Blog

The Vollan is The Vollan and he has been running well all summer. Top weight won't be easy but he always runs his race and his odds are quite tempting.

I would have preferred a better draw for Warning Light but she remains in good form and since her back-to-back wins, there's been little wrong with her two subsequent placed efforts over further. Now back in trip again she can go close.

Dragon Bones is a nicely-bred filly who has shown up well at home. She's likely to outrun her 66-1 odds but will probably find one or two of these too good.

Treaty of Dingle did very well to get into a closing third after a troubled run at Wolverhampton. Off the same mark tonight, she can reverse form with Grace Plunkett, runner-up there, and get her head in front for the first time.

Cresswell Legend, a winner around Ludlow in the spring, should go well here. We feel however that he may be a little high in the weights

Portway Flyer has been off for a very long time and will obviously be sharper for this first outing for three and a half years. He was a more than useful performer in his prime and I think the handicapper has been fair enough with him for this comeback.

Shinobi is a Flat-bred gelding picked up cheaply from Qatar Racing in the spring. He starts his career in this junior bumper and works well at home. I think he should be involved.

Sod's Law, after initially travelling very moderately at Nottingham, suddenly took off and James Doyle got to the front sooner than he expected no doubt. If Danny Tudhope can keep his nerve and hold on to him until the last furlong, he may go one better. Likes both the ground and the track.

Fun Mac is always to be respected in long-distance races and although he rarely wins, he should be tough enough in this company. Ground and trip no problem.

Legal Eyes has never looked as well as does now and I have to think that will result in improved form on the racecourse. His last run back in April was solid enough but I'm confident he'll do better today. Great each-way chance.

Black Kettle is a soft-ground lover, which he never really encountered last season. He is going well at home but we think he probably needs the run today.

Cardigan Bay is a tough, reliable mare and she defied a double penalty when winning a novice race at Warwick last time. We are hoping she can pick up some black type with a run in the frame today.

Cardigan Bay is a tough, reliable mare and she defied a double penalty when winning a novice race at Warwick last time. We are hoping she can pick up some black type with a run in the frame today.

At his best when making the running, Solar Impulse has seemed unhappy the last twice racing in the pack. If Dave Crosse can get him jumping and in a rhythm at the front he could bounce back to form.

Heavenly Promise has had two solid runs for us, the first over fences and then in a conditionals' race over hurdles. This is an excellent opportunity under owner's son Connor to get her head in front back over fences.

It's a long way to travel up there for Unit of Assessment, but we're going for the ground. It's the right level of race for him and I feel he has to be there or thereabouts.

Storm Eleanor has been difficult to train and it's possible I've been getting her trip wrong, so we're dropping her back today. If I'm right about that then 20-1 looks terrific value for an each-way bet.

Royal Village is trying to repeat last year's victory in this valuable race but is off a 12lb higher mark. He's remained in good form ever since but will probably need the ground to continue to dry out to achieve the follow-up.

Song of the Sky has been running well and likes soft ground. She's in good form and while I won't say she's going to win, I think she'll be in the first three.

Rouge Vif has grown up a lot and is in really good form at home. His jumping for a novice has been above average so we are looking forward to running him. It is a competitive race but due to his hurdles mark he has to run in a race of this grade.