Author: Ashley Symonds

The Flat is now in full swing, and we have another midweek meeting to look forward to with the Chester May Festival on our screens today.

We finished last week with a good day thanks to an 11/1 winner at Thirsk and, notably, the 4/1 winner of the 2000 Guineas, Ruling Court.

Let’s kick on, so here are today’s fancies on a tricky Chester card.

Chester May Festival Day 1 Selections

2:05 Chester – Kinetic Force @ 7/1 with William Hill (4 places) – 1pt EW

The five-furlong 0-88 handicap is a fun little race as just 4lbs separate the top weight and bottom weight. It’s almost like a standard Listed race!

So, you have to view the race slightly differently because it is such a tight handicap, and Kinetic Force is the pick.

The Land Force half-brother to Kings Lynn (Group 2 winner) and Collinsbay (Listed winner) is a speedy, speedy horse. He breaks out of the gates well and just guns it to the line.

I’m hopeful this will help him negate stall eight, especially with the useful Silvestre De Sousa onboard, and he ran some very good races against smart horses last season.

On his second start, he gave Mr Lightside (rated 102) a proper race at Redcar before running a fine race at Sandown in the Listed Dragon Stakes behind Aesterius (rated 109) and It Ain’t Two (rated 96). It’s a testing five furlongs at Sandown, and that showed late on.

I’m not too worried about his all-weather runs at the start of this year as he put them behind when bolting up at Bath in April with the tongue tie applied, and while this is Class 3 company and not a Class 5 race, he held himself well in good contests as a juvenile.

With four places available with William Hill, I’ll play him each-way.

4:45 Chester – Thunder Blue @ 8/1 with William Hill (4 places) – 1pt EW

Yes, it’s his first start of the season, but Thunder Blue looks rather interesting in this race.

He’s down to a mark of 88, which is the same rating he had when third to the runaway Jarraaf in the Shergar Cup last season over six furlongs. That race has had multiple form boosts from the winner, Venture Capital (2^nd) and Aramram (4^th).

The four-year-old by Blue Point also won at Wolverhampton off 85 last year, so his current rating shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

Although he is having his first start of the year, he ran a really creditable race on stable debut in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes over five furlongs last year, which offers hope that he can go well fresh.

He is drawn in stall one, he will like the quickening ground, and trying seven furlongs again is no issue at all. Connections flirted with this trip at Doncaster in September, but the ground came up soft, so he hasn’t had a true chance to show himself yet over this distance.

He was a pretty decent juvenile in 2023 as well, notably when running behind Jasour, Haatem, Lake Forest, and Iberian.

He looks like a good price to find out if he is raring to go.

Right, now that Punchestown is basically over, I think I’m done with the jumps, and that’s a good thing as it’s Newmarket 2000 Guineas Day.

The first Classic of the year is quite competitive, and the surrounding card is very interesting as well.

So, let’s find a winner or two.

Newmarket 2000 Guineas Day Selections

2:20 Newmarket – Dutch Decoy @ 9/1 with William Hill (4 places) – 1pt EW

Dutch Decoy has run in the last two renewals of the Suffolk Stakes, finishing fifth and second on both occasions, but with a lower mark, he has the ability to get his head in front.

He finished second last year to Liberty Lane, a horse who improved 12lbs subsequently, and he was ahead of Torito, who finished third in the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot on his next start.

The experienced eight-year-old raced off 90 last year and 88 in 2023, so this rating of 85 is very much workable, even more so when you look at his second to Toimy Son in the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood off 90.

His last winning mark (July 2023) was 90 as well, and he hasn’t been rated as low as 85 since July 2022. Yes, he is actually 2lbs wrong at the weights after his run at Ripon in April, but that race was purely used for race fitness, one would assume.

The Charlie Johnston yard have started to run into a bit of form, and with this very workable weight at a track he likes, Dutch Decoy could be the one.

2:35 Thirsk – Flight Plan @ 11/1 with Betfred (4 places) – 1pt EW

It seems like Karl Burke has worked back from the Thirsk Hunt Cup for Flight Plan, and after a promising comeback run at this track in April, he’s one to consider.

The Night Of Thunder entire has dropped 11lbs since his opening handicap mark of last season, though he still ran creditable races in Group company, notably when behind the likes of Tiber Flow, Poker Face, and See The Fire.

His run over seven furlongs at Thirsk on April 12^th was used solely as a preparation race for this, and the handicapper kindly dropped him by 1lb to a mark of 102 for his handicap debut.

For a first run of the season, he showed promise. He sat in his usual prominent position, but even when his rivals passed him, he didn’t exactly fade away. He stuck on.

Stall nine isn’t ideal, but that is probably factored into his price, and he looks like the classic Group/Listed horse lurking in handicap company.

As an each-way proposition, he is rather interesting

2:55 Newmarket – Washington Heights @ 5/1 with Betfred – 1pt Win

The Group 3 Palace House Stakes over the Newmarket five furlongs tends to suit horses who are strong stayers over five/six furlongs, which is why I think Washington Heights can take this.

He’s a horse who goes well fresh, which is positive as the five-year-old by Washington DC is having his first start in 76 days.

Previously, he won last year’s Group 3 Abernant Stakes over six furlongs off a 214-day break, and he finished second in the Dukhan Sprint at Al Uqda in February off a 133-day break.

He does stay six furlongs very well, but he also has smart form over five, notably when finishing sixth, fifth, and seventh in three five-furlong Group 1 contests last season.

That Abernant Stakes success shows he handles the Newmarket dip well, and he beat Mill Stream (Group 1 winner since), Spycatcher (Group 3 winner since), Mitbaahy (Group 2 winner since), Tiber Flow (Group 2 winner since), and Makarova (Group 1 winner since). Yep, that’s a good piece of form.

Kevin Ryan’s yard is in fair form (27% strike rate), so I think Washington Heights is the one to beat here.

3:35 Newmarket – Ruling Court @ 4/1 with William Hill – 1pt Win

William Buick has chosen Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas over Shadow Of Light, and this three-year-old by Justify is a horse I’ve liked for a while.

I, among many, was very impressed by his Sandown maiden success in July, and he put nearly six lengths between himself and the now 111-rated Stanhope Gardens.

Although he failed to win the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York, he ran into The Lion In Winter (who set a track record that day) and Wimbledon Hawkeye.

Wimbledon Hawkeye went on to win a Group 3 on his next start before finishing third in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at the end of the season. Field Of Gold did beat him in the Craven, in fairness, but John & Thady Gosden’s hope is priced accordingly.

He was entitled to win the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas at Meydan in March, but that run was still impressive, and it showed he’s trained on nicely from two to three.

On that form line with The Lion In Winter, Ruling Court must have a nice chance.

The end of this week is a real treat thanks to the Guineas meeting at Newmarket, and this article highlights my fancies for HQ as well as my Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 4 selections.

Shock, like Aintree and Cheltenham, Punchestown is causing a bit of displeasure. Petit Tonnerre winning yesterday’s two-mile handicap chase at 16/1 having finished a dismal ninth at Aintree (with my money on) was certainly a kick in the teeth.

The great game.

Anyway, I’ll put the miny violin down and pick out a few more horses for Friday.

Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 4 Selections

2:35 Goodwood – Toca Madera @ 11/2 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

Although there’s great action at Punchestown and Newmarket, Toca Madera makes good appeal over at Goodwood with their competitive card.

The four-year-old by Bated Breath started his season positively two weeks ago when second to Regal Envoy at Newmarket, and he should come on for the effort fitness-wise.

He won a Windsor handicap in the Racing League last season on good to firm ground off a mark of 94, so his rating of 96 looks workable, and Tommie Jakes’ 5lb claim puts him in a nice spot at the weights.

Including Jakes’ claim, he gets an 11lb swing in the weights with Shagraan based on their Goodwood clash in August 2024, and all that separated them that day was one length.

The pair met each other again at Haydock when Shagraan beat him by two lengths, but again, Toca Madera gets a 9lbs swing in the weights.

A look back at his two-year-old form is pleasing as well, as he finished a fine third to Vandeek on soft ground in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes, and he was also third in the Group 2 July Stakes to Jasour (rated 109) and Lake Forrest (rated 110).

With race fitness and a workable mark, he can get his head in front here.

4:05 Newmarket – Ambiente Friendly @ 11/4 with William Hill – 1pt Win

Looking at James Owen’s comments in the Racing Post, it seems like Ambiente Friendly has “come on a hell of a lot” for his first run of the season, so with this in mind, I’d fancy him to win the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes.

He stepped down to nine furlongs when running in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes 17 days ago, and with no pace in the race, he tried to make all.

He ran a fine race, but he was a sitting duck at the front end and was passed with two furlongs to go. However, Richard Hannon said that the Earl Of Setfon was Persica’s Gold Cup, and he was a much fitter horse on the day.

So, with race fitness now on Ambiente Friendly’s side, he looks like a bet in this, and his form from last season looks great.

He bolted up in the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes, finished second in the Epsom Derby, finished third in the Irish Derby, and finished a fine fifth in the Prix Niel on soft ground.

The form of that Prix Niel got a boost last month when Sosie won the Group 1 Prix Ganay, and running into the likes of City Of Troy and Los Angeles last season is not bad at all.

The tongue tie returning is an interesting move, but I’ll keep him on side here

4:15 Punchestown – Viroflay @ 11/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win

Olive Nicholls sends Viroflay to the 3m½f Champion Hunters Chase, and in an open race, he could be the answer.

I’ve had a good knack of backing horses who have been held up all week at Punchestown, and that really hasn’t gone well, but I’m confident this won’t be the case with this improving eight-year-old.

 He went from the front when second at Stratford, and he jumped well apart from the seventh fence. They went a slow gallop that day, and he was done by Barton Snow when it turned into a sprint in the home straight.

Barton Snow is a horse who raced over two miles under rules, so he probably just had more speed, and Barton Snow is a horse I fancy to win the opener at Cheltenham later this evening.

Viroflay put that behind him to bolt up at Kempton at short odds earlier this season, and returning to three miles on good ground should really suit based on his point-to-point successes.

The eight-year-old by Air Chief Marshal looked quite smart when winning a Wincanton juvenile hurdle in 2020 for Paul Nicholls, but he was then put on the sidelines for 770 days.

He looks to have retained that ability, and with his age, one can easily say he’s improved. I fancy him.

6:05 Punchestown – The Yellow Clay @ 13/8 with William Hill – 2pt Win

It’s hard to be confident at these prices with the current run of form, but putting that to one side, The Yellow Clay should win the Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle.

The Turners Novices’ Hurdle turned into a bit of a speed test at Cheltenham, and The New Lion eventually reeled him in on the run to the line.

On that form line, he has Final Demand beat, and I’m not overly sold on Final Demand racing over this distance on a sharper track. He looks like more of a stayer to me.

The Yellow Clay is a stayer for the future as well, but he doesn’t lack gears.

His form with Fleur In The Park, both when beating him by 12 lengths in November and a neck in December, looks stronger now after what he did earlier in the week, and he finished a good second at the course to Redemption Day in a bumper last year.

He should win this, but of course, this is a novice race. A few could improve.

We’re approaching the halfway point of the final ‘big’ National Hunt meeting of the season, and below are my Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 3 Selections.

There were a few eye-catching performances to note from yesterday.

Firstly, I still don’t know how Docklands didn’t win the second race at Ascot. Yes, I’m speaking from my pocket, but my conclusion is that he ran into quite a smart horse. The pair pulled four-and-a-half lengths clear of the third, Checkandchallenge, and they’ll both improve for the run.

Another horse to watch going forward is Fleur In The Park, who finished third to Jasmin De Vaux and Honesty Policy at Punchestown.

He jumped, he travelled, and he was still in contention approaching the last. He’s had a busy season, so a nice summer break will do him the world of good and fences next season can see him improve further.

Anyway, tomorrow, let’s go.

Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 3 Selections

3:05 Punchestown – Gabriel’s Getaway @ 12/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW

Anthony Honeyball loves a Punchestown runner (and winner), and this race looks like it’s been the plan for Gabriel’s Getaway.

His last win came at Doncaster in January 2024, but that was just two starts ago, so one can assume he had a setback between that win and his reappearance at the same track in March 2025.

He ran a fine race that day to finish fifth, beaten nine-and-three-quarter lengths, and the form of the race looks strong. The winner, Brookie, has placed in Grade 1 company since and the third, Calico, chased home Sans Bruit in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree.

This eight-year-old by Getaway loves good ground, so he should love this spin around Punchestown, and he represents a yard who have had three winners from 22 runners at Punchestown.

With a rating of 124, just 2lbs higher than his last winning mark, he can land another win this week for the Brits.

4:15 Punchestown – Bill Joyce @ 9/1 General & Ballybow @ 12/1 General (6 places) – 0.5pts EW both

We didn’t get to see Bill Joyce truly try handicap company at Aintree earlier in the month as he fell at the eighth hurdle, and with a 2lb lower mark, I’ll keep him on side in the fourth race at Punchestown.

His form with The New Lion and Regent’s Stroll from the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle is obvious, but he also beat Quebecois (rated 140) at Sandown in December in the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle.

It seems that Punchestown are watering pretty heavily throughout the week to keep the ground from being rattling, so as long as this is the case, he should have no issue on the surface.

I just think he is better than his rating of 134 suggests, and there must be a reason for connections to bring him over to Ireland.

The same case goes for Ballybow, who has an official rating of 128 despite finishing second to Air Of Entitlement, the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner, at Down Royal in December. He also gave 2lbs away that day.

At Clonmel in February, he beat Ballygunner Castle (rated 134), who has since finished third in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse. The form of that Fairyhouse race got a boost yesterday thanks to Fleur In The Park, as previously mentioned.

He won his Sligo bumper on yielding, and that run behind Air Of Entitlement came on good to yielding. Hopefully, that puts him in a good place to handle conditions.

5:25 Punchestown – Brookie @ 18/1 with Betfred (2 places) – 0.5pt EW

Yes, I’m having a swing at one against Majborough, and the horse I’m doing it with is Brookie. I’m officially an Anthony Honeyball fanboy.

He might be in no man’s land due to his handicap mark following his second in Grade 1 company at Aintree, but he put two lengths between himself and L’Eau Du Sud, which is better than what both Majborough and Only By Night did in the Arkle.

He also loves good ground having won on the surface twice, and the form of his Doncaster handicap win in March off 135 received a boost when Calico valiantly chased home Sans Bruit in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree.

He is his price for a reason, but he might just cause a surprise for Anthony Honeyball, who has a great Punchestown record.

6:00 Punchestown – Home By The Lee @ 12/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

I was very close to putting Teahupoo up in this race as I can’t fault his profile at the prices, but the fact that Home By The Lee beat Bob Olinger twice earlier in the season makes me inclined to chance him again.

Joseph O’Brien has taken the usual blinkers off, which is an interesting move that could bring out a better side of Home By The Lee. Based on his Aintree performance, this change will need to have a difference, but that surely wasn’t his true self.

The form of his win in the Grade 1 Savills Hurdle at Christmas is red-hot. Bob Olinger has won a Stayers’ Hurdle, Rocky’s Diamond has won a Galmoy Hurdle (and reappears here), and Hewick has won a Jimmy Neville Memorial Hurdle.

He’s won four races on yielding ground, two of which at Grade 1 level, so I’ll keep on side.

Day one over in Ireland pulled a few punters’ pants down yesterday, but we move on to Wednesday’s action with my Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 2 tips.

I’m not complaining about what occurred yesterday. Punting at Punchestown comes with a health warning, and yesterday showed that.

For my selections, Londonofficecallin had a proper task on his hands as he was positioned out of the back of the TV. He actually travelled well around the bend, but he found very little.

Brentford Hope, typically, was the wrong Harry Derham horse, and Lecky Watson fell. Frustrating.

We move.

Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 2 Tips

1:40 Ascot – Docklands @ 11/4 with William Hill – 1.5pt Win

Docklands seems fairly solid in the Listed Paradise Stakes, and despite all his good form with City Of Troy, Charyn, and Via Sistina, he gets in here without a penalty.

He finished second in this race last year when Quddwah collared him late on; the winner went on to win the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes on his next start before finishing third to Charyn in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois.

Furthermore, the third, Maljoom, went on to finish second to Notable Speech in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes, third to Charyn in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, and third to Soul Rush in the Group 1 Dubai Turf.

So, last year’s race worked out well, and much like tomorrow’s assignment, it came on his first start of the season.

Docklands confirmed that form when finishing one place ahead of Maljoom in the Queen Anne Stakes, and before running in Australia towards the end of the year, he was a fine seventh in the Group 1 Juddmonte International.

His runs in the Cox Plate, TAB Champions Stakes, and Hong Kong Mile weren’t amazing, but connections clearly think plenty of this Massaat five-year-old to target these races in the first place.

This is a stark drop in company, and with a few of these potentially needing the run, he could just be too good.

3:05 Punchestown – Downmexicoway @ 6/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

Downmexicoway has shown glimpses of class so far over hurdles, and with a nice pipe opener at Fairyhouse in a Grade 2 earlier in the month, this race looks like it has been the target for a while.

He won his point-to-point on good ground easily, and his first success under rules came on good to yielding at Down Royal in December, so he clearly likes nicer ground.

There are also bits of his pedigree that show nicer ground is his preference. His dam, On The Way Home, is a Flemensfirth half-brother to Get Me Out Of Here (peak rating of 160) who won a Grade 2 on good to soft, a valuable Newbury handicap on good to soft, and finished second in the 2010 Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the same ground.

In his first three starts over hurdles, he was positioned very prominently, and he ran well on all those occasions. Darragh O’Keeffe had this six-year-old at the rear of the field on his comeback run in the Grade 2 Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle, so that run looked like a pipe-opener.

Still, the form of that Grade 2 was boosted thanks to Irancy yesterday.

I’m not sure this is the strongest race tomorrow, and he’s a lightly-raced six-year-old who can continue to improve.

4:50 Punchestown – Kalypso’chance @ 11/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win

I fancied Kalypso’chance in the Champion Bumper and he was disappointing, but I’ll chance him again to reverse the form with Bambino Fever.

I still maintain that his first success at Punchestown in November was one of the more impressive bumper performances I’ve seen this season, and he backed that up at Navan in a Listed race in December.

That Navan success saw him beat Heads Up by four-and-a-half lengths, and John McConnell’s five-year-old finished one-and-a-half lengths behind Bambino Fever at the Festival in the Champion Bumper.

The five-year-old was well-backed ahead of Cheltenham, which is notable, and it was his first start for three months.

Maybe the combination of freshness and the occasion got to him because he was fairly keen?

He’s a better horse than what he showed on his last start, so I’ll chance him here.

6:05 Punchestown – Visionarian @ 22/1 with William Hill (4 places) – 0.5pt EW

Visionarian has dropped 6lbs in the five runs since his Grade 2 success at the start of the season, and this could just be enough to see him run well back in handicap company.

The 10-year-old has won five of his seven races when going right-handed, and while he hasn’t won at the track yet, he finished a respectable second to Adamantly Chosen in 2022 on his sole start at the course.

Although his last winning mark in handicaps came in 2021 (!) when he won off 123, this mark of 145 is his lowest rating since February 2022, and his fifth in the 2023 Galway Plate off 148 suggests he can go well off a lower rating.

Before he moved to Gavin Cromwell’s yard ahead of this season, he finished second to Saint Roi in a Grade 1 novice chase in December 2022 and third to Banbridge in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase.

Yes, that form was from a few seasons ago, but it shows how classy he is, and his win over Minella Indo in the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase in October 2024 shows he still retains some of that ability.

Having been freshened up since his poor effort in the Galway Plate, he is weighted to go well if he is sharp enough. I have a small worry that this race could bring him on for the Galway Plate, but I’d like to hope he is prepared to win this.

The UK jumps season may be over, but Ireland still has something left to give, and below are my Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 1 Tips.

We finished the UK jumps season in fine fashion at Sandown on Saturday thanks to a 14/1 winner and 20/1 place, collecting 6.3pts of profit.

Hopefully, the form can continue with Punchestown and the Guineas Festival on our agenda.

Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 1 Tips

3:05 Punchestown – Londonofficecallin @ 9/1 General (6 places) – 0.5pt EW

The Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series is a nice little concept, and as such, it has attracted a competitive field for the final.

9/1 almost seems too skinny for a 20-runner race, but Londonofficecallin looked good when winning a qualifier for this in January, and I want to keep him on side.

He won by two-and-three-quarter lengths in January, but he should be fine on a potentially quicker Punchestown surface based on his Flat pedigree and his wins on good and good to yielding previously.

Daniel King keeps the ride, which is interesting as one can imagine that he would have had the choice between Denis Hogan’s Bright Legend and Gavin Cromwell’s Londonofficecallin.

This is just his third start over hurdles for Cromwell, and I hope that the reason he’s been saved for this race is because they don’t want to ruin his handicap mark for the final.

He won the qualifier impressively, and he will be a fresher horse than some of these who have had busier seasons. Therefore, he is on the team.

3:40 Punchestown – Brentford Hope @ 9/1 with Betfred (5 places) – 1pt EW

I feel like Brentford Hope has to be kept on side in the third race at Punchestown on Tuesday for a number of reasons.

Firstly, he ran in this race last year off a 3lb higher mark, and he ran into Daddy Long Legs that day, who was in receipt of 8lbs from Harry Derham’s son of Camelot.

Daddy Long Legs has won a Grade 3, finished third in a Grade 3 to Brighterdaysahead, chased home State Man in a Grade 1, and finished second to Absurde in the Sussex Champion Hurdle subsequently.

As for Brentford Hope, he has chased home both Rubaud and Constitution Hill in two separate Grade 2s this season, yet he gets to rock up to Punchestown off 140, and there doesn’t seem to be any Daddy Long Legs-type horse in this field.

Derham runs two, and Paul O’Brien has chosen his other runner, Ascending Lark. She has to be respected, but I’m not looking too much into the jockey bookings. O’Brien was onboard for four of her last five wins, while Johnny Burke partnered Brentford Hope to finish second to Constitution Hill in the Unibet Hurdle.

Therefore, he’s the one.

4:50 Punchestown – Lecky Watson @ 11/4 with Betfred – 1pt Win

Lecky Watson landed a minor surprise when winning the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, and there aren’t many reasons to suggest he can’t land another Grade 1 success.

Ballyburn was disappointing at the Festival. His jumping was poor, and he didn’t exactly gallop up the Cheltenham hill like a horse who was in love with three miles.

Yes, Paul Townend has kept his faith in him, and he is clearly a good animal, but I’m in no rush to back him again.

As for Lecky Watson, he’s an improving seven-year-old who does stay, and he is ground versatile. He’s won on yielding and good to soft before, so the Punchestown surface should cause no worries.

He’s three from three over fences, he won at Punchestown over 2m3f½f in January, he hasn’t had a hard season, and Sean O’Keeffe keeps the ride.

He seems like the solid play here, and his price is pretty reasonable considering what he did around Prestbury Park.

Just on the others, I’m not sure Impaire Et Passe has been crying out for a step up to three miles, Slade Steel could well bounce back (he is on the shortlist at a price), and both Stellar Story and Gorgeous Tom should be held by Lecky Watson based on the Brown Advisory.

Similar distance concerns surround Ile Atlantique, and I’m happy to let Champ Kiely and Don’t Rightly Know go off unbacked at their prices.

It’s here, the final day of the UK jumps season proper, so it’s only right to put forward my Sandown Jumps Finale Day 2025 selections.

I have to hold my hands up for the recent form. It’s not great, and I’m not happy with some of the selections.

So, I have to adapt and alter to change this fortune, so let’s hope that comes into effect quickly.

Sandown Jumps Season Finale Day 2025

1:20 Sandown – Marche d’Aligre @ 33/1 with William Hill (4 places) – 0.5pt EW

Jamie Snowden gave me Marche d’Aligre as a horse to follow earlier this season, and on his handicap debut, he’s worth following.

Four-year-olds have a good record in this race (two winners since 2018) because they get 8lbs from their elders, and Snowden’s son of Seahenge is lightly raced coming into this.

He’s had just four runs over hurdles, starting with a facile win at Wetherby before his run in a Grade 2 at Chepstow.

He finished behind the well-fancied French raider Nietzsche Has that day, with Hot Fuss (Fred Winter fourth) nearly four lengths behind.

He showed enough promise during that Grade 2 effort to suggest he could be better than his handicap mark of 119 suggests, even if he was beaten at short odds last month when qualifying for this race.

1:50 Sandown – Classic Anthem @ 7/2 with William Hill (1pt Win) & Mark Of Gold @ 16/1 with William Hill (3 places, 0.5 EW)

I don’t think there are many well-handicapped horses in the Josh Gifford Novices’ Chase, which is why Classic Anthem and Mark Of Gold appeal.

Let’s start with Classic Anthem. He has some nice bits of form over fences this season, notably his second to Brookie off 118 on his chasing debut.

The winner has improved 20lbs thanks to a Class 2 Doncaster handicap chase success and his second to Kalif Du Berlais in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase.

I think Anthony Honeyball believes Brookie is a genuine Graded chaser, so to run into him that day at Sandown was unlucky.

Classic Anthem arrives here on the back of an impressive success over this course and distance, and he’s only 5lbs higher. He could still have wiggle room in his mark.

As for Mark Of Gold, his Graded form looks really good in this company, and a mark of 144 is just 2lbs higher than his last winning rating.

He tried to give weight away to Rubaud when third in the Grade 2 Pendil Novices’ Chase, and the second, Boombawn, ran a fine race in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase on his next start.

He can win this race with his classy edge around a right-handed track on nice ground.

2:25 Sandown – Appreciate It @ 20/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 0.5pt EW

I like Gaelic Warrior as a horse, but with his price, I’ll let him go off at that price without my money.

Instead, for a bit of value, I’ll chance Appreciate It at a wild price. It’s easy to forget that this horse split Fastorslow and Galopin Des Champs once upon a time in the 2023 John Durkan.

That form speaks for itself, and his record in races on nicer ground is better than expected. He won on good ground at Thurles two starts ago and he finished a very respectable fifth in last season’s Punchestown Gold Cup on good to yielding ground.

He’s had eight runs in races between 2m3f and 2m5f, producing a win, a second in the John Durkan, a fourth in the 2023 Turners Novices’ Chase, a third in the 2023 WillowWarm Gold Cup, and a third in his point-to-point behind Envoi Allen.

That’s not a bad record, and having run in the Grand National earlier this month, he should appreciate coming back to a more reasonable assignment.

He’s very interesting if he’s on his A-game.

3:00 Sandown – Lucky Place @ 11/4 with William Hill – 1pt Win

It would be remiss of me to ditch Lucky Place after his run in the Stayers’ Hurdle, for the simple reason that he just didn’t enjoy his experience.

On his first start at three miles, he sat prominently at a strong pace, and what would you know, he didn’t see out the trip.

Still, he can be forgiven for that, and three miles around a flatter track might suit him further down the line, but for now, dropping back in trip is a positive.

He has looked good this season, winning the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle and the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle, the latter under penalty.

He has the beating of Blueking d’Oroux based on Ascot, and he has Salver beaten based on Cheltenham.

With the trip, ground, and track likely to suit, I’m sticking with him.

4:10 Sandown – Dancing City @ 6/1 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt Win

Yes, I am worried that Paul Townend has chosen High Class Hero, but Dancing City was my early shout for this race, and I’m sticking with him.

The case is there. It’s his handicap debut, he’s ground versatile, and he’s a very classy horse who gets to run off 10-11 in this company.

That class started over hurdles when beating the likes of The Jukebox Man, High Class Hero, Better Days Ahead, Stellar Story, and Lecky Watson.

Over fences, he looked good on his chasing debut before beating Bioluminescence. The form of that race can be questioned, but on heavy ground around Naas, a bit of leniency can be applied.

He seemed to be lobbing around Aintree in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase before taking a chance at the 14^th, but hopefully he is none the worse for the fall.

The Joe Donnelly-owned eight-year-old has the ability to win this, and with Grangeclare West holding the weights up, he is my pick.

All eyes will be on tomorrow’s jumps season finale, but first, Sandown Classic Trial Day will be on our screens on Friday afternoon.

It looks like a tricky day at the Esher track, but hopefully these horses can make the pockets feel heavier at the end of the day.

Sandown Classic Trial Day

3:00 Sandown – Alcantor @ 9/2 with Betfred – 1pt Win

The Group 2 bet365 Mile is a competitive contest, but Alcantor has a number of things going for him, and he is a nice price at 5/1.

Firstly, like Dancing Gemini, he has race fitness on his side, and there was only a quarter of a length that separated the pair in last year’s French 2000 Guineas.

Alcantor did plenty of early work in the French 2000 Guineas to negate his wide draw, so the performance can be upgraded.

This isn’t the first time Andre Fabre has sent this son of New Bay over to the UK; he came over for the Craven last season, but his sixth of eight was poor.

He was sent off 2/1 that day on his first run of the season, which is notable, yet he does have form to reverse with Haatem based on this form line.

I wonder if Richard Hannon’s Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up will need the run after 307 days, and his best form came on good or better last season.

Having beaten Marhaba Ya Sanafi at Saint-Cloud last month, he should come on for that effort, and with the worries about Haatem, he gets the vote.

4:45 Sandown – Gunship @ 11/4 with William Hill – 1pt Win

Gunship has the unexposed profile, the big-race entries, and the pedigree to suggest he can win the finale at Sandown off 82.

He’s had just two runs, winning one and finishing second at Southwell last month to Michael Scofield. The winner from his last race went on to finish fourth in the Listed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle.

He therefore has race fitness on a few of his rivals, and he is also a Sea The Stars half-brother to the Group 1 winner Phoenix Of Spain.

Yes, he may not be a Derby winner in waiting, but he holds an entry for the 1m4f Epsom Classic as well as the Irish equivalent, suggesting that he could be a lot better than his opening mark of 82.

He may fall into the ‘hype horse’ category, but I’m happy to chance him.

The week of madness is coming to an end, but before we finish, Irish Grand National Day from Fairyhouse is under the microscope.

There were just two selections yesterday, though both failed to return any profit. The form lines for Alien Storm were franked thanks to Hugos New Horse in the fourth race, but he was quite poor, which was strange as he is a Plumpton specialist.

Hasard was running well in the Sussex Champion Hurdle before he was almost stopped in his tracks by the ill-fated Spirit D’Aunou. He would have placed yesterday, so he certainly looks like a well-handicapped horse to watch going forward, maybe even in the Swinton Hurdle.

Anyway, it’s Irish Grand National Day, so let’s dive in.

Irish Grand National Day 2025

2:35 Plumpton – Aucunrisque @ 11/2 with William Hill (3 places) – 1pt EW

Chris Gordon at Plumpton; enough said.

No, but seriously, Aucunrique is a well-handicapped animal in this race, and Charlie Maggs’ 5lb claim in the saddle further boosts the case that he is well-weighted to go nicely.

Yes, it’s roughly 16 months since he jumped a fence in public, but when he did jump the larger obstacles in the 2022-23 season, he finished second to Boothill off level weights and he beat Jetoile in a novice chase at Uttoxeter.

Over hurdles, he has won with ratings of 129, 138, 133, and 117. The former was his most-recent success, so he is just 1lb higher than that effort, and he beat some nice horses at Ascot in November.

Alinam (second) has improved 9lbs since, Mirabad (third) has improved 9lbs, and Break My Soul (fourth) has improved 14lbs thanks to some nice Grade 1 and 3 form in the book.

With two wins, one second, and one third to his name around Plumpton, the course is no issue, and this is the first time he’s getting his preferred good ground since he won at Ascot five months ago.

3:45 Plumpton – Illegal d’Ainay @ 10/1 with William Hill (3 places) – 0.5pt EW

Chris Gordon at Plumpton; enough said.

Plumpton’s target trainer did have two in the 2m4½f novices’ handicap hurdle before Confinentic was declared a non-runner, but before this decision was made, I was still interested in his apparent second string, Illegal d’Ainay.

His last two runs came in slower conditions, so forgiveness is easy to find, though he still finished a respectable third and fourth on both occasions.

The winner from his Windsor run two starts back, Ma Shantou, finished third in the Grade 2 River Don Novices’ Hurdle on his next start to give the form some substance.

As for other bits of form, he went off a well-backed 7/2 when winning a Plumpton novice hurdle over two miles in May. The second, Global Esteem, has won three since, one of those successes saw him beat the useful Dodger Long.

He’s a strong travelling horse who jumps well and likes good ground. Those traits tick plenty of boxes for a contest like this, especially when considering he’s only had five runs under rules, and his course experience is valuable as well.

As an each-way proposition, he looks like a very interesting one.

5:00 Fairyhouse – Search For Glory @ 28/1 with Betfred (6 places) – 0.5pt EW

I’ve had Search For Glory and staying distances in my mind all season, and the Irish Grand National could well be the race to see him at his best.

Funnily enough, the horse first entered my mind when he finished second in the Grade 3 Surehual Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle in 2023. He kept on like a dower stayer behind Monty’s Star (Cheltenham Gold Cup fourth) and Hiddenvalley Lake (Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle winner) that day, so there’s hope he can see out the trip.

He ran a fine race in the Ultima Handicap Chase on his last start, but mistakes at the fourth, second, and last fences (yes, that many) cost him lengths.

Still, he stayed on nicely under Sam Ewing, who interestingly keeps the ride ahead of Gordon Elliott’s other six runners, but better ground in that style of race caught him out.

He’s won on soft, soft to heavy, and heavy ground throughout his career, so the slower conditions are no problem, and his form over fences of beating Sa Majeste (Kim Muir third) and finishing a neck second to Stellar Story (Brown Advisory second) looks good for a horse rated 143.

His run behind Impaire Et Passe and Jordans in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase over 2m3½f has also worked out.

I could see him outrunning his odds.

Willie Mullins vs Dan Skelton continues this weekend with Sunday’s Plumpton Sussex Champion Hurdle Day, and this piece highlights two selections to consider.

Saturday’s selections for the column can be filed in the ‘unfortunate’ section of the filing cabinet, mainly due to the eye-catching finish of Got Grey over at Haydock.

Let’s hope for a nice rub of the green today.

Plumpton Sussex Champion Hurdle Day

2:20 Plumpton – Alien Storm @ 7/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win

I think the second race at Plumpton on Sunday is between the market principles, and while Bob Bob Ricard has his chance, it’s Alien Storm who I like.

He’s a course specialist with three wins, one third, and one fall, and he last won at the track over two furlongs further three starts ago on soft ground.

It’s fair to say his best form comes on better ground, so that was a fair effort, and he beat Diplomatic Ash that day who has won twice since.

He comes back to 2m1f today which should be no problem as he won nicely over this course and distance in September off a 8lb lower mark.

The seven-year-old has thrived over fences this season, and I don’t think his mark of 121 is unreasonable at all. He beat the 135-rated Our Champ in a novice hurdle at the track in October 2022, and he had a chance to beat Our Champ in September 2023 when giving 7lbs away if not for falling at the last.

There’s a reasonable case to back him here, so he’s the vote.

4:05 Plumpton – Hansard @ 17/2 with William Hill (3 places) – 0.5pt EW

It’s a really warm renewal of the Sussex Champion Hurdle this year. Thank you, Mr Mullins.

Even away from Closutton, horses like Our Champ and Tounsivator represent good form, but I want to give Hansard another chance.

I backed him at both Cheltenham and Aintree this season, the latter was the most promising run when finishing a fine ninth.

It was his first try at 2m4f, and he gave me a really good run for my money until he belted the second-last hurdle and found the extra few furlongs too much work.

He’s dropped down to a mark of 139, which is 1lb higher than the rating he had when he won the Gerry Feilden in 2023, beating Brentford Hope and Bad.

He will pop up soon, and with drying conditions aiding his chance, his day can feasibly be today.