Good Morning/Evening and a good wet weekend to you all, hopefully you all received many Valentine's cards unlike myself and are loved up for today's racing. We are getting closer and closer to Cheltenham and today bring us even more trials as well as it does more inspections which are becoming a daily thing now. Thankfully the day's two main meetings in England at Ascot and Haydock look certain to go ahead albeit in very testing ground. Lingfield obviously have no problems as they are on the polytrack but please take precaution if you are going there today. As far as inspections go, Wincanton will have to pass a precautionary inspection at 7:30am and Gowran Park have announced an inspection for tomorrow morning.
Last week however was a successful one after the first selection being a non runner in Tickity Bleue. The day got off to a great start with our NAP winning in the form of Upswing, but we have Mr McCoy to thank for that ride I think you'll agree. Next up was Balder Succes who jumped fantastically round Warwick and looked a live candidate for the Arkle before Alan King ruled him out of that. Module was next up in the Game Spirit as he outbattled Dodging Bullets and Hillbilly Boy returned us some each way money at Wolverhampton. All round, a very good day and our dinners were paid for! Well done if you backed any of them.
As always we have a video prepared for you previewing the Channel 4 racing and any other notable races in the day. Joining the panel this week are Adam Webb (@Adamwebb121), Calum Madell (@Calummadell) and the enigmatic Michael Andrews (@Mytentoryours). We hope you enjoy the show and let us know any fancies of yours tomorrow or indeed at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7aOkIuV3bU
But now onto todays selections!!
2:05 Ascot - Many Clouds
You wont need me to tell you how well Oliver Sherwood's yard have been going this season and Many Clouds is one of his stable stars so far. He started off this season in winning style at Carlisle when comfortably beating Knock A Hand and Holywell over 2 and a half miles, before getting beat at Haydock. That remains his only chase defeat and there is every chance that Black Thunder just had too much toe for him that day with Shotgun Paddy well beaten in third. Last time out he went for a confidence booster at Wetherby in what has turned out to be a very strong race with the other 2 horses in the race winning since. Indian Castle was beaten 16 lengths and went on to beat Annacotty in a handicap at Cheltenham, whereas Pinerolo is a horse I very much like and won at Catterick this week. The step up in trip is well in Many Clouds' favour as I feel he has stamina in abundance and should take all the beating today. (2/1)
3:05 Wincanton - Ut Majeur Aulmes
We will be hoping that Wincanton can pass the morning inspection as if they do Ut Majeur Aulmes will have a great chance. He really impressed me when winning at Uttoxeter in December before running a good race in defeat over course and distance last time out. He was behind Quick Decisson that day but a strongly run race should see them two closer today, but the form horse is the runner up. They were separated by two has since been seen finishing a staying on sixth in the Betfair Hurdle last week at Newbury. The selection himself is a big strapping individual who definitely has a future over fences but a mark of 123 could still be lenient and will take all the beating today. (11/2)
3:15 Ascot - Like Minded
Dan Skelton has done very well with Like Minded after losing his way at Paul Nicholls' yard before one start for Paul Henderson. His first run for the yard was at Kempton when staying on well to grab 2nd behind God's Own who has since performced with credit over fences. He was then sent to Aintree where he duly obliged off a mark of 129 when just repelling Party Rock who was game in defeat. Many horses can win in a handicap and find life much tougher next time out but I was impressed with him in the Lanzarote behind Saphir De Rheu. The runner up in that race has since been second to Fingal Bay at Exeter so once again the form is stacking up nicely. I was impressed with the Like Minded travelled the last day as I could see him being a bit short of speed, but there could just be one more win in him today. (17/2)
4:05 Haydock - Wuff
Wuff is a horse that I really like after seeing him in a bumper here at Haydock when second to the useful Desoto County. He has looked even better in two hurdle wins since then however, firstly when rallying to beat Allow Dallow at Uttoxter over and extended 2 and a half miles. He looked beat that day turning for home but stamina kicked in and he motored up up the far side to win by half a length with Cogry further back in third. He really impressed me last time when providing us with a winning NAP on the blog over half a mile shorter in a good looking race. Both himself and Straidnahanna who re-opposes on worse terms were a long way clear of the third horse when separated by just a short head. In truth Wuff was probably value for further that day after only really getting going when switched out wide after the last when previously held in. One last note is that my good scouse friend Adam Webb informed that Paddy Brennan said he was flat out the whole way last time so the step up to 3 miles is a huge positive. Wuff is taken to step up in trip and class and make it a hat-trick over hurdles. (5/1)
NAP - Wuff
Nb - Many Clouds
Good luck and as always, happy punting!
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