Wolverhampton - Tuesday 4th February

I will be at Wolverhampton this evening for my first visit to the course. It's a 3 hour drive from Southampton but it will be another one of the list and a trip to Ludlow on Wednesday follows before coming home. It's a tricky card and winter all-weather racing is hardly my ballgame but I'm hopeful of coming out on the right side of things. 

17:30, Win 250,000 With BetMGM's Golden Goals Handicap

Secret Road 11/2, 1pt each-way (3 places)

How's The Guvnor deserves to be favourite in search of a third straight win but he's not looked that convincing at the starts and this looks a harder race. Secret Road has been so consistent of late and still ran well at Lingfield last time when things didn't go well from the start. He's got the box seat in stall 1 here and should run another good race. 

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18:00, Midnite, Building The Future Of Betting Handicap

Betsen 5/2, 2pts win

Tony Carroll's 5 year old scored at big odds in November on stable debut down at Southwell and still ran to form when 4th last time out in a hot race. This is much easier and he looks sure to go close with Rossa Ryan in the saddle. 

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20:00, BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Handicap

Moretons 11/2, 1pt each-way (3 places)

George Scott's horses are in electric form so far this year and although his runner here, Moretons, has yet to get on the scoresheet he looks ready for a good run. He showed real promise on his first couple of runs before going missing in the height of summer a bit. He bounced back to finish 2nd off this mark over course and distance in October however despite coming from a long way back. He's had a run 8 days ago to blow the cobwebs away and should be more of a threat now back at the scene of his best run. There seems to be loads of pace on up front here so it could play into the hands of this hold up performer. 

Kempton - Monday 2nd February

13:27, CopyBet Daily Profit Boost Novices' Handicap Chase

Saint Anapolino 9/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

This is a wide open race with a few having points to prove and it's still up in the air who will go off favourite. A chance can be taken on top-weight Saint Anapolino. The 7 year old racked up a hat-trick over hurdles last season but has struggled a bit this time around. He's been running OK since sent chasing, travelling well without going through with the effort. He's back at a track he's won at over hurdles and is now dropping in grade which will help. It could be that a return to a softer surface will help his cause as well. He's dropped down 5 pounds since sent over the larger obstacles and Jack Stenhouse (fresh off a win) comes in to claim 7 pounds as well. Everything looks set for a good run now running against lesser opposition. 

Sandown - Saturday 31st January

Let's hope Sandown passes it's inspection and we get to see some proper decent winter action at the Esher track. I will be making the usual journey up the M3 all being well. 

13:25, Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

Solider Of The Storm 9/2, 2pts win

Jonjo O'Niell's Soldier Of The Storm ran well to finish 2nd in a decent chase at Hereford last time out. He beat the whole field well apart from the progressive winner and is entitled to come on for that chase debut as he was a bit awkward at some of his fences. The 8 year old has plenty of form on soft ground and is a big strapping sort who should keep improving over fences and this is a winnable race off a mark of 118. 

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14:02, Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase

Haddex Des Obeaux 12/1, 1pt each-way (4 places with Bet365)

This is a hot 2 mile handicap with plenty holding chances. Nothing seems to have anything hidden from the handicapper however and likely favourite Jax Junior is untried on soft ground. Perhaps a chance can be taken on top weight Haddex Des Obeaux. He was off the track a while before re-appearing earlier this season for Donald McCain and built on the comeback run to finish a fair 4th at Kelso 35 days ago. There were plenty of signs for encouragement that day as he was leading until 2 out when he just seemed to lack for a bit of fitness. He should come on again for that and he did finish 3rd in a Tingle Creek at this track back in 2023. He's still only 9 so a there's time for a revival yet now dropping in grade.

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15:10, Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle

Spike Jones 22/1, 1pt each-way (4 places with Bet365)

Henri The Second should go close here back on optimal conditions at a course he loves but he had no excuses when beaten into 2nd here last year and a speculative punt can be taken on Sam Drinkwater's Spike Jones. The 9 year old is carrying a feather weight here which could pay dividends as this will be a proper slog and it's worth noting he's won over further than this on heavy going. The mount of Benjamin Macey, Spike Jones is now off the same mark as when 3rd at Cheltenham earlier in the year and can be forgiven his run last time out as plenty of horses don't take to Windsor. He's been brought out again quickly and in a race that could fall apart, this proven battler is worth a punt. 

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15:42, Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase

Pic Roc 9/2, 2pts win

In a race that is being dominated in the market by top weight Mr Vango and joint bottom weight Fortunate Man, it could be that one in the middle has been overlooked. Ben Pauling is having a wonderful season and his runner here, Pic Roc, is back at the track where he brought his best hurdles form. It's notable how he started favourite for the Coral Gold Cup (ran on well from the rear) and this looks like a much less demanding task. He can be forgiven a poor run at Ascot as nothing really went his way that day and he'll be more at home on this softer ground. He's threatening to land a decent pot and he could ghost into this. 

Wincanton - Thursday 29th January

15:33, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Dick Hunt Handicap Chase

Jupiter Allen 11/4, 2pts win

This staying handicap chase is the highlight of the card down at Wincanton. It will be pretty hard work down at the Somerset track with all the recent rain and so preference here is for Chester Williams's dour stayer Jupiter Allen. Still only a 7 year old, the dual chase winner excels in the mud and is still only a pound higher in the weights than when beating the Doyen Chief at Taunton last February. He's in decent nick this season too, as shown when 2nd at Exeter and when 3rd at this track last time out on ground that would have been quick enough for him. Most of his rivals here are on retrieval missions and Lorcan Williams's mount looks due a return to the winners enclosure. 

Chepstow - Tuesday 27th January

13:00, Floyd's Turfcare & Weed Solutions Ltd Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Luwdvig 3/1, 2pts win

Neil King's Luwdvig won very well at Lingfield last week and has been found a winnable race under the penalty. Looks a horse on the up. 

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15:47, Floyd's Turfcare & Weed Solutions Ltd Handicap Chase

Genietoile 8/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

Rebecca Curtis's 8 year old Genietoile looks to have a fair chance here. He came back from a lengthy absence to finish third at this track in October and that form looks pretty strong in this context. Fell at the first on his next start but if he gets a clear round in here he must be feared with top conditional jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell in the saddle claiming 5 pounds. 

Cheltenham - Saturday 24th January

I will be at Cheltenham on Saturday for an informative trials day, if perhaps not a betting day. The heavy rain has turned the ground testing and a combination of conditions and some highly rated runners has led to some small fields in the graded races. 

13:15 - Jagwar
15:35 - Impose Toi

4/1 double, 3pts win

Gowran Park - Thursday 22nd January

15:30, Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase

High Class Hero 10/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

This big handicap chase was claimed by the subsequent Grand National winner Nick Rocket last year and his trainer, Willie Mullins, looks to have a strong hand again. His team is headed by last year's Scottish Grand National hero Cool Cody but it is another one from Closutton that takes preference and that is top weight High Class Hero. The ride of Danny Mullins, the 9 year old is pretty lightly raced for his age and comes unto this still fairly unexposed at the trip. He looked all about stamina in his early days and will love the forecast testing conditions. He ran a lovely race on seasonal debut at Punchestown in November over a trip too short and it's worth remembering that he finished 3rd when favourite for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April.