1.30
For some time now I have been sitting on a voucher with UNIVERSAL SOLDIERâs name on it. He is a classy horse with very few miles on the clock. Charlie Longsdon is confident that he will stay and he is still open to improvement at the trip. Harry The Viking is an obvious danger and both Teaforthree and Soll will not be far away.
2.05
Simonsig has done nothing wrong and is a worthy favourite but I think the Irish may turn out to have a very strong hand in this. Sous Les Cieux has obvious credentials but one I think is on a sharp upward curve is MONKSLAND and I think he is the value in the race.
2.40
The RSA is all about GRAND CRUS and Bobs Worth. Pipeâs horse has for me by far the best profile and he is a confident selection.
3.20
The only opposition to SIZING EUROPE evaporated when Somersby declared for the Ryanair. His demolition of Big Zeb last month was stunning and I think he will win cosily here.
4.00
This is all about the trip regarding Balgarry. If he stays he wins for me as he is probably a good ten pounds better than his rating. However he is not certain to get the trip and may just get caught out by the stiff finish. One I really like is Featherbed Lane and I think Pip Hobbs has done a very sensible thing in having a claimer ride him, he is a classy animal and in with a real chance. Abergaveny is another who comes into my reckoning. Has improved in leaps and bounds this season and run well in very good company but my tentative selection is CAPE DUTCH who is still open to any amount of improvement. Jack Quinlan takes a handy five pounds off and it would be fitting for him to have a winner on one of the stables slightly lesser stars this week.
4.40
Veiled will rightly go off favourite and is possibly the best handicapped horse of the week. Very little value however so I prefer to look elsewhere and his biggest danger could be his nearest neighbour in the form of ARDLUI. He carries less weight than his stablemate and arguably has the more scope. At 25-1 he is certainly a decent price and the better value of the two. Another 25-1 shot that I must have a saver on is Jackies Solitaire. I really like this filly as she is all guts, just the thing you need in a competitive Festival handicap. She has snuck in on a very low weight and whilst not the strongest Rachel Green does get on well with her. I will be amazed if she isnât somewhere in the firing line turning for home.
5.15
Having backed Champagne Fever at 20-1 I have to say that I donât fancy him one bit! If he wins I will be delighted but I honestly see better chances with the home team having a strong hand with New Years Eve, Royal Guardsman and Sir Johnson who has been âkeptâ for this. The Irish have their usual strong team headed by Moscow Mannon and Jezki. If it had come up soft Clonbanan Lad would have been the easy pick but it isnât so in one of the least inspiring Festival bumpers I have seen my pick is VILLAGE VIC. Touched off by Shutthefrontdoor last time many will think that Horatio Hornblower will improve past him but the Hobbs team are in better form now and I think conditions will suit him perfectly.
Best of luck everyone
For some time now I have been sitting on a voucher with UNIVERSAL SOLDIERâs name on it. He is a classy horse with very few miles on the clock. Charlie Longsdon is confident that he will stay and he is still open to improvement at the trip. Harry The Viking is an obvious danger and both Teaforthree and Soll will not be far away.
2.05
Simonsig has done nothing wrong and is a worthy favourite but I think the Irish may turn out to have a very strong hand in this. Sous Les Cieux has obvious credentials but one I think is on a sharp upward curve is MONKSLAND and I think he is the value in the race.
2.40
The RSA is all about GRAND CRUS and Bobs Worth. Pipeâs horse has for me by far the best profile and he is a confident selection.
3.20
The only opposition to SIZING EUROPE evaporated when Somersby declared for the Ryanair. His demolition of Big Zeb last month was stunning and I think he will win cosily here.
4.00
This is all about the trip regarding Balgarry. If he stays he wins for me as he is probably a good ten pounds better than his rating. However he is not certain to get the trip and may just get caught out by the stiff finish. One I really like is Featherbed Lane and I think Pip Hobbs has done a very sensible thing in having a claimer ride him, he is a classy animal and in with a real chance. Abergaveny is another who comes into my reckoning. Has improved in leaps and bounds this season and run well in very good company but my tentative selection is CAPE DUTCH who is still open to any amount of improvement. Jack Quinlan takes a handy five pounds off and it would be fitting for him to have a winner on one of the stables slightly lesser stars this week.
4.40
Veiled will rightly go off favourite and is possibly the best handicapped horse of the week. Very little value however so I prefer to look elsewhere and his biggest danger could be his nearest neighbour in the form of ARDLUI. He carries less weight than his stablemate and arguably has the more scope. At 25-1 he is certainly a decent price and the better value of the two. Another 25-1 shot that I must have a saver on is Jackies Solitaire. I really like this filly as she is all guts, just the thing you need in a competitive Festival handicap. She has snuck in on a very low weight and whilst not the strongest Rachel Green does get on well with her. I will be amazed if she isnât somewhere in the firing line turning for home.
5.15
Having backed Champagne Fever at 20-1 I have to say that I donât fancy him one bit! If he wins I will be delighted but I honestly see better chances with the home team having a strong hand with New Years Eve, Royal Guardsman and Sir Johnson who has been âkeptâ for this. The Irish have their usual strong team headed by Moscow Mannon and Jezki. If it had come up soft Clonbanan Lad would have been the easy pick but it isnât so in one of the least inspiring Festival bumpers I have seen my pick is VILLAGE VIC. Touched off by Shutthefrontdoor last time many will think that Horatio Hornblower will improve past him but the Hobbs team are in better form now and I think conditions will suit him perfectly.
Best of luck everyone

