Thursday was another good day, with the days only selection winning really nicely down at Taunton, bringing in healthy profit & its been a nicely profitable week in total with just 3 selections returning 2 winners & an EW placed. Big Saturday's racing ahead especially with the first big meeting of the NH season at Cheltenham but as usual i like to approach these days with caution & in complete honesty any serious betting is usually minimal on these 'big' saturday's, the racing at the big meetings should be enjoyed for what it is & not necessarily from a betting point of view. Have gone for a few small EW's over at Cheltenham that could go well & a double elsewhere which looks worth being on. Will be having a look through tonight's AW card at Wolves, is anything comes up then it will be posted on here later on this afternoon.
DOUBLE TO WIN - 5 Points 15/8
1340 - Uttoxeter - ASHES HOUSE = WON
15:50 - Wetherby - BLAKEMOUNT = WON
Starting with the Uttoxeter race, Rebecca Curtis' charge looks to have been found a good opportunity on just his third outing over hurdles. This gelding was twice a bumper winner & last time out over C&D he ran a very close second just in behind one of Jonjo O'neill's yards expensive purchase's & he was well clear of the rest of the field. That run was very encouraging & considering that was his first run for nearly a year he should be all the better for it. Conditions are very similar to that day so there should be no concern there & on the face of it this looks an easier race on paper. To sum up ASHES HOUSE performed with great credit last time in a stronger race & if he is able to reproduce that let alone show any improvement he can go very close & looks a nice first part to the double. On to BLAKEMOUNT, this 5 year old irish point winner comes into this for just his second outing over timber & he shaped with plenty of promise on debut when only beaten a few lengths into third over the same trip (20f) at Carlisle & he was a massive 26 lengths clear of the rest of the field that day. With condition's very similar here today he looks to have been found a race where if he is showing the same promise as on debut he can go really well. All in all this looks again a weaker race & he comes into with the best previous form. The double at 15/8 looks a decent bet & is worth the 5 points in my eyes.
Cheltenham -
13:50 - TOUR DES CHAMPS - 1 Point EW 7/1 = LOST (6th) & GODSMEJUDGE - 1 Point EW 7/1 = LOST (5th)
This staying chase over 3 mile 3 furlongs is a tough test for even the best handicap chasers & previous form around the famous Cheltenham course is usually essential when looking for decent prospects here, these two have both turned in decent efforts around here in recent times & both look as though they can go well again. Starting with the Twiston Davies trained TOUR DES CHAMPS, this 6 year old gelding turned in a respectable effort at last season's March meeting here over 25f finishing 8th of 24 in what is essentially a better level of race, that form was respectable but he looked much better when attempting the longer trip in the Scottish Grand National & ran a very respectable 4th. He looked better than ever when making his seasonal reappearance round here just 4 weeks ago & finished a solid second in a similar class of race to this one behind the impressive Balthazar King, this form looks strong considering Balthazar won again next time out around Cheltenham yesterday in the cross country chase. TOUR DES CHAMPS stayed on well in that race last time out over 25f & the step up to 28 today is surely on the plus side, he looks to be really well in off the weights carrying 10 st 1b & there should be no problems with the forecast ground since he has shown form on both good & soft ground, overall if he is in the same mood as last time out he can put in a good showing & looks worth a small bet EW.
Onto GODSMEJUDGE & the 7 year old Alan King trained gelding was the model of consistency last year in staying chase events, in his four runs he never finished out of the places & was twice a winner, most notably when picking up the Scottish Grand National in fine style on his last run of the season. He has shown good form around here which is certainly important, was far from disgraced when running a solid 3rd in the John Oaksey chase at last season's march festival. While this trip of 28f may not be completely his best trip he has won at shorter so there should be no real worries there for this real genuine stayer. He has also performed on a variety of grounds so no cause for concern in that department either. He is making his seasonal reappearance but he ran well fresh last season so could well be up to putting in a good show after a break once again. His win in the Scottish Grand National & his close 2nd in the Betfred Classic Chase at Warwick is some of the best form on offer in this race & if up to the task on his reappearance he is another who can go well & looks worth a little punt EW.
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