonder if the pace he went until he dropped off them just meant he had little left at the end to see off the winner. Having said that I'm not sure it made any difference to the result as Fumet d'Oudairies was a cosy winner in the end. He was given a good ride from Jack who didn't panic at any stage and for a horse who only cost £800 he is clearly one of the best buys we have seen in recent years. He could head to Stratford now for their 2m version on hunter chase night. As I suspected Risk And Roll's jumping let him down and he was a well beaten 4th.
Race 2
Amazing to think that Captain McGinley was going to be retired if he under performed again here. He had suffered a small bleed after the Leicester run, but going back to the race where he had put in his best ever performance worked a treat. In a normal year he wouldn't have been eligible to even run in the race. He was the easiest winner of the night, but I get the feeling he was just the only one who truly stayed the trip. The favourite Benefaktor certainly didn't stay having made the running and I don't think it is going to be a strong form race. The other two bets I put up Guttural and Hadmeathello both ran poorly as well. 
Race 3
The fact Trio For Rio jumped so poorly and still won tells you all you need to know about the strength of this contest. I suspect he will ever be kept to easier jumping tests like Ludlow or stick to pointing in future because he isn't going to get away with jumping like that in a half decent race. It was a very good ride from Tommie to get him home as well. Fixe Le Kap ran much better than I thought he would and looked the winner at one stage. I'm Wiser Now struggled round the track as I thought he might and Wick Green clearly ran miles below his best which was annoying.
Race 4
Speaking of horses running below their best my best bet of the night Garde Ville certainly did that. At least we have an excuse for the performance as he burst a blood vessel something he has done in the past. Just Cause had been the gamble of the race, but he was a lost cause pretty much the whole race. I'm surprised he didn't pull up although he did finish a distant 4th in the end. I had mentioned in the preview that Monbeg Chit Chat had been improving with every start this season and he did again here to win well from Sugar Baron. Again I don't think the form is overly strong, but he could easily find another opportunity to win a hunter chase.
Race 5
Highway Jewel's win was the most astonishing performance of the night. How on earth she got away with putting a hoof on top of the 16th fence I don't know and fair play to Bradley for staying on top. To then fight back after being headed after 3 out was impressive as well and shows that she is a quality horse. She also jumped out to right which was surprising although I was told she had a sore mouth after chewing through her bit at home and it is thought that was the cause for her jumping out to her right. Hopefully she gets a chance to run in big one next year although she might be off to Stratford first. Fishy Story didn't jump out to her right anywhere near as badly as she did at Stratford and she put up a performance which backs up my thinking that she should have won at Stratford. Miss Seagreen was a bit disappointing for the 2nd start running under rules so she might be one to keep to pointing.
Race 6
This race featured the ride of the night for me and just proves that the best rides aren't always on winners. One of my picks Ennistown had been strong in the market before the race which was a good sign, but his race seemed over at the first where he made a really bad mistake. After that he was at the back of the field jumping badly, but James King never panicked and just allowed him time to find his rhythm again. Eventually he did start to jump better and he started to pick rivals off during the final circuit. I was getting quite excited as they came down the hill because I really thought he was going to win the race and as they turned for home he was only 2L off the lead. Sadly the effort told in the end and he somehow managed to finish out of the places in 5th although he was only beaten 3L. It really was a masterful ride by James King and after his ride to win the Foxhunters at Aintree I think he has ridden the two best rides of the season. Captain Cattistock won the race and fair play to him he kept finding for his young jockey despite the fact he had been left out in front from a fair way out after Kilkishen departed. It is hard to know where he would have finished, but he was going just as well as the winner at the time. Sam Red flew home for 2nd and clearly likes this race. Navanman did well as well and reversed form with Know The Score who was only 7th. Tanit River was 4th and he put his best jumping performance of the season.
Race 7
This promised to be the best race of the night and it certainly turned out that way. On the clock Marcle Ridge put in the best performance of the evening and he was well backed throughout the day. Tommie gave him a sensible ride as he let Risk A Fine get on with it until that one began to drop away so didn't get into the pace battle which looked like could happen on paper. He's a good horse and was suited by this drop in trip. Having said that I do think he would get away with the Stratford Foxhunters' trip round there and he would be good enough to go close if they went down that route. Fair play to Clondaw Westie who backed up his Aintree run by staying on for 2nd close home. He just caught Peacocks Secret who comes out with plenty of credit as well. Barney Dwan never looked like winning, but it was a solid enough run in 4th. Risk A Fine had been a huge drifter and whilst I expected him to drift I didn't think he would get as big as 13/2. He was running a good race until he got tired, but it was a bit of a worrying performance because he dropped away with still a fair way to go. It will be interesting to see where he goes next to see if he can find his form from 2 years ago again.
Finally I have to mention Bob And Co and David Maxwell at Punchestown. It was a much needed result tipping wise as it helped mean it was only a small loss on the night, but I thought he had been beaten as they crossed the line. Luckily he had his nose down where it mattered and he battled very strongly on the run in. He made a couple of jumping errors on the way including one that David did well to survive. Clearly he would have gone close at Cheltenham if he hadn't unseated Sean and surely all roads lead to Cheltenham next March after this. I guess he could go to Stratford first, but it was good to see David get a first big hunter chase win which was deserved. It was an incredible performance from Billaway in 2nd. To run like that after a hard race at Cheltenham and Aintree just shows what a tough and quality horse he is. He really deserves to land a big prize and no doubt he will be a leading fancy for Cheltenham again next season.
On to the Heart Of All England at Hexham this afternoon and it is fair to say that Bet365 made a massive error with their prices last night. God knows why they decided Matts Commission should have been a 7/1 shot, but that price lasted a minute and it was very quickly an 11/4 shot. He should be favourite for this race as he has the best form. Watching back on his last few victories last night it was clear that he has always had a lot in hand at the finish. When he ran at Leicester in February against Chameron and Cousin Pascal I mentioned that the form didn't add up to a huge amount which was true when comparing him to Chameron, but in the context of this race the form is strong. That Leicester race saw him travel strongly in the contest only for him to tire badly in the straight. That wasn't the biggest surprise as he was trying to chase down a very good horse in Chameron and a horse who ended up winning the Aintree Foxhunters. Clearly there is nothing of that quality in this and it was his first run of the season on testing ground. He then went to Hutton Rudby at the end of March and had a very easy success in a Mens Open. He did jump to his right that day which would be a concern here, but it wasn't that bad and he has won round the point course at Hexham (on the inside of the rules track) and he jumped pretty straight that day. He's won on soft ground so the forecast run shouldn't worry him either.
Dr Kananga was on the drift last night until about 9.20 when money came in for him quickly and he was down to around 4/1 from 8/1 in about 15 minutes. He was well backed at Catterick last time when he was 3rd to Cousin Pascal and his only other run of the season was in November at Kimble where he was 4th to Porlock Bay! He made the running at Catterick and got tired in the straight, but whilst you can't knock him for being well beaten by the winner the form of that race isn't very good. The 2nd has been stuffed in two points since which doesn't exactly bode well. What also concerns me is he doesn't really look as if he really stays 3m. He won his maiden over 3m a couple of years ago, but his restricted win was over 2m4f and his runs over 3m outside of the maiden win suggest he doesn't really stay. I can see him really struggling to get up that pretty stiff final climb leaving the back straight.
Snow Castle was 2nd in this 2 years ago and was 2nd on his seasonal return at Wetherby. That race was awful though and he never got involved at all at Carlisle the following month. He was then 3rd in a point last month, but the winner did nothing for the form at Cheltenham last week. The main thing in his corner is that 2nd in this two years ago as Hexham is one of those tracks that does see course specialists.
Worcester Pearmain and Roderick Random know each other fairly well having been 2nd and 3rd at Kelso last month and they were 5th and 2nd at Alnwick back in December. That Kelso race was awful though and it would be a bit disappointing if one of them was good enough to win.
Matthew Man was an 18L 2nd in a novice chase at Catterick, but the winner was long odds on and the others were a very moderate bunch so I don't read much into that form. He was beaten in a restricted at Alnwick back in December although the winner did win a weak Catterick bumper after that. 
I've mentioned Cousin Pascal already in the preview and his trainer runs Irish Anthem here. He was pulled up at Kimble in the Porlock Bay race and then had a very easy task on his only other start on Easter Saturday at Sandon. He hasn't looked the strongest of stayers and he is another possible front runner. As much as I can't back him nothing surprises me when it comes to one of Joe's runners.
The others look to have a fair bit to find although Wayupinthebox is probably over priced and might be capable of hitting the frame after winning on Saturday.
Dr Kananga is coming a long way for this, but I have big doubts about him getting up the hill especially as there are other potential front runners. On all known form Matts Commission has clearly the best form and on point ratings he is a good few lbs clear of the rest. That Leicester run was full of promise and this is a much easier contest. I think there is scope for thinking he should be an even shorter price than he currently is so he rates a solid bet for me. 
Matts Commission 3pts @ 9/4 with Bet365
I nearly always write the preview the night before so instead of changing I am going to add this at the bottom. That gamble on Dr Kananga has continued this morning and he is now currently favourite. That's helpful for us because we now get a bigger price on the tip. For me Matts Commission should be the clear favourite and the market is now wrong.

First of all I am going to look back to hunter chase night at Cheltenham before I get into the Hexham preview.
Race 1
I was surprised to see Envoye Special so strong in the market, but he was ridden more prominently just as he had been at Kempton. It was a sensible decision from James to sit off the very strong gallop set by Rafferty and Jungle Legend although I just wonder if the pace he went until he dropped off them just meant he had little left at the end to see off the winner. Having said that I'm not sure it made any difference to the result as Fumet d'Oudairies was a cosy winner in the end. He was given a good ride from Jack who didn't panic at any stage and for a horse who only cost £800 he is clearly one of the best buys we have seen in recent years. He could head to Stratford now for their 2m version on hunter chase night. As I suspected Risk And Roll's jumping let him down and he was a well beaten 4th.
Race 2
Amazing to think that Captain McGinley was going to be retired if he under performed again here. He had suffered a small bleed after the Leicester run, but going back to the race where he had put in his best ever performance worked a treat. In a normal year he wouldn't have been eligible to even run in the race. He was the easiest winner of the night, but I get the feeling he was just the only one who truly stayed the trip. The favourite Benefaktor certainly didn't stay having made the running and I don't think it is going to be a strong form race. The other two bets I put up Guttural and Hadmeathello both ran poorly as well. 
Race 3
The fact Trio For Rio jumped so poorly and still won tells you all you need to know about the strength of this contest. I suspect he will ever be kept to easier jumping tests like Ludlow or stick to pointing in future because he isn't going to get away with jumping like that in a half decent race. It was a very good ride from Tommie to get him home as well. Fixe Le Kap ran much better than I thought he would and looked the winner at one stage. I'm Wiser Now struggled round the track as I thought he might and Wick Green clearly ran miles below his best which was annoying.
Race 4
Speaking of horses running below their best my best bet of the night Garde Ville certainly did that. At least we have an excuse for the performance as he burst a blood vessel something he has done in the past. Just Cause had been the gamble of the race, but he was a lost cause pretty much the whole race. I'm surprised he didn't pull up although he did finish a distant 4th in the end. I had mentioned in the preview that Monbeg Chit Chat had been improving with every start this season and he did again here to win well from Sugar Baron. Again I don't think the form is overly strong, but he could easily find another opportunity to win a hunter chase.
Race 5
Highway Jewel's win was the most astonishing performance of the night. How on earth she got away with putting a hoof on top of the 16th fence I don't know and fair play to Bradley for staying on top. To then fight back after being headed after 3 out was impressive as well and shows that she is a quality horse. She also jumped out to right which was surprising although I was told she had a sore mouth after chewing through her bit at home and it is thought that was the cause for her jumping out to her right. Hopefully she gets a chance to run in big one next year although she might be off to Stratford first. Fishy Story didn't jump out to her right anywhere near as badly as she did at Stratford and she put up a performance which backs up my thinking that she should have won at Stratford. Miss Seagreen was a bit disappointing for the 2nd start running under rules so she might be one to keep to pointing.
Race 6
This race featured the ride of the night for me and just proves that the best rides aren't always on winners. One of my picks Ennistown had been strong in the market before the race which was a good sign, but his race seemed over at the first where he made a really bad mistake. After that he was at the back of the field jumping badly, but James King never panicked and just allowed him time to find his rhythm again. Eventually he did start to jump better and he started to pick rivals off during the final circuit. I was getting quite excited as they came down the hill because I really thought he was going to win the race and as they turned for home he was only 2L off the lead. Sadly the effort told in the end and he somehow managed to finish out of the places in 5th although he was only beaten 3L. It really was a masterful ride by James King and after his ride to win the Foxhunters at Aintree I think he has ridden the two best rides of the season. Captain Cattistock won the race and fair play to him he kept finding for his young jockey despite the fact he had been left out in front from a fair way out after Kilkishen departed. It is hard to know where he would have finished, but he was going just as well as the winner at the time. Sam Red flew home for 2nd and clearly likes this race. Navanman did well as well and reversed form with Know The Score who was only 7th. Tanit River was 4th and he put his best jumping performance of the season.
Race 7
This promised to be the best race of the night and it certainly turned out that way. On the clock Marcle Ridge put in the best performance of the evening and he was well backed throughout the day. Tommie gave him a sensible ride as he let Risk A Fine get on with it until that one began to drop away so didn't get into the pace battle which looked like could happen on paper. He's a good horse and was suited by this drop in trip. Having said that I do think he would get away with the Stratford Foxhunters' trip round there and he would be good enough to go close if they went down that route. Fair play to Clondaw Westie who backed up his Aintree run by staying on for 2nd close home. He just caught Peacocks Secret who comes out with plenty of credit as well. Barney Dwan never looked like winning, but it was a solid enough run in 4th. Risk A Fine had been a huge drifter and whilst I expected him to drift I didn't think he would get as big as 13/2. He was running a good race until he got tired, but it was a bit of a worrying performance because he dropped away with still a fair way to go. It will be interesting to see where he goes next to see if he can find his form from 2 years ago again.
Finally I have to mention Bob And Co and David Maxwell at Punchestown. It was a much needed result tipping wise as it helped mean it was only a small loss on the night, but I thought he had been beaten as they crossed the line. Luckily he had his nose down where it mattered and he battled very strongly on the run in. He made a couple of jumping errors on the way including one that David did well to survive. Clearly he would have gone close at Cheltenham if he hadn't unseated Sean and surely all roads lead to Cheltenham next March after this. I guess he could go to Stratford first, but it was good to see David get a first big hunter chase win which was deserved. It was an incredible performance from Billaway in 2nd. To run like that after a hard race at Cheltenham and Aintree just shows what a tough and quality horse he is. He really deserves to land a big prize and no doubt he will be a leading fancy for Cheltenham again next season.
On to the Heart Of All England at Hexham this afternoon and it is fair to say that Bet365 made a massive error with their prices last night. God knows why they decided Matts Commission should have been a 7/1 shot, but that price lasted a minute and it was very quickly an 11/4 shot. He should be favourite for this race as he has the best form. Watching back on his last few victories last night it was clear that he has always had a lot in hand at the finish. When he ran at Leicester in February against Chameron and Cousin Pascal I mentioned that the form didn't add up to a huge amount which was true when comparing him to Chameron, but in the context of this race the form is strong. That Leicester race saw him travel strongly in the contest only for him to tire badly in the straight. That wasn't the biggest surprise as he was trying to chase down a very good horse in Chameron and a horse who ended up winning the Aintree Foxhunters. Clearly there is nothing of that quality in this and it was his first run of the season on testing ground. He then went to Hutton Rudby at the end of March and had a very easy success in a Mens Open. He did jump to his right that day which would be a concern here, but it wasn't that bad and he has won round the point course at Hexham (on the inside of the rules track) and he jumped pretty straight that day. He's won on soft ground so the forecast run shouldn't worry him either.
Dr Kananga was on the drift last night until about 9.20 when money came in for him quickly and he was down to around 4/1 from 8/1 in about 15 minutes. He was well backed at Catterick last time when he was 3rd to Cousin Pascal and his only other run of the season was in November at Kimble where he was 4th to Porlock Bay! He made the running at Catterick and got tired in the straight, but whilst you can't knock him for being well beaten by the winner the form of that race isn't very good. The 2nd has been stuffed in two points since which doesn't exactly bode well. What also concerns me is he doesn't really look as if he really stays 3m. He won his maiden over 3m a couple of years ago, but his restricted win was over 2m4f and his runs over 3m outside of the maiden win suggest he doesn't really stay. I can see him really struggling to get up that pretty stiff final climb leaving the back straight.
Snow Castle was 2nd in this 2 years ago and was 2nd on his seasonal return at Wetherby. That race was awful though and he never got involved at all at Carlisle the following month. He was then 3rd in a point last month, but the winner did nothing for the form at Cheltenham last week. The main thing in his corner is that 2nd in this two years ago as Hexham is one of those tracks that does see course specialists.
Worcester Pearmain and Roderick Random know each other fairly well having been 2nd and 3rd at Kelso last month and they were 5th and 2nd at Alnwick back in December. That Kelso race was awful though and it would be a bit disappointing if one of them was good enough to win.
Matthew Man was an 18L 2nd in a novice chase at Catterick, but the winner was long odds on and the others were a very moderate bunch so I don't read much into that form. He was beaten in a restricted at Alnwick back in December although the winner did win a weak Catterick bumper after that. 
I've mentioned Cousin Pascal already in the preview and his trainer runs Irish Anthem here. He was pulled up at Kimble in the Porlock Bay race and then had a very easy task on his only other start on Easter Saturday at Sandon. He hasn't looked the strongest of stayers and he is another possible front runner. As much as I can't back him nothing surprises me when it comes to one of Joe's runners.
The others look to have a fair bit to find although Wayupinthebox is probably over priced and might be capable of hitting the frame after winning on Saturday.
Dr Kananga is coming a long way for this, but I have big doubts about him getting up the hill especially as there are other potential front runners. On all known form Matts Commission has clearly the best form and on point ratings he is a good few lbs clear of the rest. That Leicester run was full of promise and this is a much easier contest. I think there is scope for thinking he should be an even shorter price than he currently is so he rates a solid bet for me. 
Matts Commission 3pts @ 9/4 with Bet365
I nearly always write the preview the night before so instead of changing I am going to add this at the bottom. That gamble on Dr Kananga has continued this morning and he is now currently favourite. That's helpful for us because we now get a bigger price on the tip. For me Matts Commission should be the clear favourite and the market is now wrong.

A frustrating day 2 with Michelin winning well and not being on him and then Instigator should have won but for the fact he travelled so wide into the home straight. Hopefully the final day can go better where we have the Champion Novice Hurdle and the big race of the whole week the Grand Annual.
Race 1 (2.15am)
This looks a match to me between Valac and Eckhart. Valac has been a horse I have followed in Australia for a while and although he lost his way on the flat he looks like he could have a very good 2nd career as a hurdler. He looked really impressive when winning on his hurdling debut at Hamilton when he beat American In Paris with ease. I was all expecting to be backing him for this, but I am actually going to take him on. In my view he is too short in the betting especially as he has never been on a heavy track before. Now I suspect the going will move back into the Soft range tomorrow, but I'm not even sure he wants a soft 7. He might well win, but I don't think he has quite as much in hand over Eckhart as the betting suggests. He was also very impressive on his hurdling debut at Pakenham last July when winning by 15L. That came on a soft 7 and he next ran at Ballarat when 2nd to Flying Agent. Granted he was beaten 19L, but given how good he is there is no disgrace in that. He's had 3 flat runs so far this prep and they have clearly been all about fitness, but he has also had 5 hurdle trials so he should be fit enough if good enough. He certainly looks to me to be the value play.
Eckhart 1pt @ 18/5 with Bet365
Race 7 (5.30am)
Really looking forward to the Grand Annual as it looks a really competitive renewal full of quality. Here are my thoughts about the leading contenders.
Zed Em - A 12 time steeplechase winner including winning this in 2019. In 2018 he finished 2nd to Gold Medals and last year he was 3rd. He wasn't seen after that until this year and over jumps he has finished 2nd twice in the two big chases at Oakbank over Easter. Likely to go well again, but I just wonder if others are better weighted to win.
Bit Of A Lad - On the quick back up after running 2nd to Flying Agent on Tuesday. That was obviously a good effort given he was giving a good horse 5kgs. The problem for me is he has run in this race the last two years and finished a fairly well beaten 4th both times which leads me to think the trip is a concern. He is still only 7 though so he could stay better now and his jockey has come out of retirement to ride him. On balance I will oppose as I think he is short enough in the betting, but he wouldn't be a surprise winner.
Gold Medals - Won this at the first time of asking in 2018 and then been 2nd in the last two years. I'm sure he will go well again, but he was well beaten by Ablaze last year and I think he will have to improve on that to win this time around and I am not sure he will.
Spying On You - Having his 109th career start and arguably he is in his best ever form. I thought he was very good at Oakbank in winning the Great Eastern from Zed Em and that had come on the back of winning on the flat a few days previously. He's had another flat run since to keep him ticking over and I can certainly see him bettering his two 3rds in 2019 and 2018.
Yensir - The ex Olly Murphy trained horse won 4 hurdles in the summer of 2018 over here before going to Australia and he went and won the Von Doussa at Oakbank on his first chase start. That was a ding dong battle down the straight as he just edged out Zed Em. He could easily win, but stamina has to be a big question mark as he hasn't been anywhere near this far yet and even if the ground was a Soft 7 I would still think it might be too soft for him. He's a good horse, but I just think he is tight enough in the betting with the stamina and ground concerns.
Napoleon - He has been very consistent in the big races over in New Zealand and we know he will stay well as he was 2nd over 6400m in October. There was a chance 3200m was going to be too short for him at Pakenham last time, but in the end he outclassed them and in my view it was the perfect prep for this contest. He gets in here off a light weight and given he has that good form in NZ as well as no stamina or ground concerns I can see him running a big race.
Those at the head of the market are all possible winners, but for me I am going to take a couple e/w at odds. Napoleon has proven he is a good horse in NZ and I think this test looks to be right up his street. He is down the bottom of the weights and that is no bad thing either. He is the main bet. I also want to cover Spying on You who might just be able to go better than his two 3rds in this contest before. I think he is in as good a form as he has ever been in and he is certainly over priced for me.
Napolean 1pt e/w @ 9/1 with Betfred
Spying on You 0.5pts e/w @ 10/1 with Betfred and William Hill

Always nice when a race goes pretty much as you expect it to and there was never a moments worry at Fakenham yesterday as Tullys Touch ran out a very comfortable winner. At the right level he can win again whereas the others will struggle to find a winning hunter chase opportunity.
We move on to Kelso and a 3 runner race which sees another Maxwell hot pot in Dolphin Square. He ought to win and had decent hurdles form, but he's only had two chase starts under rules and his jumping wasn't foot perfect in either start. He was also disappointing last time and if he ran like that again he might get beat here. Clearly Right Of Reply had nothing to beat last time as Salvatore didn't run his race, but there is every chance he can find more improvement on what was only his 2nd start since 2018. I wouldn't want to chase the price down too much, but I think he is capable of at least making a race of it and there is a spot of value in his price. This shorter trip will suit as well in my opinion. Nine Altars has got pieces of decent enough hunter chase form and didn't run too badly in December in a handicap, but I'd be a bit surprised if he ended up winning this.
Right Of Reply 1pt @ 7/2 with Bet365

A frustrating day 2 with Michelin winning well and not being on him and then Instigator should have won but for the fact he travelled so wide into the home straight. Hopefully the final day can go better where we have the Champion Novice Hurdle and the big race of the whole week the Grand Annual.
Race 1 (2.15am)
This looks a match to me between Valac and Eckhart. Valac has been a horse I have followed in Australia for a while and although he lost his way on the flat he looks like he could have a very good 2nd career as a hurdler. He looked really impressive when winning on his hurdling debut at Hamilton when he beat American In Paris with ease. I was all expecting to be backing him for this, but I am actually going to take him on. In my view he is too short in the betting especially as he has never been on a heavy track before. Now I suspect the going will move back into the Soft range tomorrow, but I'm not even sure he wants a soft 7. He might well win, but I don't think he has quite as much in hand over Eckhart as the betting suggests. He was also very impressive on his hurdling debut at Pakenham last July when winning by 15L. That came on a soft 7 and he next ran at Ballarat when 2nd to Flying Agent. Granted he was beaten 19L, but given how good he is there is no disgrace in that. He's had 3 flat runs so far this prep and they have clearly been all about fitness, but he has also had 5 hurdle trials so he should be fit enough if good enough. He certainly looks to me to be the value play.
Eckhart 1pt @ 18/5 with Bet365
Race 7 (5.30am)
Really looking forward to the Grand Annual as it looks a really competitive renewal full of quality. Here are my thoughts about the leading contenders.
Zed Em - A 12 time steeplechase winner including winning this in 2019. In 2018 he finished 2nd to Gold Medals and last year he was 3rd. He wasn't seen after that until this year and over jumps he has finished 2nd twice in the two big chases at Oakbank over Easter. Likely to go well again, but I just wonder if others are better weighted to win.
Bit Of A Lad - On the quick back up after running 2nd to Flying Agent on Tuesday. That was obviously a good effort given he was giving a good horse 5kgs. The problem for me is he has run in this race the last two years and finished a fairly well beaten 4th both times which leads me to think the trip is a concern. He is still only 7 though so he could stay better now and his jockey has come out of retirement to ride him. On balance I will oppose as I think he is short enough in the betting, but he wouldn't be a surprise winner.
Gold Medals - Won this at the first time of asking in 2018 and then been 2nd in the last two years. I'm sure he will go well again, but he was well beaten by Ablaze last year and I think he will have to improve on that to win this time around and I am not sure he will.
Spying On You - Having his 109th career start and arguably he is in his best ever form. I thought he was very good at Oakbank in winning the Great Eastern from Zed Em and that had come on the back of winning on the flat a few days previously. He's had another flat run since to keep him ticking over and I can certainly see him bettering his two 3rds in 2019 and 2018.
Yensir - The ex Olly Murphy trained horse won 4 hurdles in the summer of 2018 over here before going to Australia and he went and won the Von Doussa at Oakbank on his first chase start. That was a ding dong battle down the straight as he just edged out Zed Em. He could easily win, but stamina has to be a big question mark as he hasn't been anywhere near this far yet and even if the ground was a Soft 7 I would still think it might be too soft for him. He's a good horse, but I just think he is tight enough in the betting with the stamina and ground concerns.
Napoleon - He has been very consistent in the big races over in New Zealand and we know he will stay well as he was 2nd over 6400m in October. There was a chance 3200m was going to be too short for him at Pakenham last time, but in the end he outclassed them and in my view it was the perfect prep for this contest. He gets in here off a light weight and given he has that good form in NZ as well as no stamina or ground concerns I can see him running a big race.
Those at the head of the market are all possible winners, but for me I am going to take a couple e/w at odds. Napoleon has proven he is a good horse in NZ and I think this test looks to be right up his street. He is down the bottom of the weights and that is no bad thing either. He is the main bet. I also want to cover Spying on You who might just be able to go better than his two 3rds in this contest before. I think he is in as good a form as he has ever been in and he is certainly over priced for me.
Napolean 1pt e/w @ 9/1 with Betfred
Spying on You 0.5pts e/w @ 10/1 with Betfred and William Hill

Always nice when a race goes pretty much as you expect it to and there was never a moments worry at Fakenham yesterday as Tullys Touch ran out a very comfortable winner. At the right level he can win again whereas the others will struggle to find a winning hunter chase opportunity.
We move on to Kelso and a 3 runner race which sees another Maxwell hot pot in Dolphin Square. He ought to win and had decent hurdles form, but he's only had two chase starts under rules and his jumping wasn't foot perfect in either start. He was also disappointing last time and if he ran like that again he might get beat here. Clearly Right Of Reply had nothing to beat last time as Salvatore didn't run his race, but there is every chance he can find more improvement on what was only his 2nd start since 2018. I wouldn't want to chase the price down too much, but I think he is capable of at least making a race of it and there is a spot of value in his price. This shorter trip will suit as well in my opinion. Nine Altars has got pieces of decent enough hunter chase form and didn't run too badly in December in a handicap, but I'd be a bit surprised if he ended up winning this.
Right Of Reply 1pt @ 7/2 with Bet365

Always nice when a race goes pretty much as you expect it to and there was never a moments worry at Fakenham yesterday as Tullys Touch ran out a very comfortable winner. At the right level he can win again whereas the others will struggle to find a winning hunter chase opportunity.
We move on to Kelso and a 3 runner race which sees another Maxwell hot pot in Dolphin Square. He ought to win and had decent hurdles form, but he's only had two chase starts under rules and his jumping wasn't foot perfect in either start. He was also disappointing last time and if he ran like that again he might get beat here. Clearly Right Of Reply had nothing to beat last time as Salvatore didn't run his race, but there is every chance he can find more improvement on what was only his 2nd start since 2018. I wouldn't want to chase the price down too much, but I think he is capable of at least making a race of it and there is a spot of value in his price. This shorter trip will suit as well in my opinion. Nine Altars has got pieces of decent enough hunter chase form and didn't run too badly in December in a handicap, but I'd be a bit surprised if he ended up winning this.
Right Of Reply 1pt @ 7/2 with Bet365

A good day on day 1 with 2 out of 3 winners and I think Annunciate just bumped into a very good horse. Day 2 sees a BM120 Steeplechase and the feature hurdle race of the week, the Galleywood.
R4 (3.55am) Brief thoughts on the leading contenders   Michelin - Beat Flying Agent in a maiden steeple last year and ran with credit in two starts after that including a 3rd in the Grand National. Will love the ground and didn't run too badly on the flat last week.   Rexmont - Did it well at Pakenham on chasing debut last month and likely to make the running again here. Big question mark about him handling heavy ground though.   Riding High - Won a novice hurdle here a year ago on the backing of winning his maiden at Pakenham. Disappointed in only other hurdle start last year at Sandown. This year he has had 4 flat starts including winning at Werribee last month. He then went back to Pakenham and I thought he was a bit disappointing when only finishing 4th. Was given a very quiet trial here over fences a couple of weeks ago, but he did jump very well. Even so looks very short in betting especially as he has a terrible record on heavy ground.   Longclaw - Won a maiden hurdle at Sale last year and won well in two subsequent hurdles. Was a well beaten 4th on his chasing debut at Ballarat in August though. Had 4 steeple trials this time around and his jumping looked good in the last of them.   American In Paris - 4 2nds in Maiden hurdles but think it is mainly down into bumping into useful horses like Valac as he did last time at Hamilton. Jumped well in his steeple trial here a couple of weeks ago and he loves a heavy track.   Referee - Dropped away tamely over hurdles at Pakenham last time, but showed some useful enough form over fences last year and he could run well at a huge price.   So I think Riding High is worth opposing on heavy ground. I really fancied Michelin the other day when he was scratched, but I'm slightly concerned by the way he trialled here a couple of weeks ago. I will cover Longclaw as now he has had more chasing practice he looks like a more capable steeplechaser. The main pick though is American in Paris. That 2nd to Valac last time was a top effort and he seemed to love the fences in his trial. The ground is perfect for him and I think he can make a winning chase debut.   American In Paris 2pts @ 3/1 with Bet365 Longclaw 1pt @ 9/1 with Betfred   Race 6 (5.05am) I think the favourite is worth opposing in the Galleywood as well. Saunter Boy and Instigator both started life in Europe and the winner is likely to be one of them, but I prefer Instigator. Granted Saunter Boy got into a pace duel in the JJ Houlahan at Ballarat in August, but Instigator still won by 16L. That came on a Heavy 10 and I think Instigator will prefer underfoot conditions here. I was impressed with his win at Pakenham last month where he beat Robbie's Star and that should have put him spot on for this. Saunter Boy also won at Pakenham on the same card, but I thought he was pretty average in beating a lesser field. I would personally have them the other way round in the betting.   Of the rest Britannicus would have a good chance apart from the fact the heavy track is a big question mark. He was 2nd to Flying Agent last month which was obviously a good effort and prior to that he had won at Oakbank. Robbie's Star is pretty consistent and he likes a wet track so I can see him running well. The Midnight Shift is 2/4 over hurdles in New Zealand, but he is unplaced in 6 starts on a heavy track which would be the concern here.   Instigator 2pts @ 16/5 with Bet365 

Blimey Sky boosting odds on Aussie jumpers now!

I will get round to doing a Cheltenham review at some point this week but we move onto Fakenham this afternoon first and another small field contest.
Tullys Touch is favourite and I find it hard to see him getting beaten. His only start under rules was over course and distance last year and not surprisingly he couldn't cope with Shantou Flyer, but I think he was probably the 2nd best horse in the race as he paid late on for trying to chase the winner. He won at Ampton in good style following and then made his first start since 9 days ago when winning at High Easter. He traveled really well throughout the race and although he only won by a neck I felt he was value for more than that. The one slight concern is his jumping as he's not always foot perfect, but he is the one horse in the race who wont made if it carries on raining and even at evens he looks a good bet.
Laser Beam finished 5th in that High Easter contest and strictly speaking with his jockey's claim he should reverse those placings, but as I mention above I think the winner was value for more and given it was his first run in just over a year he should improve for it. Laser Beam had already had a start this season when winning at Higham and he landed a couple of races last season as well. The ground would be a slight concern if it got softer, but my biggest concern with him is the fact he can jump out to his right and if he does that this afternoon he wont get away with it.
I can't have Sense Of Adventure or Bombay Basil at all so that just leaves Streets Of London and he made it 8 wins from 17 starts in points at Aldington a couple of weeks ago. It was a poor race though and he was stuffed out of sight in a Plumpton handicap chase off 90 in March. His form certainly suggests he wants good or quicker ground as well.
All in all Tullys Touch rates a very strong selection.
Tullys Touch 4pts @ 10/11 with Bet365

I will get round to doing a Cheltenham review at some point this week but we move onto Fakenham this afternoon first and another small field contest.
Tullys Touch is favourite and I find it hard to see him getting beaten. His only start under rules was over course and distance last year and not surprisingly he couldn't cope with Shantou Flyer, but I think he was probably the 2nd best horse in the race as he paid late on for trying to chase the winner. He won at Ampton in good style following and then made his first start since 9 days ago when winning at High Easter. He traveled really well throughout the race and although he only won by a neck I felt he was value for more than that. The one slight concern is his jumping as he's not always foot perfect, but he is the one horse in the race who wont made if it carries on raining and even at evens he looks a good bet.
Laser Beam finished 5th in that High Easter contest and strictly speaking with his jockey's claim he should reverse those placings, but as I mention above I think the winner was value for more and given it was his first run in just over a year he should improve for it. Laser Beam had already had a start this season when winning at Higham and he landed a couple of races last season as well. The ground would be a slight concern if it got softer, but my biggest concern with him is the fact he can jump out to his right and if he does that this afternoon he wont get away with it.
I can't have Sense Of Adventure or Bombay Basil at all so that just leaves Streets Of London and he made it 8 wins from 17 starts in points at Aldington a couple of weeks ago. It was a poor race though and he was stuffed out of sight in a Plumpton handicap chase off 90 in March. His form certainly suggests he wants good or quicker ground as well.
All in all Tullys Touch rates a very strong selection.
Tullys Touch 4pts @ 10/11 with Bet365

I will get round to doing a Cheltenham review at some point this week but we move onto Fakenham this afternoon first and another small field contest.
Tullys Touch is favourite and I find it hard to see him getting beaten. His only start under rules was over course and distance last year and not surprisingly he couldn't cope with Shantou Flyer, but I think he was probably the 2nd best horse in the race as he paid late on for trying to chase the winner. He won at Ampton in good style following and then made his first start since 9 days ago when winning at High Easter. He traveled really well throughout the race and although he only won by a neck I felt he was value for more than that. The one slight concern is his jumping as he's not always foot perfect, but he is the one horse in the race who wont made if it carries on raining and even at evens he looks a good bet.
Laser Beam finished 5th in that High Easter contest and strictly speaking with his jockey's claim he should reverse those placings, but as I mention above I think the winner was value for more and given it was his first run in just over a year he should improve for it. Laser Beam had already had a start this season when winning at Higham and he landed a couple of races last season as well. The ground would be a slight concern if it got softer, but my biggest concern with him is the fact he can jump out to his right and if he does that this afternoon he wont get away with it.
I can't have Sense Of Adventure or Bombay Basil at all so that just leaves Streets Of London and he made it 8 wins from 17 starts in points at Aldington a couple of weeks ago. It was a poor race though and he was stuffed out of sight in a Plumpton handicap chase off 90 in March. His form certainly suggests he wants good or quicker ground as well.
All in all Tullys Touch rates a very strong selection.
Tullys Touch 4pts @ 10/11 with Bet365

I will get round to doing a Cheltenham review at some point this week but we move onto Fakenham this afternoon first and another small field contest.
Tullys Touch is favourite and I find it hard to see him getting beaten. His only start under rules was over course and distance last year and not surprisingly he couldn't cope with Shantou Flyer, but I think he was probably the 2nd best horse in the race as he paid late on for trying to chase the winner. He won at Ampton in good style following and then made his first start since 9 days ago when winning at High Easter. He traveled really well throughout the race and although he only won by a neck I felt he was value for more than that. The one slight concern is his jumping as he's not always foot perfect, but he is the one horse in the race who wont made if it carries on raining and even at evens he looks a good bet.
Laser Beam finished 5th in that High Easter contest and strictly speaking with his jockey's claim he should reverse those placings, but as I mention above I think the winner was value for more and given it was his first run in just over a year he should improve for it. Laser Beam had already had a start this season when winning at Higham and he landed a couple of races last season as well. The ground would be a slight concern if it got softer, but my biggest concern with him is the fact he can jump out to his right and if he does that this afternoon he wont get away with it.
I can't have Sense Of Adventure or Bombay Basil at all so that just leaves Streets Of London and he made it 8 wins from 17 starts in points at Aldington a couple of weeks ago. It was a poor race though and he was stuffed out of sight in a Plumpton handicap chase off 90 in March. His form certainly suggests he wants good or quicker ground as well.
All in all Tullys Touch rates a very strong selection.
Tullys Touch 4pts @ 10/11 with Bet365

I will get round to doing a Cheltenham review at some point this week but we move onto Fakenham this afternoon first and another small field contest.
Tullys Touch is favourite and I find it hard to see him getting beaten. His only start under rules was over course and distance last year and not surprisingly he couldn't cope with Shantou Flyer, but I think he was probably the 2nd best horse in the race as he paid late on for trying to chase the winner. He won at Ampton in good style following and then made his first start since 9 days ago when winning at High Easter. He traveled really well throughout the race and although he only won by a neck I felt he was value for more than that. The one slight concern is his jumping as he's not always foot perfect, but he is the one horse in the race who wont made if it carries on raining and even at evens he looks a good bet.
Laser Beam finished 5th in that High Easter contest and strictly speaking with his jockey's claim he should reverse those placings, but as I mention above I think the winner was value for more and given it was his first run in just over a year he should improve for it. Laser Beam had already had a start this season when winning at Higham and he landed a couple of races last season as well. The ground would be a slight concern if it got softer, but my biggest concern with him is the fact he can jump out to his right and if he does that this afternoon he wont get away with it.
I can't have Sense Of Adventure or Bombay Basil at all so that just leaves Streets Of London and he made it 8 wins from 17 starts in points at Aldington a couple of weeks ago. It was a poor race though and he was stuffed out of sight in a Plumpton handicap chase off 90 in March. His form certainly suggests he wants good or quicker ground as well.
All in all Tullys Touch rates a very strong selection.
Tullys Touch 4pts @ 10/11 with Bet365

Really looking forward to the next 3 days of action at the Warrnambool Carnival with some cracking jumping action ahead. The ground is currently a Soft 6, but a greyhound meeting in the town was called off this morning due to rain so it should be softer than that come race day. The maiden hurdle to open the meeting has been divided 3 times and then Race 6 is the feature on day 1 the Brierly Steeplechase.
Race 1 (2.20am)
Field Of Light is currently fav for this and he is the best flat horse in the race having won a BM70 at Sandown in March. I watched his last trial and he was just fair over the hurdles so I am happy enough to take him on at a short price. Hey Happy can over race on the flat although he does look like he needs a trip. I thought he could have done a bit better with his jumping in his last trial. Lord Goldberg has been running well on the flat, but I didn't like his hurdling in his last trial. Once Were Lost was in front of Dewrinkler when 3rd on the flat last time and his hurdling did improve as the trial went on last time. I do think that Dewrinkler can reverse that flat form though. He ran a really good 3rd at Moonee Valley in a BM70 back in December so that was good form in the context of this race. I was really impressed with his hurdling in a trial last time and if he takes that into this race then I think he will go close. Out And Dreaming is the other one I like. He has had a hurdles start already and was a very good 2nd to odd on Budd Fox at Pakenham. If he can build on that then he wouldn't be out of this.
Dewrinkler 1pt @ 6/1 with William Hill, Betfair and Betfred
Out And Dreaming 0.5pts @ 15/2 with Betfair and Betfred
Race 2 (3am)
Wil John currently heads the market and he is the best of these on the flat although not by much. We know he stays well so that wont be an issue, but he finished behind Annunciate in a trail and I didn't think he jumped as well as that one. Indeed Annunciate is my selection here. He did finish last on the flat a couple of weeks ago, but he was a good 3rd at Sandown prior to that. What is key for me though was how he jumped in his trial because he seemed to really relish the hurdles and it's probably the best hurdling performance I have watched in a trial this year. If he brings that to a proper race then I think he can win this. Under The Bridge has been running well on the flat in better races than most of these have raced in on the level. The problem for me was hurdling wasn't always great in his last trial. Ablestruck was a good 3rd on the flat on Friday and he was pretty keen in his last hurdles trial which is a concern although he jumped well. Just You beat that one in that trial and his jumping improved as it went on so he has place claims, but it is Annunciate for me.
Annunciate 1pt @ 9/2 with Betfair
Race 3 (3.40am)
Mawaany Machine was trained by Stoute in the UK and then went to Ger Lyons in Ireland before he went to Australia. He won a couple of BM 90's in Queensland last year and ran well at Flemington last week on his first start since August. He was decent enough in his trial, but he is easily the best flat horse running in any of the 3 maidens and he ought to win. The 2nd in Gravistas is an ex Mark Johnson horse and his only career win was for him on his last start for him at Newmarket 2 years ago. He ran OK in a BM 70 on Friday and his hurdling got better the quicker they went in his last trial which bodes well for jumping in a proper race. Jimmys Secret looks the only other one with a chance. He was 2nd on his last start in a BM 58 at Terang in March and jumped OK in his trial win. The favourite should win, but its a no bet race for me.
Race 6 (5.20am)
The big race on Day 1 is the Brierly Steeplechase and it looks a match to me between Flying Agent and Bit Of A Lad. Bit Of A Lad won this in 2019 and landed the Australian Steeplechase and Thackeray Chase last year. The thing for me though is in both 2019 and 2020 he improved as the season went on and my guess is he will need the run 1st up. All he has had is two trials last month since his Thackeray win last July. 
Flying Agent looked like he would develop into a very good horse this season after what he did last season as he looked very progressive. I wondered if he might need his hurdle start Hamilton last month, but he looked very good in winning. He looks set for a good campaign and this can be his first big prize of the season. He loves a really wet track and with the rain around he should get the ground he thrives on. This has clearly been his target whereas Bit Of A Lad looks like he's using it as a starting point and the rest don't really look good enough.
Flying Agent 3pts @ 10/11 with William Hill

It is great to have Cheltenham's hunter chase night back after a year off last year and there there looks to be some cracking action in store across the 7 races. Over in Ireland we have their big hunter chase of the season at Punchestown where Caid Du Berlais will be looking to land the hat-trick.
Before I get into the previews just a quick word on the Chepstow race from last Friday. Obviously it was great to get the winner in Right To Reply who drifted out to a great price in the end. He was given an attacking from the front and it worked a treat. Salvatore looked a beaten horse early on as Zac tried to be prominent on him, but he jumped slowly and was never travelling. The fact he finished as close as he did was down to the fact he was passing poor horses more than anything. What I will say though is I suspect he found things happening fast enough on the quick ground and I reckon connections might regret not waiting for Cheltenham and the 4m contest which looks ideal for him.
Now into the previews as I take a look at every horse running at Prestbury Park later tonight.
5.00 
Risk And Roll - Certainly capable of winning this contest as he showed when landing a couple of hunter chases last season at Leicester and Stratford as well as finishing 2nd off 122 in a Huntingdon handicap last month. As I wrote in my preview for Aintree I thought he was capable of running well if his jumping held up, but his jumping didn't hold up and he unseated at the 5th. His jumping has to be a concern again especially dropping down in trip as they are likely to travel quicker and put his jumping issues under more pressure. If he does get round safely though then like I say he can win this.
Fumet D'oudairies - Having won all 4 points last season he made a great hunter chase debut when beating I'm Wiser Now by 6L at Leicester. That form has obviously worked out well since given he has won twice. He then ran at Dingley earlier in the month when just being beaten by Always Lion which I think was a strong piece of form especially as he had to give the winner 3lbs. Sadly Always Lion suffered a fatal injury on Saturday when running in a point so he had no chance of proving how good he was. The trip is an unknown, but he travelled so well at Leicester over 2m4f that I don't think it will be an issue.
Magna Sam - Ran a much improved race at Ascot where the small field and better ground saw him able to perform better than he had been able to show in two subsequent runs after winning at Ludlow last January. That was a fortunate win, but it did show what he's capable of. He ran in the Lady Dudley Cup 2 weeks ago and after receiving early reminders he did work his way into the contention before fading badly. As much as he doesn't want 3m2f I also don't think he wants 2m especially as they seem to be holding him up having made the running with him last season.
Babytaggle - Been off for a year and rated just 75 so would be a surprise winner.
Creative Inerta - Won a weak hunter chase at Exeter in 2018 and ran as well as could have been hoped behind Monsieur Gibraltar and Risk A Fine the following February. Wasn't seen again until last December when he didn't show a great deal at Barbury. If he ran up to that Wincanton run he'd have place claims here, but that run does stand out a bit and it was 3 years ago now.
Downbythestrand - Won the 2m contest on Stratford's hunter chase night back in 2019 a race which actually worked out pretty well from a form point of view. He wasn't seen again until this February when he ran a solid enough race at Huntingdon in a handicap. In theory he should have had an even better chance at Southwell a month ago when he looked to have his ideal conditions, but he was well beaten in the end. On the back of that it is hard to fancy him for this.
Envoye Special - I thought he was given a very strange ride at Kempton as trying to force the pace with Adrien Du Pont didn't seem the wisest move in the world. Even so there is nothing of that one's quality in this and having looked a bit of a bridle horse earlier in the season he went and won well at Kimble on Easter Saturday. Previously this season he had been held up, but the last twice has seen been ridden way more prominently. That seems a good move to me as they were his best efforts of the season so far. Strictly speaking through I'm Wiser Now he shouldn't be beating Fumet D'oudaires, but like I say now he's not coming from miles off the pace he could be better than that Stratford run.
Jungle Legend - Runs like the drop to 2m will suit, but hard to see him being good enough.
Namako - Was miles behind Envoye Special at Kimble and I don't see how he reverses that form even allowing for the jockey switch.
Rafferty - Bolted up in a maiden at Sheriff Hutton on his first run for over 2 years, but hard to see him being good enough here.
Sam Cavallaro - Arguably they should have named the race after him given he won it in 2015 and 2016, was 2nd in 2017, 3rd in 2018 and then won it again in 2019. Covid got in the way last year and as much as it would be great if the 15yo could get his head in front, he has been very poor in his two runs so far and is hard to fancy.
Verdict - It is hard to see anything outside the front three in the betting taking this. With Risk And Rolls jumping being a concern and Envoye Special maybe not being the most genuine horse I think Fumet D'Oudairies will get back to winning ways. He looked a very promising horse at Leicester and the drop in trip shouldn't bother him. I make Envoye Special the main danger.
Fumet D'Oudairies 2pts @ 15/8 with William Hill, BetVictor and Betfred
5.35
Benefaktor - Has done very well since coming to England having won his maiden and restricted last season before finishing a close 2nd to Huntsman Jog at Ampton. That one has won a handicap under rules off 116 since then so the form is strong. He then had a year off and returned at Revesby last month and put in a devastating performance to win by 25L hard held. The 2nd had shown really good form last season as well having finished a 3L 2nd to Fumet d'Oudairies so it wasn't like he beat a load of rubbish. He is likely to make the running and he seems to have plenty left at the finish so is a leading contender.
Captain McGinley - Ran fairly well at Wincanton behind Sametegal although he was well beaten at the end in 4th and then finished a tired 5th behind Fumet D'Oudairies at Leicester. He did finish 2nd to Latenightpass in this contest in 2019 and clearly if he repeated that then he will have a good chance. Better ground will likely see him in a better light.
Corbett Court - A good jockey booking, but was well beaten in a restricted on his first run in 2 years a couple of weeks ago so hard to see him being good enough.
Definite Dilemma - Has been handicap chasing this year running pretty well on the whole including finishing 2nd on a couple of occasions. They were over 2m4f and it did seem like he might do better over slightly longer, but 3m2f has to be a query. He was 2nd at Edgcote 2 weeks ago when a length behind Sir Mangan which is fair form. His BHA rating is 104 and chances are he will have to improve on that to land this.
Earcomesbob - Only won his maiden because the winner took the wrong course at Chaddesley Corbett in December and it would be surprising if he added to that here.
Getting Closer - He showed good form last year and then just won his intermediate in December. After that he went to Fakenham and was well beaten by Dubai Quest where he didn't jump that well. He was 2nd to Laser Beam earlier in the month and that form leaves him with something to find.
Guttural - I thought he ran better than the bare result at Leicester on his debut for new connections when 5th to Tango De Juilley. He travelled quite well into the race and ended up getting tired on bad ground which wouldn't have suited. He then stepped up to 2m4f and found himself outpaced before staying on into 3rd behind Garde Ville. Usually he wouldn't be able to run in this race as it is normally just for Intermediate horses, but this year it has been opened up to maiden winners as well and he broke his maiden tag and Edgcote a couple of weeks ago. He got outpaced again before finishing strongly to get up on the line. He was giving 14lbs to the 2nd so I think it was a strong effort and for a maiden the time was decent. Given his running style it looks like he will appreciate this stiffer test of stamina and he's not without a chance. 
Hadmeathello - Beat Law Of Gold to land his restricted at Garthorpe in 2019 which was obviously a good performance. He was well behind Getting Closer in his only run last season, but I suspect the soft ground didn't suit that day. For some reason he went to the sales after that and he was a pretty cheap buy in my view which was backed up by his really good win at Dingley earlier in the month. That form was boosted at the weekend when Bingo Star bolted up. As long as the ground isn't too soft he is a player.
Hotel Du Nord - Gave his jockey his first winner when winning a restricted at Wadebridge in December. Wasn't seen again until a couple of weeks ago when he finished 2nd to Deans Road over 2m4f where he made a mistake after the last which cost him. The issue could be if he stays or not as he was kept to shorter trips in Ireland, but the Wadebridge victory was over 3m. He would be another one in with a chance.
Milberry - To be fair he ran well at Exeter a couple of weeks ago when making Chase Me work hard for the win, but that isn't a strong level of form and he should struggle here.
Ryans Fancy - Beat Schiap Hill in October by 10L which was further than Hotel Du Nord beat him by. He then didn't run until the race Benefaktor won at Revesby, but was pulled up. He did bounce back to win earlier in the month, but it wasn't the strongest race in the world and my feeling is he needs to find a bit of improvement to win.
Verdict - This looks wide open but the short list for me is Benefaktor, Captain McGinley, Gutteral, Hadmeathell and Hotel Du Nord. I thought Benefaktor was superb in winning last time and there is depth to the form even though he won hard held by 25L.He looks very progressive. Hadmeathello looks over priced as his form also looks strong and the change of yards hasn't stopped his progression. I am also going to add Guttural to the list as he is getting better with each run and this test looks like it will be ideal for him.
Benefaktor 2pts @ 5/2 with all bookies
Hadmeathello 1pt e/w @ 8/1 with Bet365
Guttutal 0.5pts e/w @ 11/1 with all bookies
6.10 
Fixe Le Kap - Ran OK when 4th last time and the same when 5th behind Risk And Roll at Stratford last March. Hard to see him being good enough to win this though based on even that form.
I'm Wiser Now - I had him down as a serial loser given he couldn't even win a maiden point earlier in the season. To be fair the 3rd and 2nd in two hunter chases at Leicester were decent enough efforts and he then went on to win twice at Stratford. He was given two very good rides by Liam Harrison and then Albi Tufnell who is on top again here. In both races he looked beat going down the back straight only to stay on well and then gain the upper hand after the last. There is a sense though that he benefitted from his rivals issues in those two races and that given he needs to be delivered late this track might not be ideal for him. He's also unproven over this trip.
Knockaderry Flyer - Won this in 2017, but it was probably one of the worst races ever staged at Cheltenham and he's struggled on the whole since. Did manage to win again last time though in a point and does have James King on top. Even so he would need others to under perform to win this.
Mister Serious - Looks to have no chance.
Moscow Prices - Was a well beaten 3rd in this in 2019 and although he won last time and has a positive jockey switch it is hard to see how he can improve on that 3rd.
Trio For Rio - Ran well at Larkhill behind Salvatore on his seasonal debut and followed that up with an 11L success over Garde Ville at Ludlow which is obviously looking like a strong piece of form. He was then beaten into 3rd back in a point at Maisemore a month ago, but I think that was a strong piece of form as the winner is a course specialist and put in a very good performance. Should be a big player.
Wick Green - In the end he had little to beat at Exeter last time because the favourite Chameron jumped terribly and didn't travel well at all. Even so I wouldn't want to crab him because he had shown good form last season especially when beating Captain Buck's at Larkhill. I think he has a big chance.
Verdict - The winner should come from Trio For Rio, I'm Wiser Now and Wick Green. I can see why Trio For Rio is favourite, but he looks short enough to me and Wick Green looks the value call at the prices. Yes he might have not had much to beat last time, but he had shown good form before that and I think he has been priced up on Chameron's effort at Exeter rather than the promise he has shown himself.
Wick Green 1pt @ 7/2 with William Hill and Betfred
6.45
Fifty Shades - Has been running well this season having won a couple of times at Barbury in December and then at Cothelstone earlier in the month. He beat Coco Live into 2nd place that day by 2L.His jockey is having his first ride under rules and he should get a good spin round.
Garde Ville - I think he is in career best form as he has been superb this season. He showed promise at Haydock on his return from nearly 2 years off and then finished 2nd at Ludlow to Trio For Rio. He surprised connections and me by winning over 2m4f at Ludlow and then beat Bletchley Castle again last week this time over 3m. In between those two Ludlow wins he won a match at Sandon in what was Lorna Brooke's final ever winner. That win last week was very poignant and clearly it will be the same again were he to win this. He was entered in the 4m race as well and given how well he stays I reckon he would have gone close in that, but this looks the easier option and I think he could be hard to beat.
Monbeg Chit Chat - Did clock a good time when winning at Sheriff Hutton a couple of weeks ago and he seems to be running himself into form. Having said that I'm still not sure he will be good enough to land this and he was a well beaten 3rd at Carlisle in March.
Sugar Baron - He should come on for his first run in just over a year when 3rd earlier in the month. Strictly speaking that form shouldn't be good enough to win this, but he won well over 3m6f at High Easter last March and he has a bit of back class. He has run well at Cheltenham before and hasn't had much racing for an 11yo so I can see him running well.
Coco Live - Was well beaten off 96 at Wincanton last month and it was a pretty weak contest he won at Charing after that. 2nd to Fifty Shades last time and it would be surprising if he was good enough.
Flintham - Impossible to know how good he still is. He was regressing in the 2017/2018 season and wasn't seen again until this January when he unseated at the last when tailed off. He then went to Revesby last month and he finished alone so had nothing to beat in the end. That told us nothing so he could be good enough to win this, but on balance of things I am happy to oppose him.
Just Cause - Beat Sugar Baron 30L at Higham last January, but he was having his 1st start for a long time so there is every chance they will be closer to each other here. He made Rio Bravo work very hard at Revesby last month and on Saturday he was a fair 3rd to Law Of Gold at Garthorpe. He has a very good record pointing and has finished 2nd in a couple of hunter chases which gives him a solid chance.
Summer Sounds - Has won twice in points this month, but the fact he was 1/4 in a match and then 1/2 a couple of weeks ago shows how weak the races were. His form suggests he will struggle to make it a hat-trick of wins.
The Brassmoulder - Certainly respect his trainer, but he shouldn't be good enough.
Verdict - I really fancy Garde Ville here and make him the Nap of the meeting. He doesn't know how to run a bad race and has been improving as the season goes on. He has also proven in the past that he can take plenty of racing so that isn't a concern either. The fact he won over 2m4f two starts back was a big surprise because he stays so well and the further he goes the better I actually think he will be. He looks in his best ever form and hopefully he can be a poignant winner. Sugar Baron and Just Cause are the main dangers for me.
Garde Ville 4pts @ 2/1 with all bookies
7.15
Absainte - A very likeable mare who deserves to find a hunter chase at some point, but she was a well beaten 3rd in this last year and after falling at the last when in 2nd at Musselburgh, she was beaten at 2/5 back pointing last time. That leaves were with a bit to find with the best of these.
African Belle - Was keen at Kelso and finished very tired after being in front at 3 out. She has been beaten in a point since and she is unlikely to be good enough.
Berboru - Was stuffed in a maiden point on Saturday and has no chance.
Fishy Story - She lost many lengths jumping out to her right at Stratford a couple of weeks ago and that cost her the race given I'm Wiser Now only beat her by a length. If she does the same here then she is going to struggle, but she does have the ability to run well.
Highway Jewel - If she runs to the level she did in either her two starts this season then she wins this. The performance at Chaddesley Corbett in December when beating Hazel Hill is the best one I have seen pointing this season. She backed that up by running really well at Warwick on hunter chase debut and she was just denied by Latenightpass. That form is clearly very strong and I think she would have run very well if she had gone for the race formally known as the Foxhunter last month. Her trainer is now able to ride her which is a big plus and her form is way above anything else that these have achieved.
Miss Seagreen - Won well at Larkhill in December and followed that up with a good effort on hunter chase debut at Ludlow when a 10L 3rd to Hazel Hill. A couple of mistakes didn't help her that day but it was still a promising first run over fences. She disappointed over the same course and distance the next time though when only 6th behind Trio For Rio. A month ago she bounced back at Maisemore when finishing just in front of Trio For Rio when 2nd in what I think was a strong contest. Clearly her form is below that of Highway Jewel, but she looks the most likely to chase her home.
Phoenix Rock - Been struggling in handicaps and points this season and should be more of the same here.
Tuff Nano - The 2nd to Marcle Ridge in December was a decent enough effort, but it also highlights that she will struggle to beat Highway Jewel.
Verdict - Sadly Highway Jewel isn't really a backable price here, but she really ought to win. If Fishy Story can jump straighter than she did at Stratford she would push Miss Seagreen for 2nd place, but the forecast with Miss Seagreen to finish 2nd looks a solid enough play.
Highway Jewel to beat Miss Seagreen 1pt f/c
7.45
Ennistown - I thought he ran an eye-catching race on his hunter chase debut at Ludlow in January as he never really got involved, but stayed on nicely into 4th place. After that he struggled at Haydock in the Walrus and he then won at Fakenham. Now that wasn't much of a contest, but he did it well enough and he backed that up with a 2nd in the Lady Dudley Cup. He stayed on that day after getting out paced and although we don't know if he will stay he certainly races nowadays like he needs a trip. One for the shortlist. 
Keltus - Regardless of what happened to Santou Flyer at the last at Wincanton it was still a very good run from Keltus given he was still in contention for the win anyway. Hard to know if he will stay, but if he does he should be capable of running well.
Kilkishen - Put in a really good performance when winning on debut for Dale Peters at Kelso and the 2nd has run well since to boost the form. He hasn't run since, but you would imagine this race has been the target given he was 4th in the Eider a couple of years ago so we know he will see out the trip. His trainer takes off 5lbs in the saddle which is a plus and he looks to have a fantastic chance.
Ange Des Malberaux - Speaking of the 2019 Eider this horse finished 8th in that contest and he looks a stayer. He was running well at Ludlow until unseating in the race won by Hazel Hill and then ran as well as could have been expected given he was out the back at Warwick behind Latenightpass. He's struggled again back in points although mainly runs as if he wants further.
Bob Ford - Shown little in two point runs in the last month.
Captain Cattistock - Was a close 2nd in the Southern National in 2019 although that is only over 3m3f so we don't know for certain if he will stay. He ran well enough at Wincanton behind Sametegal and Porlock Bay when 3rd, but he wasn't so good at Doncaster last time. He found little when asked for an effort and was a well beaten 4th in the end. He is capable of winning this, but that effort at Doncaster is a worry.
Dr Des - Ran as well as could have been expected in hot races at Warwick and Leicester. Stamina is an unknown and I suspect he would ideally prefer softer ground.
Excitable Island - Was awarded this race in 2018 after Battle Dust lost his weight cloth and he was 2/2 in points in 2019. He didn't run last season and was well beaten into 3rd at Dingley by Hadmeathello on his only start this term. Obviously we know he handles course and distance, but at 14yo I struggle to see him winning this again.
Itstimeforapint - Didn't show any promise at Wetherby in February, but ran better when 4th in the Lady Dudley Cup last time. We know he stays this far and he might just plug on for a place at a big price.
Know The Score - We know he stays having won over 4m on his pointing debut at Flete Park a couple of weeks ago. He had lost his form under rules for David Pipe when last seen in February last year so the fact he has come back to form is a plus. It wasn't much of a race he won, but he hasn't had much racing and he has claims here.
Navanman - Was a close 4th to Know The Score at Flete Park last time and if you include jockey's claims there shouldn't be too much between them again in theory, but Know The Score has more scope to improve from his seasonal debut.
Optimised - With the race now named in honour of Lorna Broke this would be a poignant winner as she rode Philip Rowley's first ever winner under rules. He was 2nd in this in 2019 when going down by a length to Southfield Theatre. The problem is he hasn't really been in the same form since although a small field point on good ground probably wasn't ideal last time. He had a wind op after his first run of the season at Warwick so I do expect some improvement now he is in a bigger field over a trip we know he stays.
Rock On Carlos - Well behind Know The Score last time and no obvious chance.
Sam Red - Was 3rd in 2019 but was well beaten and will be lucky to repeat that.
Talk Of The South - Hard to see him playing much of a part based on what he has done pointing in the last couple of seasons.
Tanit River - I guess connections will be hoping going a slower pace over 4m will help with his jumping, because he is going to struggle on that front in my view based on his Fontwell and Ascot runs. He probably does have the ability to win, but with 4m an unknown as well he wouldn't be for me.
Verdict - I can certainly see why people would be interested in backing Captain Cattistock and Know The Score, but for me Kilkishen and Ennistown are the main two to back. I was impressed with the formers win at Kelso on his only start so far this season and given he was 4th in the Eider the trip shouldn't be an issue for him. Ennistown looks like he wants a trip now based on his runs so far this season and that staying on 2nd in the Lady Dudley Cup was a good effort. Speaking of the Lady Dudley Cup I have to chuck a few quid on Itstimeforapint at a massive price. That run showed a lot more promise and we know he stays this far. We have had big priced winners of this before, but he could end up staying on into a place at least.
Kilkishen 2.5pts @ 11/4 with Bet365
Ennistown 1pt e/w @ 11/1 with Betfair (4 places)
Itstimeforapint 0.25pts e/w @ 80/1 with everyone but 4 places with Betfair and Betfred
8.15
Clondaw Westie - Ran a hell of a race to finish 4th in the Aintree Foxhunter at 200/1. Easily his best run of the season and proved that he doesn't have to have bottomless ground. If he repeats that effort then he has an obvious chance here.
Peacocks Secret - Ran a really good race on his first start for Dale Peters when 2nd to Tango De Juilley at Leicester (had Clondaw Westie well behind in 6th) and he won well at Fakenham a month ago. Right Of Reply franked that form at Chepstow last week to give the form some substance and this sort of trip ought to see him at his best. 
Zamparelli - He could be suited by the way the race is run as there is likely to be plenty of pace on and he will be staying on from behind. He was pulled up behind Marcle Ridge at Barbury in December, but he has been much better since. First of all he ran well to finish 4th at Ludlow when the lack of a recent run probably told and then a week later he bolted up over the same course and distance. This race does have more depth to it, but he will be finishing fast.
Barney Dwan - Got into a pace battle at Barbury in December and came off 2nd best to Diplomate Sivola who has won again since. Last season he won over 3m4f at Cocklebarrow and was then just denied by Salvatore at Didmarton. He showed good ability under rules for the trainers other half and that includes a 4th at the Festival in 2018. He could be another possible front runner, but he didn't use to be so prominent so I would imagine he will sit off them here.
Beau De Tabel - His owner win came in a bumper in 2013 which sums up his chances here.
Billy Hicks - Another who will be outclassed here.
Cloudy Joker - Was running a huge race at Stratford a couple of years ago when unseating at the last. The 3rd earlier this month wasn't in a strong race and he's another who likes to make the running which I would be surprised if he was able to do against this level of opponent. 
Eric The Third - He was all out to win a point on Saturday and that form not good enough to win this.
Marcle Ridge - He won race 3 on this card in 2019 and has continued to run well in 5 races since then. He ran a huge race in last year's Foxhunter making the running for a long way and ending up finishing 6th. He bolted up on his seasonal reappearance and then ran in that hot Warwick race won by Latenightpass. He was the one of the front runners who got tired, but they went such a strong pace it wasn't a surprise given he would have preferred better ground. The concern is he comes off 2nd best in a pace battle up front, but there is every chance that this trip will suit him perfectly and he has an obvious chance.
Risk A Fine - There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best horse in the race as he was one of the best hunter chasers we saw back in 2019. His two wins at Stratford were especially good and he bolted up off top weight in the handicap hunter chase on hunter chase night the last time we saw him. There are two big question marks about him though. First of all he has to prove he is still as good as he was after 2 years off at the age of 12, but he has proven he can run well after a break so that side of things doesn't concern me. What really sticks in my mind though was his performance in this race two years ago where he put in his worse performance by far of the season. He didn't jump particularly well that night and I think the rain before racing didn't help him as he needs decent ground. My thinking after that race was that connections probably regret running him that night and I'm a little surprised they are having another go with him. He could easily out class the opposition here, but with the doubts about him handling the track I just can't back him at 6/4. I wouldn't be surprised if he drifted closer to the off though and he might become worth covering he got too big.
Where Now - Will be outclassed here.
Verdict - The fact that any of the front 6 in the betting wouldn't be surprise winners tells you what a good race this is. Risk A Fine could hack up, but I cant back him at the price he is at the time of writing given how he ran in the race 2 years ago. I am instead going to back Marcle Ridge (stays further so if he gets into a pace battle he might not stop and we know he handles the track), Peacocks Secret (form of the Fakenham race has worked out well and it was a good performance) and Zamparelli (seems to be getting better with each run and this race should be run to suit given his come from behind style of racing).
Marcle Ridge 1pt @ 4/1 with everyone
Peacocks Secret 1pt @ 9/2 with everyone
Zamparelli 1pt @ 9/1 with Betfair and BetVictor
Punchestown 6.35
I am really looking forward to this contest and I am as certain as you can be that the prize will be heading back to this side of the Irish Sea. I think Billaway is an opposable favourite. Patrick Mullins was very honest in the Racing Post earlier in the week when writing about his Aintree performance. He mentioned about how he clearly hated the fences and that he should have pulled him up with Punchestown in mind, but with his adrenaline up he carried on and he ran on after he realised there were no more fences left. That is two tough races he will have had at the two big festivals now and he may well have left his race at Aintree.
Staker Wallace was 3rd at Cheltenham and Solomn Grundy has won his last two and they could end up being the best of the Irish. It wouldn't surprise me if It Came To Pass ran much better than he did at Cheltenham in this. In my view though Bob And Co and Caid Du Berlais are the pair they all have to beat.
I will always wonder what would have happened if Bob And Co had not unshipped Sean Bowen at Cheltenham, as he was travelling every bit as well as the first two home at the time. I think he is the best hunter chaser in either Britain or Ireland at the moment and hopefully he can prove it here. His owner is back on top, but at least he does get the chance to claim 5lbs to help him. He had nothing to beat at Hexham last week, but crucially he jumped well and that would have given David confidence going into this. If all goes well I think he is going to be very hard to beat and hopefully we can get Cheltenham losses back.
Caid Du Berlais has to be covered as well though as he has been so dominant in the last two runnings of this. He has had two ideal prep runs winning at Wincanton and Warwick and they suggest that he still retains his ability at the age of 12. If something did happen to Bob And Co then he could well be the one to take advantage.
Bob And Co 3pts @ 3/1 with Bet365
Caid Du Berlais 1pt @ 4/1 with everyone

I got to say Darren, you know your stuff.
Well written resume. I have read your posts with interest, in the past and you are never far off the mark