Monthly Archives: January 2022

Karl Philippe has ability but has not been finishing off his chases as well as he did when hurdling last season. At his best he would have an each-way chance.

Henschke was unfortunate to fall last time after a couple of bold efforts. He seems none the worse for the experience and is capable of a big run here.

Eagle's Realm has been running consistently on all-weather this winter. This looks very competitive but if he can avoid trouble in this biggish field he can also hold a solid each-way chance.

Fine Casting won his bumper around here last season and has improved from race to race since going over hurdles. He landed the odds nicely at Ffos Las and can go on to make a winning start in handicaps today.

The betting suggests this is a two-horse race between Miss Fairfax and Eureka Creek and it could come down to which of the pair is the fitter. Yesterday Miss Fairfax's work rider suggested: "She needs one more". I hope he's wrong!

Ajay's Ways jumps a fence really well and he should enjoy the quirky track and the trip. He should run a good race today when hopefully he can overcome his lack of experience.

Soft Risk is a grand horse who has done nothing wrong so far. I hope all goes well with hm but on everything we know he should take all the beating.

I've always liked Kissininthebackrow and was not at all surprised when she ran a good second as a 66/1 chance at Kempton. She can progress again and hopefully gain a first success.

Cherokee Dance has been running consistently and looks fairly handicapped. From the foot of this handicap she could be hard to beat.

Punctuation was a decent performer on the flat but has never matched that over hurdles. He joins us off what looks a very fair mark and could be a major contender in a wide-open handicap.

Cornerstone Lad might prefer the ground to be a little wetter but now he has some chase experience behind him I think he's where he needs to be - a 140-rated Saturday horse rather than a 155 where he started after his Fighting Fifth hurdling exploits. Big chance today.

Donya has been steadily improving as she steps up in distance and it looked as though she got the mile-and-a-half last time. I expect she will make the frame again when hopefully she can get her head in front.

Rubytwo is nothing if not consistent but it's always a toss of a coin whether she will go on and win. Often she has had to be content with second and we're prepared for that to be the case again today.

Acrion made a promising start to racing when fifth at Southwell two weeks ago. Before the race I predicted he would probably need the run and so it proved, but he showed excellent speed and I had no hesitation in dropping him back a furlong today. Big chance.

This big mare has taken time to come together but she ran well at Ludlow to finish fifth in her bumper. This is a first start over hurdles for Galante De Romay and she should again run well and hopefully be placed.

Guerlain De Vaux is a died-in-the-wool future staying chaser and he surprised us somewhat when winning at Market Rasen. He will love the step up in trip and there's nothing sinister in the fact he last ran seven weeks ago as he's a horse to take time with. Very hopeful today.

Dragons Will Rise is in great form at home and is clearly our best chance of a winner today. The trip will suit and he should go very well but the slight concern is that the going is standard to slow, whereas I would have preferred standard to fast. You just have to get on…

The Very Thing has been The Very Disappointing all season and we are reaching for first-time visors after various other forms of headgear were tried to little effect. We're also trying Becky to see if different hands bring a different result but it's hard to be optimistic. 

Everyonesgame was a close second in his only Irish point and seems a nice youngster on what we've seen since he arrived. Must hold an eaxch-way chance but it's probably a tough bumper.

I thought Glencassley didn't stay last time and dropping back to two and a half miles should help him a lot. His earlier form was good enough for him to go close today.