Ballesteros To Get His Hole In One

Good Morning everyone and congratulations for making it through another work week, your reward? A huge weekend of racing of course! The big meeting today comes to us from Doncaster as they stage their yearly Racing Post Trophy won last year by Kingsbarns. We have jumps action from Chepstow, Aintree, Stratford and over in Ireland they race over the sticks at Wexford. As well as Doncaster on the flat we have strong cards from Newbury Leopardstown an evening meeting from Wolverhampton on the polytrack. 

As always we have prepared a video for you covering all the races on Channel 4 today including some insight into some runners today. I was joined by Adam Webb (@Adamwebb121) as always and Calum Madell (@Calummadell) who gave us insight into his runner tomorrow at Stratford, Magnifique Etoile. We were also joined by amateur jockey George Gorman (@GeorgeFGorman) who is based with Gary Moore. He gave us the inside scoop on how Sire De Grugy and Fruity O'Rooney are doing at home ahead of their run this afternoon. You can watch the video by clicking on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJtU_2u1WNQ

I hope you enjoy! But onto today's selections.

2:40 Doncaster - Ennistown

Since joining Charlie Appleby Ennistown is unbeaten in two outings and since having a hood applied he has been defeated just once in 4 attempts. He takes the step back up in trip today after previously being successful over 1 mile and 3 furlongs he tackles an extra furlong here, that is a positive. Possibly the biggest positive today is the 3 year old allowance, instead of his official rating of 100 he is allowed to run off 93. This time of year is fantastic to catch 3 year olds as they are beginning to mature and the older horses don't have so much of an advantage. The last positive towards Ennistown is that he hails from a stable bang in form, from the last 14 runners Charlie Appleby has had no representative placed worse than 5th. In that purple patch he has had winners priced 8/11, 14/1, 20/1 and 8/1 and as you can imagine the profit to a pound stake is high. (6/1)

2:55 Newbury - Nichols Canyon

This is a tough race to assess but Nichols Canyon impressed me when victorious last time out at Ascot on testing ground. He beat Greatwood by 2 lengths that day who was in turn 2 lengths clear of the rest of the field. The biggest positive for any horse running today is that they can go on soft ground which is something that definitely applies for Nichols Canyon today. He is unbeaten on the surface and this race looks undecidingly weak for the class of it. Nichols Canyon to land the spoils in today's conditions. (7/2)

3:05 Aintree - Astracad

Unfortunately Astracad is pricewise today but for good reason as he hails from a Twiston-Davies team that are bang in form as always this time of year. At Cheltenham last time he was travelling as well as anything before being held in by eventual winner John's Spirit. By the time Astracad finally got going he was already 3 lengths down on the winner and all hopes of winning had gone bar an accident. He was looking good for a place but made a mistake at the last scuppering all chances of a place but still stayed on very well for 5th. Astracad to land the Old Roan. (7/1)

3:15 Doncaster - Ballesteros

Ballesteros is a soft ground specialist and probably brings the best form in the race to the table from his four runs this season. The latter two are the races of interest and more importantly on soft ground behind the top class Maarek. First of all he was beaten 2 lengths at Newbury when showing his first form of the season and then went on to the Abbaye once again behind Maarek. He was 9th that day and takes the drop back into handicap company today which can only be a positive as its his easiest race of the season. Ballesteros himself is in great form but the stable has been without a winner since the 4th of this month, however they have had some useful efforts since. Ballesteros to land his race for the season. (14/1)

NAP - Ballesteros

Nb - Ennistown

Good luck if you have a bet today and as always, Happy Punting.

Qipco Champions Day 2013

Good Morning everyone a happy weekend to you all and more importantly a happy Champions Day to you all. After today the flat season begins to wind down and go into hibernation but they have one last hurrah on these shores, and what a hurrah it is. Today brings together most of the top class horses who have helped make this season from 3 year olds like Dawn Approach to Royal runners like Estimate. Every horse running today has provided something this year and they will all be fighting it out to end the season, and in some cases their careers with a win.

As always we have prepared a video for you covering champions day and we also threw in Cheltenham for good measure and managed to have a good laugh throughout. Joining me today is @Adamwebb121 @Calummadell and @Mytentoryours or as they are more affectionately known, Adam, Calum and Michael. You can watch our preview by clicking on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-ydrVklvPY&feature=youtu.be

Enjoy! But now we go on with our selections!!

1:45 Ascot - Ahzeemah

They say to back anything that you dream about which is exactly what I'm doing here with Ahzeemah. Last Tuesday I dreamt he won this race beating Caucus by two lengths, but I do fancy him and it isn't just sentimental. Ahzeemah has been ultra consistent this season and firstly is great each way value as the ground wont bother him after a run at Doncaster on Heavy last year. He hasn't finished outside of the first two on any of his last eleven outings and has won four times during that period. Ahzeemah to land the spoils in testing ground. (8/1)

2:00 Cheltenham - Creepy

Martin Keighley looks to hold the key to this one with Creepy who wasn't disgraced at a high enough level last year on a few occasions. The peak of his novice race season came in November on softer ground when fourth behind the progressive Coneygree here at Cheltenham. He then went better than that when runner up in a big handicap hurdle again at Cheltenham behind Party Rock over two and a half miles. On reappearance this year he finally got his head in front at Chepstow when beating Splash of Ginge by two and a quarter lengths comfortably. The in form Martin Keighley yard to land the opener. (4/1)

2:20 Ascot - Jack Dexter

Finally the ground has come for Jim Goldie's star as he looks to make it back to back wins on Champions Day after landing the apprentice race last season. He ran a huge race to finish third in the Ayr Gold Cup under top weight off the back of almost a three month lay off which holds him in fine regard here. He has encountered ground worse than Good to soft six times and the result has been the same each time, a win for Jack Dexter. Tomorrow the ground is already soft with more rain forecast. Jack Dexter to win once again on testing ground and at Champions Day. Just a side note, don't get too worried if he sweats at the start, he has been known to do this. (9/2)

3:45 Cheltenham - Sire Collonges

Ex Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls had a double at Cheltenham yesterday and looks to have a few good chances with Sire Collnges being a leading hope. First time out could be a could time to catch him and this race looks ideal with Will Biddick taking five pounds off his back. The trip looks to be near perfect and although not setting the world on fire last year he definitely looked one to keep on the right side of. For last season's exploits he picked up a rating of 145 but if you go through his opponents you can pick holes in each of them. Sire Collonges to land the spoils for Paul Nicholls. (14/1)

4:05 Ascot - Mukhadram

William Haggas' Colt has been unlucky this year, he bumped into Al Kazeem at Royal Ascot when just getting edged out late on. He then ran in the Eclipse and was unlucky to not be in the first two when getting hampered late on and passed by Declaration of War. He finally got his day in the sun last time at York when landing a Group 2 and beating Grandeur, who I am convinced is a Group 1 horse in the process. Paul Hanagan takes the ride and the two of them combined with front running tactics make for an irresistible combination. Im convinced we haven't seen the best of Mukhadram yet and today he can show us what he is truly made of. (12/1)

4:25 Cheltenham - Court In Session

Martin Keighley is responsible for one of our selections earlier on with Creepy and he can round off a double here courtesy of Court in Session. He had surgery over the summer which meant he has just taken a few runs to get back to full health but he has been aimed here. The form book will say his last run ended in a fourth placed finish which technically is correct but physically is wrong. You may recall at Chepstow last week there was a Legends race, you may also recall that he was the winner of it so he is clearly in good heart. If tuned up 100% he will have a massive chance today and justify the early market support. (16/1)


NAP - Mukhadram
Nb - Jack Dexter

Good Luck today and as always, Happy Punting!

Cesarewitch Day

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen, I have to start off with an apology for the lack of a blog the last two weeks, this is down to the fact that I was in Canada. My brother got married and I was best man, social protocol said I had to be there apparently... It came as a shock to me too. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive... No? How about if we find some winners together? Well alright then, that is more like it. As always we have produced a video for you covering this weeks Channel 4 races, joining me this week is @Calummadell and @Adamwebb121. The link shall be left below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnGSpV0_wB8&feature=youtu.be

My brother who was the Groom in mention regarding the whole wedding thing has also given us a tip for the day, please bare in mind he knows little about racing and lives abroad!!

5:45 Chepstow - Ace High (11/1)

But now onto this week's selections and hopefully a successful return to blogging with some winners from strong fancies.

3:10 Newmarket - Outstrip

If you are a regular reader you will know how highly I regard Outstrip after previous efforts. He has tasted defeat just once in his three outings and that was to the highly touted Toormore who looks a potential world beater. Last time out was without doubt his best performance when sweeping aside The Grey Gatsby who is a fair yard stick in his own right. Mickael Barzalona takes the ride today which is a huge positive at Newmarket, nobody rides the track better than him, especially on a horse like this. For those who like form lines he also has the clear beating of War Command as he was behind Sudirman who went on to be comfortably beaten by none other than Toormore. If you take that literally the prices are grossly wrong, but its foolish to take that literally. Outstrip to land the Dewhurst and War Command is the lay of the day. (15/8)

3:20 Hexham - Etxalar

Etxalar has been a useful horse for a long time and despite being a 10 year old really caught my eye last time out at Perth when being given a soft ride. Despite that he still managed to get involved and wasn't far behind Strobe who re-opposes on worse terms today. The only confidence in backing him today is that he looks well handicapped but the use of a claimer puts doubts in my mind as Peter Buchanan prefers another. If his jumping holds up then he will take some beating off this mark today. (6/1)

3:30 York - Doc Hay

Doc Hay was an eye catcher at Doncaster after meeting trouble and finishing strongly over 5 furlongs and was again an eye catcher at Beverley over the same trip. He then won when stepped up in trip to 6 furlongs which is his optimum trip and also today's trip under David Nolan who gets on well with him. I'm not too sure why he was then dropped back to the minimum distance but they look to right that wrong today. He still looks potentially well handicapped back at a trip that he will actually enjoy and could be a tad overpriced today in a competitive race. (12/1)

4:15 Chepstow - Balder Succes

Our last main selection of the day is also our NAP of the day on his Chasing Debut. Since his juvenile hurdling days I have been waiting for him to jump a fence as that looks his true calling judged on his scope and how he jumps a hurdle. This looks a nice introduction in a potentially weak race and I am shocked he isn't favourite ahead of Easter Day, but hey that is our gain. Robert Thornton is back from injury and takes the ride which is a positive regardless of what some people say about him... Cough Calum Madell... Cough. If Balder Succes doesn't get his Chasing career off to a winning start tomorrow I will be shocked to say the least. (15/8)

Others to consider:

2:20 York - Sam Sharp
3:50 Newmarket - Recession Proof
4:10 York - Supersta
4:55 Newmarket - Safety Check
5:10 York - Barren Brook
5:25 Newmarket - French Navy
6:10 Chepstow - Trillerin Minella

NAP - Balder Succes
Nb - Outstrip

Good luck if you are having a bet today guys!! Let me know how you get on!