2000 Guineas

Cannot wait for this race on Saturday. There are so many possibilities in the season ahead and I think this renewal is a cracker.

On Awzaan ante-post for reasons i've already posted and his price has remained around 10/1 and I have topped up. I also think Elusive Pimpernel is a cracking each way bet. He was most eye-catching in the Craven Stakes and and think he can get a lot closer to the favourite on more suitable ground. That said I also believe he'll find it tough to win given the way he tends to get outpaced and can see him running on as they enter the dip and easily getting placed

Awzaan £45win @ 10/1 lost

Elusive Pimpernel £20ew @ 6/1 lost

(-£165)

Newbury - Greenham Day

Good card at Newbury today with a couple of interesting classic trials and a hot looking handicap. In the latter i'm siding with the Stoute trained Desert Creek who disappointed twice at Ascot last year after looking one to follow in a big handicap at Haydock last May. In that race he took the lead over 2f out and held on to win by a length and a quarter. Animals who hold off so many challengers are definately worth following and the fact that he's trained by a man who is a master of older horses and is around 12/1 makes up for the Ascot runs. He's drawn a bit wide so i've gone for a little in the place market as well

In the Greenham the price disparity between Arcano and Canford Cliffs is too great and is based on a lot of hype.

Desert Creek £25win £15pl @ 12/1 Lost

Arcano £40win @ 31/10 Lost

(-£80)

Guineas Ante-Post

As we approach the end of the Jump season thoughts turn towards the flat and I have a couple of ante-post bets in the book already.

2000

Here i'm very keen to take on the hot favourite St Nicholas Abbey. As a potential star over middle distances I feel he's gonna really struggle to beat specialist milers on fast ground. Yes he was very impressive winning the RP Trophy at Doncaster last Autumn, but that was on softer ground than he'll encounter in this race and the horses he beat that day were either middle distance types or just outclassed. Of his opponents there are a couple i'm not keen on based on them being trained by men i'm not keen on backing (Arcano and Canford Cliffs) and a couple who's odds are really short based on form (Inler and the Stoute animal with one run to his name). So that leaves Middle Park winner Awzaan who is trained by the excellent Mark Johnston. Middle Park winners have a poor record in the Guineas but this horse is bred to relish a mile and at 10/1 I make him a decent bet.

Awzaan £25w @ 10/1

1000

Special Duty ticks all the right boxes for this race and I backed her at 5s in November. She was beaten in her trial the other day and is actually a bigger price now than she was then but I remain confident. Her trainer's last winner of the 1000, Hatoof, was also beaten in her first outing of her 3yo campaign

Special Duty £40w @ 5/1

Grand National

For this race rather than having £20/25 on two or three runners I like to pick five or six and have less on. This year i've gone for five in the win market and had an each way as well.

5x £12 win singles on:
Big Fella Thanks @ 11/1
The Package @ 16/1
Mon Mome @ 17/1
State of Play @ 25/1
Tricky Trickster @ 25/1

Maljimar £6ew @ 42/1

Aintree - Day 1

I'll be in attendance tomorrow and there are a couple of really good races to get stuck into.

In the 4yo Hurdle i'm hoping to get a nice price about Mo Voici who swerved the Festival in the hope of getting softer ground here. The going is listed as g/s, good in places which is a bit off putting but Barizan and Sanctuaire running may mean he is relatively ignored in the betting. I'll be backing him on course

In the Totesport Bowl Imperial Commander is trading at evens on the machine and he has to be taken on given his profile. I really fancy Nacarat for this and will cover with What a Friend. The former ran ok in the Melling Chase last year so doesn't mind the course but needs to improve on that effort to win this. I'm hoping the step up in trip will see that improvement materialise.

Nacarat £40w @ 5/1

What a Friend £20w @ 100/30