Monthly Archives: February 2023

Big Bresil will be having his first run back after a major absence and I am still learning about him. I'm not sure what to expect from him today but hopefully he will run well and improve for the next one.

Blue Hop is an exciting novice who will improve for a fence. We are going to Ayr looking for soft ground and expecting him to run a big race. He will learn from it and improve from it as well.

Tapley ran well at Fontwell last time even though the ground was gluey. He's at his best on a decent surface so should be much happier today. He has run well on this track before and I expect him to do so again although there are two or three others in here with form claims.…

At 12, Not Another Muddle is two years senior to his half-brother Iconic Muddle and has been in action more recently, 6th at Exeter at the start of this month. He had a spell away pointing last year and, a non-winner for four years, it's hard to be too enthusiastic about his chance.

A few weeks ago racegoers needed to check their racecards when we ran Iskar d'Airy and Issar D'Airy in the same race. Now we have two Muddles, reminding us all of Lingfield's owner Ron and both owned by his widow Christine. Iconic Muddle describes Ron well and the horse won a chase the season before…

Mark Of Gold ran in the much more valuable and competitive Lanzarote over this CD last month but didn't get further than the 2nd flight. He has a great strike rate - five from 11 - and if back in his pre-Lanzarote form, would have each-way claims.

Harbour Vision has had a productive winter but the handicapper may have his measure. This is a higher grade than where he was winning.

Bells Of Stamford had been running well over hurdles in the autumn and made a promising start when 3rd over fences at Market Rasen but then disapppointed at Huntingdon on Boxing Day. We've given him a wind-op since and hopefully he can resume where he left off at Market Rasen.

Can't Beat History made an improved performance last time and will appreciate today's better ground. He starts handicapping on a workable mark and has small each-way claims today.

Scrum Diddly has his third run after which he will be handicapped and then there should be easier opportunities. He's yet to show on the track what we see from him at home but even in this four-horse race he's likely to find the two favourites very hard to beat.

Last week Kitten's Dream continued his run of late finishes and again it was too late by a couple of lengths. He usually runs well though and if only he could banish those very sluggish starts, that finishing burst will eventually be rewarded with a win. Hopefully tonight.

Southwell is offering good prizemoney for the grade of race and that should be applauded. Far more lightly-raced than his rivals, Southwold has made a bright start to his career with a win on debut followed by a 3rd under a penalty. He is still learning his trade, wouldn't be as battle-hardened as his opponents…

Colonial Empire steps up markedly in grade but has a very handy weight. We think he will have improved for his most recent run but this is a tough race.

Twilight Glory took a huge step forward last time. I feel it is all clicking for him now and conditions today are perfect. The downside is that it's a big, competitive field but I believe he has strong each-way claims.

Cloud Dancer showed promise despite signs of greenness in a junior bumper at Cheltenham seven weeks ago. These juvenile hurdle races for NH qualified horses are a welcome innovation to the programme and we hope he can give the favourite a tough battle on jumping debut.

We won this last year with Porticello and hope that Bo Zenith can restore his reputation with a big run. Impressive on sole French start, he bombed at Sandown on stable debut but the ground was very testing that day. Hoping he can show his true ability today.

Hul Ah Bah Loo is still a maiden but is admirably consistent and is sure to find his races in time. He runs too well too often to ever get much help from the handicapper, and has run well here on most occasions. He is hard to discount if he gets a good run round…

Landlordofthestars is a big, strapping lad having his first handicapping run today. He is still a bit backward and may just need the run back from a break.

You Wear It Well was 2nd on racecourse debut last season and then won a bumper on her next start. She won on seasonal/hurdles debut and then bolted up next time out at Hexham. She then made a big step forward when runner-up to very smart  Hermes Allen in the Challow at Newbury, form which…

Since joining from Clive Cox last August, Sausolito's mark has dropped a fair way. The favourite in this 0-50 has an 8lb penalty and if Sausolito is on his game he could give the dual recent winner a run for his money.