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. 

Lingfield - Monday 19th January

13:50, mybettingsites.com Surrey National Handicap Chase

Val Dancer 8/1, 1.5pts each-way (5 places with Bet365)

The 6th running of the Surrey National looks well up to scratch. Hidden History is interesting for the Skelton's now trying marathon trips whilst My Silver Lining is coming back to form and must be respected. Invincible Nao won the Sussex National last year and could run well again but didn't find much for pressure in the London National last time out. Perhaps it's time for the 2024 Welsh National hero, Val Dancer, to strike again. Mel Rowley's stable star has been lightly raced since that memorable win but he's still fairly weighted and ran a cracker to finish 3rd in the Becher Chase last time out. He's fresher than a few of these as this will be just his third run of the season and is well up to winning this. 

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15:20, Watch Unbridled On attheraces.com Handicap Chase

Felton Bellvue 9/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

Ben Case's veteran arrives in substandard form but did win at the track last year and is now 5 pounds lower. He needs soft ground which he hasn't had this season so far but he will most certainly get that here and it could be that he has everything falling right for him today. 

Ascot - Saturday 17th January

13:00, BetMGM Handicap Chase

Laganhill 7/1, 1pt each-way (3 places)

This is as good a handicap chase as you will find around Ascot this time of year. The Jukebox Kid deserves to be favourite and is likely to bounce back from his Cheltenham disappointment but Laganhill makes more appeal at the prices. Henry Daly's gelding has been steadily progressive over fences and is still lightly raced. He bumped into a decent sort at Bangor last time but was well clear of the rest and this looks like a nice spot for him.

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14:53, BetMGM Holloway's Handicap Hurdle

Came From Nowhere 11/4, 3pts win

I quite fancied Jeremy Scott's up and coming 7 year old for the Lanzarote last week but he was pulled out due to the ground. He looked like a very progressive horse when bolting up at Hereford last time out and should be up to claiming this on the back of that.