Monday 26th December
1.42 Fontwell - Rays The One 10/1 (Hills,Lads,Coral,BFred)
Open race and quite a difficult one to solve but ive decided on last time winner RAYS THE ONE as my solution . His lto win over todays CD was quite eyecatching and if in the same sort of mood here i think hes going to go very close. Two from three over todays CD and hes won on the going before. Trainer Mark Pattison brings just this one to the meeting and he has a 50% strike rate over the past month , along with a profit of +£10.00 , and when sending runners to the course this season he has a 50% strike rate (and a profit of +£9.00). So the fact that hes sent just this one her caught my eye. Jockey Marc Goldstein has ridden the horse once before resulting in a 6th place. Over the past fortnight hes got a 25% strike rate and at Fontwell this season hes got an 18.5% strike rate. Not a definite but at the price worth a pop imho.
1.47 Huntingdon - Poker Master 4/1 (Hills,Lads,Coral,BFred)
Another difficult looking race where a few look to hold chances but im going to side with the inform POKER MASTER whose going for the three timer. Since coming back from a break has notched up a couple of CD victories under his beltand hopefully today he can make it 3/3 this season. Seems to kike it here as he's 2 from 3 over CD and 4 from 5 at the course and despite going up another 4lb i can see him making his presence felt. To be honest he's been very consistent since Tom Buckley took over the reins earlier this year - 1,1,1,3,1,1 so the pair have notched up quite an impressive partnership. Over the past two weeks the jockey has got a 33% strike rate and in the past month the trainer , Philip McBride , has a none too shabby 37.5% strike rate and when the pair have teamed up in the past three weeks theyve got a 100% strike rate. Despite the fact of the horses rise in the weights i think everything points to another solid run.
2.35 Newcastle - Heroique De Maulde 7/2 (365)
And another open looking race where a case could be made for a few of the participants but HEROIQUE DE MAULDE looks as though he should go well after being touched off by a short head last time out on his British debut. Could be said that he was a tad unlucky last time but im sure that the trainer and jockey will be looking to make amends this time round. The thing that caught my eye is that the winner of the race , Hidden Commander , has gone in again since and in the aforementioned race the pair of them were 11 lengths ahead of the third home so the form looks as though it could be solid. Brian Hughes back in the saddle , and you know that hes gonna be trying , been riding well of late with an 18.5% strike rate over the past month , whilst his SR at Newcastle over the past 5 years is a decent 20.5%. Trainer James Ewart has managed a 33% strike rate over the past two weeks and sends just this one out from his Scottish base so that could be a message of intent in itself. If running like he did last time has to hold a serious chance here.
1.35 Wetherby - Zanza 11/1 (Hills,Lads,BFred) - Top Ville Ben 25/1 (365)
Open looking Rowland Meyrick and whilst those at the front of the betting look to have solid credentials im looking further afield for my options and two at decent prices caught my eye , first one was ZANZA , one of two runners for Philip Hobbs , hasnt run badly this season after an initial pipe opener over hurdles (coming 6th) he was a solid enough second on his penultimate run over the bigger obstacles before his last time out win at Newbury where he beat Demachine by 12 lengths , hasnt won at todays distance having been pulled in both attempts previously but im hopeful of a better showing today , and the trainer knows what hes doing so i'll trust him on that score. Michael Nolan in the hot seat and he has two wins from four rides aboard the horse and has a 25% strike rate here at Wetherby over the past five years. All things considered he could go well at what i'd consider a reasonable price. The other one i like is the consistent TOP VILLE BEN who you can usually rely upon to run his race , was a decent enough third on his re appearance last time out after 216 days off course , and im hoping that will have blown the cobwebs away and have him spot on for this today. Knows this course well enough having won this race back in 2019 and from his 6 runs over todays CD he has three wins and a place. Jockey Thomas Dowson gets the leg up and is here for just this one ride , 33% SR over the past 3 weeks , and he has 2 wins and 4 places from his 11 rides on the horse. Trainer Philip Kirby is as shrewd as they come i think and hes also here for just this one , and he has a 19% SR over the past 3 weeks. If on song i think he has enough about him to trouble the principals and at the price , for me , has to be worth a go.
1.28 Wincanton - Step Back 10/1 (Hills)
Top weight STEP BACK may be getting on in years but i dont think hes a back number just yet .. and at the opening price with Hills looks worth a punt. Won the Bet365 Gold Cup back in 2018 and has run well in numerous decent races and whilst he probably isnt the horse of old i can see him getting involved here. Made a pleasing return to action when last seen at the beginning of the month when second to I See You Well , beaten a length and a half , should of come on for that and im hoping that he can get himself involved at the business end here today. Has won off much higher than todays mark which can only give me more hope i think. Trainer Mark Bradstock been amongst the winners with a 25% strike rate in the past month , and sends just Step Back to the meeting , whilst Lily Bradstock comes here for this one ride. Has ridden the horse three times resulting in a place but the 7lb she claims can only help the cause and a decent showing wouldnt come as a surprise.
2.25 Wolverhampton - Grace Angel 4/1 (365,Hills,Lads,Coral,BFred)
I like the look of GRACE ANGEL chances in this , despite not being a big fan of her trainer i have to say. She is a very consistent sort and very rarely runs a bad race , last 6 races - 1,3,2,2,1,3 and has never been unplaced here over CD - a win and two places from her three runs here. Trainer has just the one runner here , and whilst i was a fan of the Dazzlers riding abilities im not so keen on him as a trainer (probably just me !) . Jason Watson in the hot seat and he has a place and a win from his two rides on the horse and when trainer and jockey have teamed up in the past three weeks theyve racked up a 50% strike rate. If running her race i can see her going very close.
3.35 Wolverhampton - Street Kid 8/1 (365) - Revolutionise 4/1 (365)
Couple in this class 3 handicap catch my eye , first up is current favourite REVOLUTIONISE who comes into this on the back of a CD win last time out just over a month ago , won by 2 1/4 lengths but was value for more imho. Has gone up 7lb for that but has won off higher marks than todays so hopefully shouldnt prove too much of a problem. Has never been unplaced over todays CD , winning twice and placing once from three outings. Trainer Stuart Williams knows the time of day and this is his only runner here this afternoon , and i cant see him sending him here unless he thought he had a good chance of following up. In the past fortnight he's notched up a 45% strike rate so definatley seems to have his string in fine fettle and with Jason Watson up for the first time i can see this one giving it a good go. The other one i like is STREET POET who always seems to run his race , and has been second on his last three starts , the last one of those over todays CD. Seems to like it here with two wins and a place from 4 runs over CD. Trainers only runner and Daniel Muscutt in the plate , has ridden the horse 5 times but has never won on him , placing 4 times , hopefully this will be the first win. Not badly drawn and i can see him going close.
4.45 Wolverhampton - Busby 3/1 (365) - Hooflepuff 11/1 (Hills,Lads,Coral,BFred)
Another race where i think having a couple onside could well provide me with a nice profit for the race (hopefully !) .. We'll start with topweight BUSBY who comes into this in flying form and is looking for a three timer , won over CD last two races , and won well , he gets in here off 70 but he's won off as high as 78 before so i dont think that will prove to be too much of a hinderance. Trip and track no problem , obviously , has won three and placed once from 5 runs over CD. Jockey takes a valuable 7lb off but i have to say i know nothing about the jockey at all so trusting the trainer on that one. Philip Kirby brings just this one here and has a 15.2% strike rate at Wolverhampton this term. Taking everything into consideration Busby shouldnt be far away. The other one i like is the consistent HOOFLEPUFF who is another who always seems to run his race and you couldnt honestly discount him at what i'd consider a decent price. Ran his last four races over todays CD , resulting in figures of - 1,1,2,5 and he's only been unplaced once in tens runs over CD - five wins and 4 places. Dale Swift in the saddle and he has a 20.5% strike rate here this season along with a very eyecatching +£51.73 profit. If running to his best he should be fighting out the finish.