HOPING FOR ANOTHER GOOD WEEK: I managed to get some nice winners on the column last week so I’m hoping that I’ll be able to steer you in the right direction again today and we’ll have more winners tomorrow.
The Welsh National looks like it will be a very tricky race. The ground is likely to be very soft, if it goes ahead at all, and it’s going to be a real stamina test around Chepstow tomorrow. Sometimes my sister’s method of just sticking a pin in the card or going by the colours you like is best!
Mountainous won the race two years ago in a great finish with Hawkes Point and Tidal Bay when running from out of the handicap on the day. He’s now rated below what he was that day off 132, he won the race off 137 and although he has more weight to carry, this isn’t as strong a race as it was that day.
Although he’s without a win since that day, he’s run some good races and the ground will be in his favour. He looks like a horse that will just stay all day long and I’m siding with him to regain his crown.
If the ground is bottomless, as they’re expecting, Bob Ford would have to come into calculations. His wins have all come when the ground is almost unraceable like at Ffos Las last time and in last year’s West Wales Grand National. He is definitely one that is not going to stop at the finish but you’d have to have a small worry about him being able to travel with them early on. If he travels early on and is there or thereabouts with four or five to jump, he could run into a place.
The other big race on the day is the Lanzarote Hurdle over in Kempton and the one I like here is Ibis Du Rheu from the Paul Nicholls yard. This looks like being a good race. He’s a lightly raced sort but the penny looks like it’s dropping with him now. His first run of the season came at the end of November in a good race at Newbury having been off since February so that will have been a good pipe opener for him. The tongue tie should also help him to settle and getting weight from some of the other principles will also be in his favour.
On the All Weather tomorrow, there’s a horse running for David Simcock in the second race at Lingfield. He was quite unlucky first time out and David’s horses generally improve for their first run and I think he’s definitely one that will have plenty of improvement in him. He could be hard to beat in that race.
Also tomorrow, the Conditions race at 2.30 looks competitive despite having a small field. Complicit is having his first run since August and it’s his first run back at Lingfield since finishing second to Tryster in the All Weather Championships last April. That race wasn’t run to suit him but coming back off a break and back to Lingfield will be a big help to him and I think he’ll go close.
Last week, I tipped a horse that I rode in the July Cup, Lancelot Du Lac and he duly obliged. I think he’s going to be a sprinter to follow on the All Weather Championships this year. He’s much better being handy during his races and I think connections are keen to keep him with that style of running. He doesn’t necessarily need to make the running but it’s nice for a jockey that they can have that option if needed. He’s good over five furlongs but for Lingfield, six would be perfect for him and he’s one we’ll keep an eye throughout the remainder of the Championships.
DARTS WAS GREAT… NOW ONTO THE SNOOKER
The Darts Final last week was brilliant. I went with my sister, we had a meal beforehand and it was a great night out. I think no matter who plays, Darts is a great experience and I don’t think anyone would have minded if Van Barneveld had won either. Gary Anderson played really well though and he’s a deserving winner.
The UK Masters is my favourite Snooker tournament and it starts this Sunday with Ding Junhui and Stuart Bingham. Ding Junhui is one of my favourite player so I’m especially looking forward to seeing him playing.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is my favourite of all though. He’s an incredible player and so much is talked about how sportspeople prepare for events but the mental preparation is, in many cases, more important. When Ronnie is in the right frame of mind, he’s unbelievable to watch and I hope the brilliant Ronnie O’Sullivan turns up for this.
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