Today
14:35 - Notus De La Tour - Ex-French horse for David Pipe, was arguably unlucky in running when contesting the Fred Winter Novices Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, has a pull at the weights with the winner on that form (not enough on paper to turn the form around) but it's his previous run that I'm most interested in. Was at Plumpton specifically to see (and back) this horse make his British debut having romped home by 20 lengths in a claiming hurdle at Auteuil. He was well backed at Plumpton which is a track like Aintree that's flat and left-handed and wasn't under too much pressure to beat Ranjobaie (subsequently beaten less than a neck in a Graded Hurdle at Sandown and a winner on his next start). The Cheltenham race marked a change of tactics for the horse and hopefully with some pace in the race (Barizan) they'll try and ride the horse handier this time.
Advice: 1pt win, 1pt place @ 17/2 - Stan James15:45 - Nedzer's Return - Gordon Elliott trained Irish contender who's looked an improved horse since contesting Hunter Chases winning two from two at Fairyhouse and Down Royal. There are winners in behind in both races -most notably Rapid Artis who fell three out in the Fairyhouse contest and went on to slam the useful pointer Outlaw Pete by 19 lengths at Cork on Monday. There will be on worries over the trip for Nedzer who's two HC wins have come at 2m 6f - just half a furlong further than todays trip.
Advice: 2pts Win, 1pt place @ 14/1 - Stan James15:45 - Penny Doc - Useful enough in his day over in Ireland but has been tremendously successful since being switched to the Surrey yard of leading point-to-point trainer Phil York. He wasn't beaten far in a Mens Open at Detling which was won by today's rival Reach For The Top (subsequently a hard pulling third in the Cheltenham Foxhunters). He's won a 2m 5f Novices Hunter Chase at Fakenham since in style having been left clear at the last and is a very big price today.
Advice: 1pt Win, 1pt place @ 50/1 - General17:30 - Black Jack Blues - Bumper winner in early 2009 who's come good recently in novice hurdles for his shrewd young trainer. He's won his last two novice hurdles in style with bold front running displays under Champion Jockey Tony McCoy (unavailable today due to being retained to ride JP McManus' horses) and the booking of Barry Gerraghty is a positive. (2 wins from 3 rides for the yard). The step back up to 2m 4f is a slight concern as the only time he's run over the distance he was beaten by the useful Pipe trained hurdler Chartreux but at 20/1 he looks worth a small bet.
Advice: 1pt Win, 1pt place @ 20/1 - Bet365, Victor ChandlerGood Luck all
Martin
