Yearly Archives: 2022

Bonne Vitesse won impressively on debut in a juvenile event at Wetherby and revived with a better effort after disappointing at Carlisle. She looks the main opposition to the favourite.

Not What It Seems has plenty of experience over hurdles but he might not enjoy this soft ground. We would like to win a race with him over hurdles before he goes chasing and he might not be too far away here.

If you could put aside the blunder which ended Eclair On Line's chance at Wincanton last time when still in with a chance he should go close today. He's been in good form since then. 

Malakhana has plenty of experience over hurdles now and she took advantage of the opportunity presented to her at Kempton last time. That means she carries a double penalty and while she should have every chance, that could just prove a little too much. Place chances still though.

This is a lovely race for Pull Again Green who impressed on stable debut and ran better than the form suggests when fourth to the smart Hillcrest at Cheltenham. Maximum confdence.

Op It didn't make any obvious improvement from first run to second but his wide draw at Kempton wasn't a help in that respect. He's in the middle of the gate this evening and we're looking for him to progress on what he's shown so far.

Ami Desbois has been hard to get right this year but is in good form now. He will appreciate the drop down to a hunter chase and is worth each-way support.

I'm convinced Howzat Hiris wil stay. While I would have preferred the ground to have stayed as at declaration time rather than today's softened surface, I fancy her to finish in the first four at a big price.

Dis Donc started off on a very tough mark on his Irish form and his performances for us have shown that first impression was correct. He's down a long way now and while the outsider of this quartet we are hopeful of an improved effort today.

Court Dreaming has been very in-and-out lately. We will be putting the cheek-pieces back on in the hope that will make him competitive.

Pay The Pilot ran well to be second on his only start in an Irish bumper just over a year ago. He has had a really difficult time of it this winter and winning on this hurdles debut would be just reward for him. He certainly is capable of doing so.

Although Tide Times has yet to win over fences, his one hurdles success last season came from a 3lb higher mark. Second to an in-form horse last time, he looks attractively weighted at the foot of this small field. Hopeful.

Honor Grey has struggled in recent starts, not building on decent novice form in previous seasons. The hope is that first-time blinkers might energise him.

Although Great Raffles is 2lb wrong here he gets plenty of weight from most of these. He showed his first glimmer of form last time when a staying-on third. The extra trip and drier ground should even out and this very well-bred French import can take the first step towards a decent career.

Fair Frontieres has won two of his three starts over hurdles and the form of his last run has been boosted. He is a long odds-on shot today and rightly so. It would be a shock if he didn't beat these.

Castle Robin accepted the opportunity in a three-horse race here last time and now in another small field should beat the trio ranged against him. He is doing well over fences and with the handicapper only raising him 2lb, he should have every chance of following up.

I thought Starlyte might come through late to pick up the pieces in a Doncaster Listed race last time but the combination of three miles around there, very testing ground and the level of opposition proved too much. The good result was that her handicap mark of 98 has not been affected and two and…

This mare really has had a shocking season and we thought we would try hurdles again in an attempt to get Starvoski back on track. This is not the strongest race and if she were to repeat the level of last season's win at Southwell she would go close.

Malakhana has been tackling decent opposition all winter. She is penalised for her one win at Fakenham but still gets weight all round from her elders. Decent chance of a second success.