Sandown - Saturday 26th April 2025

 I will be at Sandown for the Jumps Finale and to see Willie Mullins become back-to-back British Champion Trainer unless Dan Skelton can perform some sort of miracle. I like the first race from a betting viewpoint. 

13:20, bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle

St Pancras 12/1, 0.5pts each-way (4 places)
Nardaran 10/1, 0.75pts each-way (4 places)

2 of the past 4 renewals of this race have been won by 4 year olds and I fancy 2 here at double digit prices. St Pancras was fairly useful on the flat but has stepped up a gear since sent hurdling by new connections. He won a fair race at Musselburgh at big odds in January but jumped well (has scope to) and backed that up by finishing 2nd in a Grade 2 at Kempton a couple of weeks later. He's since won well at Stratford and looks to be going the right way. He's not been hit harshly by the handicapper and I think a big field scenario with plenty of pace on is just what this horse needs. At the bottom of the handicap is Paul Nicholls' Nardaran. Ok, he has been deserted by stable jockey Harry Cobden but champion jockey elect Sean Bowen takes over and I think this fella is peaking at the right time. He comes here fresher than most after having just 3 runs this season and he looked like a nice horse when I saw him earlier in the season it's just taken him time to come into his own. If he can now tap into his potential then his opening mark looks very fair. 

Plumpton & Kempton - Monday 21st April

 Easter Monday is here and I will be at Kempton for the first of 4 days racing next week (Epsom Tuesday, Sandown Friday and Saturday). 

Kempton

16:05, Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap

Dancing Magic 11/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

Roger Teal's season has started well and his runner here must have a decent chance. Dancing Magic is, amazingly, still a maiden at the age of 5 however, that may be more down to how aggressively he was campaigned early in his career than his overall ability. The gelding did once finish 4th behind subsequent Derby winner Auguste Rodin in a Grade 1 as a 2 year old and was run in Group races exclusively as a 3 year old. Last year his sights were lowered to handicap company and he ran well before ending his season with 2 runner up efforts in maidens. It's worth noting that he had to give bundles off weight away to younger horses on both occasions and ran with credit. He arrives here off a mark that is 12 pound lower than the start of last season, when he finished in the Spring Cup at Newbury in April of 2024. He likes to go forward so being drawn 1 is a real bonus and he is just too well handicapped to ignore. 

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Plumpton

14:35, BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Chase Handicap Chase

Coastguard Station 12/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

It is a significant jockey booking that Sam Twiston-Davies is sweating down to 10st2lb to partner Henry Oliver's likeable 9 year old Coastguard Station. He has everything in his favour which may be why the top jockey is happy to ride. Good ground suits this lad well and he tends to need a decent pace to aim at, which he will get here with so many classy front runners in the field. He hasn't run at Plumpton before so has won at Fakenham which is quite similar to booster hopes that he will act round this tight track fine and it's worth noting that he won well at Ascot last time out 22 days ago so clearly comes into this race in good order. When he finally hit form last Spring he followed up his win at Fakenham by finishing 2nd and 1st on his next 2 runs. I think he's worth a punt at the odds for sure. 

Plumpton - Sunday 20th April 2025

 Sunday is the start of Plumpton's big 2 day meeting of the year and this year it holds more importance than ever as it will have a big part to play in the trainer's championship. 

14:20, Mayo Wynne Baxter Novices' Handicap Chase

Alien Storm 7/2, 2pts win

Charlie Longson's 7 year old Alien Storm absolutely loves it here at Plumpton and he's been given a 35 day break since finishing 2nd at Chepstow in March to freshen up for this assignment. I'm sure this has been the plan and off a mark of 121 he still looks fairly treated. He's been running well in better races than this in the winter and I fancy that he'll take advantage of a return to his favourite track. 

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14:55, Harry & Betty Savill Memorial Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Barrabool 13/2, 2pts win

A few in here are handicapped to the hilt but Harry Derham's mare Barrabool looks well treated. She won at the course at the start of the season and followed that up by finishing second in a really decent maiden at Taunton. A repeat of that run here and she will go very close. You can forgive the run at Kelso as she didn't like the change of tactics at all. 

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15:30, BetGoodwin Master Trainer Chris Gordon Handicap Chase

Hugos New Horse 7/2, 2pts win

You have to respect Paul Nicholls at this meeting and his 8 year old here looks very well treated on hurdles form. It hasn't gone his way over hurdles but he's had excuses. He finished a close 2nd here earlier in the season over a trip too short and I fancy he's been readied for this.

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16:05, BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle

Hansard 12/1, 1pt each-way

Trainer Gary Moore always likes to have a good hand at this meeting and with Hansard here, he has a horse just 1 pound above his last winning mark. He's not been at home in some really challenging big field handicaps this season which has seen his mark tumble but he ran a good race after a layoff at Kempton over Christmas and was only beaten 4 lengths by Golden Ace in the Kingwell in February. An 11 runner field here should be right up his street and let's not forget he beat Master Chewy here in his novice days. 

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16:40, BetGoodwin Top UK Online Bookie Handicap Chase

Taxus Baccata 17/2, 1pt each-way (3 places)

I really like the chances of this 7 year old. He's always looked a chaser and connections wasted no time in sending him over the larger obstacles in the Autumn. He duly bolted up by 10 lengths at this track before being turned over when brought out quickly under a penalty at Fakenham. He wasn't put to shame that day as he was beaten by a horse in receipt of 2 stone. He's shown real affinity for this track and I expect this has been the plan for the past 37 days. 

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17:15, Phoenix Cycles Remember Ray Prior Handicap Hurdle

Mr Freedom 4/1, 2pts win

I think this 6 year old is NAP of the day in the last. He won at this track in March 2024 off a pound higher mark and let's not forget he ran in last year's County Hurdle off of 130 and finished 5th in a Fred Winter 2 years ago. He ran a great race at Bangor 29 days ago after a long absence and I fancy that will have brought him on perfectly for this. He's well handicapped and clearly loves the track. Should go very close I think. 

Musselburgh - Saturday 19th April 2025

 It's a quiet time of year and I'll admit to having a quiet time on the punting front. There's not been a lot of joy since Aintree but it's a strange time of year. The end of the jump season and start of the flat is always tricky as it's challenging to know what horses are fit and well. There's some cracking flat racing in Scotland on Saturday however at Musselburgh. 

15:35, Virgin Bet Queen's Cup

Align The Stars 9/2, 2pts each-way (4 places)

I really like the chances of Charlie Johnston's 4 year old here. He was mightily progressive last year before finding the step up to Group company too much in the Autumn. He's fit and well after a cracking effort to be 3rd at Nottingham 10 days ago and I expect this has been the plan by connections to love to target this race. I think he could bridge the gap between handicapping and group company this year if he continues his upward trajectory. 

Cheltenham - Wednesday 16th April 2025

 14:05, Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle

Ballytechno 8/1, 1pt each-way (4 places)

I like the chances of James Owen's 6 year old here. I think good ground is key to him and he's been kept at home all winter long for it. He's arriving here fresh and hasn't hard a hard season like a few of his opponents. 

Newmarket - Tuesday 15th April 2025

 HQ is back! Newmarket stages it's first meeting of 2025 and I can barely believe we are here. I really like one in the big handicap of the day. 

13:50, Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap

Physique 5/1, 2pts each-way (4 places)

Pam Sly's Physique was a huge eye catcher when finishing a running on 4th at Doncaster 16 days ago. That was his first run for connections and it is hugely popular that Champion jockey Oisin Murphy continues the relationship in the saddle. This stiffer track should suit much better than Doncaster as this 5 year old has won over further. He's at the right end of the handicap and has a fitness edge over a few of these. 

Newbury & Ayr - Saturday 12th April 2025

 It is Scottish Grand National day at Ayr but I will be at Newbury for what looks to be a cracking days action headlined by premier Classic trials, the Fred Darling and the Greenham. 

Newbury

15:12, OLBG Spring Cup Handicap

Metal Merchant 6/1, 1.5pts each-way (4 places)

Jack Channon's 5 year old won this race last year (albeit on the straight track, run on the round course this year - don't ask me why) and returns 12 months on off a 6 pound higher mark. I don't think that is insurmountable and the stable is in hot form with 2 winners from 5 runners in April. This has surely been the aim all winter long and I thought he shaped well in defeat multiple times last year in races that didn't suit him. This quick ground and long straight is what he wants and I expect him to go close as this does not look anywhere near as strong a renewal as last Spring. 

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Ayr

13:43, CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase

Pic Roc 5/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

Nothing went right for Pen Pauling's horse at Cheltenham last month and he comes here 3 pounds better off with Lord Of Thunder than when beaten by a length and a half at Newbury in the winter. Pic Roc came alive in the Spring last year when second in 2 big field handicap hurdles and he looks the best handicapped horse in this race. He should enjoy the ground as he ran well on it over hurdles last year and I expect this trip is what he wants. 

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14:15, Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle

Kabral Du Mathan 10/3 3pts win

I am convinced that Paul Nicholls' 5 year old is way ahead of his handicap mark of 139. I thought it was a huge effort to finish second in a hard handicap hurdle at Ascot at the back end of 2024 and followed that up by finishing 2nd at Windsor. He would not have enjoyed the track or ground that day but still put in a massive run. He's been kept fresh here whereas most of the opposition ran at Cheltenham last month and I think that will have a big factor on this race. Nicholls hasn't hid away how much he thinks of his lad and I think he'll win this. 

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15:35, Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase

Surrey Quest 11/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)

Toby Lawe's runner finished 2nd in this race last year and was pretty unlucky not to win it. He's 6 pounds higher a year on but he's had a very light campaign and conditions will be right for him again today. He's still only 8 years old so should be coming into his prime and I'm not convinced this is as tough a race as last year. He ran a great race to be 3rd in the Edinburgh National in February. He just raced a bit lazily that day and so he's got the cheek-pieces back on here which will be a huge help. I'm expecting him to go close.