Yearly Archives: 2022

If Salamanca School could get back to the form he showed when making a winning chase debut over course and distance in October he would be hard to beat. He needs to revive after some less impressive performances.

The Bogmans Ball made a promising start at Exeter, running well but not quickening in the closing stages. He should know more about it today.

Moktasaab was bought out of the Shadwell dispersal. He showed plenty of promise for Owen Burrows last year and on what he has shown so far he could be well handicapped. Each-way claims.

Enemy run well stepped up to this longer trip at Meydan last time and should have been nearer if not denied a run turning for home. I was surprised to see his drift in the betting this morning, but believe that will be only temporary. I would have preferred a draw further out as he…

Checkandchallenge is on a fact-finding mission to see whether he is worthy of a tilt at the 2,000 Guineas next month. He has been delighting me in his work and will enjoy the step up to a mile at Newcastle after his debut win over seven furlongs around Wolverhampton. After finding the early stages there…

Samatian ran okay last time at Hereford and a repeat of that run should see him being placed again.. Could be better still if the cheek-pieces make a difference.

Queens Gamble is an unraced four-year-old by Getaway. Her dam, who raced for the same owner with Jessie Harrington, was useful and Queens Gamble is a laid-back filly with a lovely attitude who really enjoys her work. She is very unfurnished and like all my bumper debutants is not trained to the minute but i…

Malakahna is so tough and genuine I hesitate to say she cannot continue the winning run but realistically some of these less exposed types could have a good deal of improvement to come. Each-way hopes are probably the sensible approach especially as she carries a big weight for a small filly. I intend to have…

This represents a drop in class for City Derby who looked to be on the way back when a close third at Musselburgh. He is in great form at home and looks the one to beat.

Captain Cattistock probably needs further but he will like the ground and generally runs well here. Should run his usual solid race.

Captain Cattistock probably needs further but he will like the ground and generally runs well here. Should run his usual solid race.

The Bull McCabe has had a winter break and is now ready for his summer campaign. This looks a tough call and he will improve for the run. He is not really one to trust but hopefully place chances on this comeback run.

We like Maksud and I think he might be the type for nice handicaps later on. He's a buy out of Shadwell and was with John Gosden last year. I like Golden Horn and am looking forward to this first run. 

We run two old timers struggling with form and Bandit D'Ainay has been offering less promise of the pair. Our two could be first and second or fourth and fifth. It's one of those.

Roxyfet has been running better than his sliding handicap mark suggests. He ran a promising race at Leicester but when he went to Sedgefield last time they had to miss half the fences owing to the low sun. There should be no such problem and on a course and distance over which he's won before,…

Merry Berry enjoyed a couple of very easy wins early last summer and returns after a break in an interesting race for military amateur riders. The wonder is how the Alan King horse gets so much weight from her!

Handicapped off his modest hurdles form, Largy Nights didn't make much of an impact on chase debut either. He is bred to be a decent jumper and hopefully the first-time cheek-pieces might produce some improvement.

Everyone saw just how unlucky Party Business was at Cheltenham, stopped dead twice but still determined enough to run on for a closing fifth. My worry today is whether the experience at the flights has unnerved him - his schooling since has been fine - while his price is most unappealing. Hopefully he will win…

The Resdev Way was running well on the flat before his outing in a hurdle at Newcastle when he patently didn't stay. Becky has a great record on him and together they are our best bet of the day.

Great Raffles came home strongly to win in the last stride at Wetherby. He has been raised only 2lb for that and today's extra distance should play to his strengths. Big chance.