Monthly Archives: March 2023

Coniston Clouds ran well around here in a bumper just under a year ago. He's handicapped now over hurdles and I'm not sure how well treated he is but this is a modest race. Hopeful.

Our second contender Silver Hallmark has gone more than two years since winning and showed no immediate promise at Cheltenham In January. This represents a drop in grade, but is still tough enough.

Autonomous Cloud has been 2nd in all three starts over fences, his mark annoyingly going up each time. This is a tough race but he is at the right end of the weights. Place chances again.

Trelawne is a big, imposing gelding who has been waiting for soft ground for some time. He ran well when winning at Ffos Las but this represents a huge step up in class. This track might be a bit sharp for him but the distance is right. Place chances.

Luckie Seven was beaten some way when 2nd in a bumper here in January. We like him a lot and I'm looking forward to seeing him run.

Luckie Seven was beaten some way when 2nd in a bumper here in January. We like him a lot and I'm looking forward to seeing him run.

Miss Milano has been progressing nicely and now meets just four opponents as she tries to complete the hat-trick. It's a tight handicap but I think she can just about do it.

Global Citizen is in great form. He has had an unusual preparation, running in the US and then in the Kingwell Hurdle but he is trying to win this for the second year running. He'll make a bold bid from the front, setting a good gallop, and hopefully he can stay there to the finish. 

After some disappointments, Rock Chant came good trying 2m at Lingfield. The 5lb penalty may not stop the follow-up as he remains in very good form.

Bangers And Cash was not quite right for whatever reason at Uttoxeter but he seems fine again now and I'm expecting him to run more like his winning performance in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen. The one to beat.

The trip and ground are both ideal for Bolsover Bill, who jumps well and is very consistent. He shouldn't be too far away.

Mister Bells would probably prefer better ground. He carries a big weight and a couple lower down look more compelling.

Universal Folly ran well over fences at Doncaster but then this winter has been awkward and we've missed plenty of races with ground and weather. I switched him back to hurdles last time at Wetherby and he went very well. Hopefully he can go one better now and we can go back chasing after the…

Mucho Mas has been going the right way in his embryo chase career and deserved his last win at Lingfield in heavy ground. As long as his jumping holds up  and he gets into a nice position on the way round this tricky chase course, he should be fine. I see there's been plenty of…

Apart from his lapse in the Challow, Crambo has an otherwise perfect record.For a while at Bangor he didn't look the obvious winner, but he was well on top at the finish and is equipped for the uphill run home after an attritional race. Hopeful.

Not wishing to be rude about him but Sound And Fury is as slow as a boat. That said he did win his 2nd Irish point, staying on well in soft ground. We wanted those conditions here and we have them so this is his chance to show that on the track he is quicker…

Rock Chant almost got the job done last time at Southwell, improving on previous form since joining us from Joseph O'Brien. Hopefully he is now in an upward curve in which case he could be hard to beat here.

Famous Bridge hasn't yet gone close to matching his good hurdles form in his two chases so far. He was disappointing at Ayr but hit the last down the back very hard and that stopped him. He's not in bad form at home and the chase career could get going from here.

I was suprised to see Densworth is being preferred in the market by a horse rated 4lb lower. When he ran over this trip (well 2m1f) at Newcastle, he won easily and I'm hopeful he can repeat the deal today.

Young Buster was bought for 60k out of the Irish pinting field after a good win on his final start there. He made a satisfactory start at Aintree over hurdles and has since had a wind-op. Hoping that will be the signal for him to show on the track what he does at home. Hopeful.