Monthly Archives: February 2024

Hidalgo Des Bordes has gained valuable experience along the way. He should be seen to good effect and have an each-way chance here today

The Jukebox Jury mare Molto Bene has run only three times but is improving with experience. She starts handicapping with a big weight, but we're hopeful she can go close in this small field.

None of Restorer's seven career wins has come from AW, but 21 more places include a few on dirt in its various forms. He keeps popping up with prizemoney and while the last two have been less fruitful, he is always there with an each-way chance.

Coup De Coeur won over this CD three runs back and hasn't been disgraced since. In a wide-open handicap, he will have his chance.

Monaghan Boy has been second the last three times clearly giving indications that he will be a much better chaser than he was a hurdler. He isn't blessed with much speed, but this 3m3f should be right up his street.

After Monty Bodkin's excellent 2nd on debut at Ascot we expected better than his 6th of 7 at Aintree on Boxing Day. He's had time to get over that and we like him, so again we're looking for a good performance from him today.

Ex-Irish Ivasecret never got competitive last time at Lingfield, but his mark has been slipping very nicely. He may need a run or two more to get fully adjusted to his new environment.            

Almazhar Garde has been on the slide. Four runs in, he's 16lb lower than for his first run of the season in October. A winner of four chases, there's still time for the 9yo to turn things around, but it's hard to be optimistic on what we've seen lately.

Onenightintown came to us from Ireland, thanks to now-retired Alain Cawley, three-and-a-half years ago and that saved him from a bullet. He's rewarded his present owners with three wins and nine places since the summer of 2021, and his latest run, a win at Catterick, is possibly his best. On that, up 2lb but with…

We run two in this handicap chase and it's the latest reprieve for Brickadank, The perennial non-winner keeps going in the box to the races in his Last Chance Saloon and does just enough for the owners to give him a stay of execution. Another fourth or better here and it might earn one more…

Medieval Gold didn't win for William Haggas but showed excellent stamina. He works and schools well so we think that he can win over hurdles and also back on the flat later on rather like yesterday's debutant Bodygroove at Carlisle. The favourite to beat we think.

Mr Trick struck form in early December, winning on the third of three quick runs. That Chelmsford success has been followed by a slip back in performance and as he's a horse who tends to run well in a few races consecutively, we might have to wait for him to come good again.

I think Bodygroove was well bought at 12k from Richard Spencer's stable. He stays 2m on the flat unlike most horses in that yard and seems to handle any ground. He schools well and goes nicely. Each-way hopes first time out.

Mokaatil has been 21 runs without a win - his last came off 85 on turf. Down to yet another lowest mark, 59, you could point to his 3rd behind Berkshire Phantom over 7f around here two runs back to suggest there remains life in him. We still believe 5f is his best trip, so…

Henry's Friend has been going the right way, winning at Newbury and Hereford. This is major step up in class and we will be finding out much more about how high he can fly as a chaser.

We run two here. Honor Grey was shaping very promisingly with three wins in his last four hurdle races, but has been off since late in 2022. If he's ready, he could well continue that impressive sequence.

Strictly Dreaming has had her occasional moments on turf despite remaining a maiden and last time at Chelmsford her 3rd there was her best yet on all-weather. If she could repeat it, she would come into this modest handicap with each-way claims.

Nab Wood was a very easy winner of his novice around here last time. He's into handicap company and the question is whether the handicapper is right or not giving a starting figure of 114. We do know he's only just getting going at age seven, so hopefully he will be ahead of the official.…