Ante-Post: Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (Kempton, Saturday 21st February)

In D'or 12/1, 2pts win
Hoe Joly Smoke 12/1, 2pts win

This race has had a proper injection of pace and organisers look set to be rewarded with a quality field. It often pays to look for up and comers from the foot of the weights and in that vein of though Fergal O'Brien's In D'or is interesting. He's in here off the same mark as when 3rd at Ascot last time behind 2 subsequent scorers and he pulled clear of the 4th after the last. He's only an 8 year old and looks to be improving all the time. Another 8 year old that must enter calculations is Dan Skelton's Hoe Joly Smoke. He's only run at Cheltenham so far this season but he's not really been quick enough to win over the shorter trip there after a decent season debut over 3 miles in October. He's twice a winner at Sandown and this return to a longer trip is what he's been crying out for. 

Ascot - Saturday 14th February

 It's been a quiet February but I will be at Ascot for what looks set to be a cracking card including a fascinating Ascot Chase. Will Jonbon cement his Ryanair credentials today?

13:15, Betfair Novices' Hurdle

Catchintsavo 11/2, 1pt win

The opener here looks a decent contest and it deserves to be with a fair roll of honour over the years. These are all unexposed types but Catchintsavo held on gamely from the front at Ludlow last time out from a subsequent scorer who was in receipt of weight that day. The Anthony Honeyball runner had previously finished 2nd to the decent Laguna Beach the time before and had good bumper form, as shown when finishing third at the Punchestown meeting. Now he's got his head in front, he could take the next step and he could be given an easy time up front here, being a proven stayer who likes to get on with things. 

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14:25, Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle

Lightningupourdays 9/2, 2pts each-way (4 places)

Alistair Ralph's yard continue in good nick and his runner here must have a decent chance off a low weight. The 7 year old finished 3rd in a hot race at Hereford last time out and looks fairly treated now having been nudged up 2 pounds. He came on for his seasonal debut last season to win at the second time of asking (beaten by classy Wendigo on appearance) and although he finished the campaign by finishing 3rd at Newbury in March, both the front two have gone on to better things since. 

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15:00, Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase

Invincible Nao 16/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

The big handicap chase of the day at Ascot is dominated in the market by those off low weights but that's not surprising as Sam Brown is lumping plenty here. There looks to be plenty of pace on here and this could turn into a real test so it may pay to go with one who could ghost into this from the rear. Gary and Josh Moore's Invicible Nao has had an in-and-out career but comes into this off the back of some decent efforts in defeat over marathon trips. He's shaped the last twice as if this drop back to 3 miles is a good move despite the fact he won the Sussex National last year. The return to a softer surface here will help and even though he's 4 pound out the handicap he could run well here at big odds. 

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16:10, Betfair Handicap Hurdle

Top Guy 5/1, 2pts each-way (5 places)
High Treason 20/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)

This is a red hot handicap and it could be that a similar race at Newbury last month is going to provide the clues into this. The winner of that race is now favourite for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham next month and Top Guy ran on really well from the back of the last to finish 2nd there. He's still well treated and runs here off a low weight for powerful connections. He shaped as though he'll love getting back on a softer surface and must have a huge chance. Just in behind him that day was High Treason. The 7 year old hasn't enjoyed chasing but looked much more at ease back over the smaller obstacles that day and plugged on well up the straight when he raced alone on the inside. He too will like the ground here and could well build on that effort now connections seem happy to go down the staying hurdle route. 

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.