"A change in the weather is known to be extreme, but what's the point in changing horses in mid stream, I'm going out of my mind with a pain that stops and starts like a corkscrew to my heart, ever since we been apart". The quote is taken from the song 'Your a big girl now' by the virtuoso folk luminary Bob Dylan. It's one of my many favourite songs from this maverick and I just thought I'd start with a tenuous selection of lyrics which relate to my equine heroes and one of my favourite wordsmiths of all time.
Kempton
14.10pm williamhill.com Chase (Listed) 2m 4f 110y (Class 1)
This is the starting point for me today and I find it a little more intriguing the more I identify form angles here. It seems that Willie Mullins fancies his chances at both Kempton and Warwick today, having Ruby Walsh on board at Kempton and David Casey at Warwick it seems that an Irish raid could be on the cards and Twinlight looks a progressive type who may well be good enough to land this. This race is a concentrated field of quality and I'm looking forward to seeing my old friend CHAMPION COURT run a huge race today. This bay Court Cave gelding is as tough as they come and without allowing heart to rule head I believe this is a perfect opportunity for him to get his season back on track. CHAMPION COURT is up against relatively moderate company here in my opinion and it may well be a perfect opportunity for him to gain a bit of confidence back after falling last time. His penultimate start at Huntingdon when finishing second to Riverside Theatre was an excellent run and a repeat of that would put him in with a solid chance here. I've always liked his guts, determination and application in races, he will never lie down or give in, he is also an extremely consistent type who hasn't quite showed his quality this year; today could be the day! I have little concern for track and ground, he has won on heavy and ran a blinder in the King George last year at the Surrey track.
14.40pm Lanzarote Hurdle (Listed Handicap) 2m 5f (Class 1)
The Lanzarote hurdle never fails to impress year after year and the competitive nature of this race always seems to leave the punter with a little value. The Skelton's have an interesting runner here in LIKE MINDED. Before I mention the horses form and analyse his chances I just want to make a quick point regarding this stable. This family combination of trainer and jockey will go straight to the top of the NH trainer championship within a few years, in particular I like the way Dan Skelton has already placed many of his horses showing an astute, intelligent and thorough understanding of where to place his first batch of thoroughbreds. It's safe to say I'm a big fan and I do believe that his runner here LIKE MINDED has gone under the radar. Since training this ten year old Dan Skelton has managed to squeeze two excellent performances from him one at Kempton and the other at Aintree in the earlier part of last month, the horse seems to have found a new lease of life. The mark of 135 is still quite high but workable and at the tender age of 10 I think the Skelton's can grind out a little more (or even enough) progress with this horse to make him dangerous. LIKE MINDED will enjoy the ground and has course and distance form so track not an issue. A nice each way selection with a view to being in the vanguard come the final few furlongs.
Warwick
14.25pm Pertemps Handicap Hurdle 3m 1f (Series Qualifier)
Warwick holds it's stellar card this time each year and it really is a glorious card to look through. In this race I just can't abandon a grey who I've had in my notebook since running a blinder at Cheltenham in the Albert Novices Hurdle of 2012. GRAND VISION must be selected here in a race he can take with aplomb if he can recapture that form from the spring of 2012. This Tizzard trained Old Vic gelding must be making the right noises at home on the gallops as he's back out since running a disappointing run at Cheltenham last time out, on that day the ground was absolutely desperate and I'm not sure it was overly wise to run him after it being his first run for well over a year. GRAND VISION will be hoping to get his career back on track and I believe this is a much more suited opportunity for him to illustrate his ability and then all roads lead to Cheltenham. Mr Legg will be taking off a further 7lb's which will help and if he is ridden prominently he may well be hard to pin back.
14.40pm Lanzarote Hurdle (Listed Handicap) 2m 5f (Class 1)
The Lanzarote hurdle never fails to impress year after year and the competitive nature of this race always seems to leave the punter with a little value. The Skelton's have an interesting runner here in LIKE MINDED. Before I mention the horses form and analyse his chances I just want to make a quick point regarding this stable. This family combination of trainer and jockey will go straight to the top of the NH trainer championship within a few years, in particular I like the way Dan Skelton has already placed many of his horses showing an astute, intelligent and thorough understanding of where to place his first batch of thoroughbreds. It's safe to say I'm a big fan and I do believe that his runner here LIKE MINDED has gone under the radar. Since training this ten year old Dan Skelton has managed to squeeze two excellent performances from him one at Kempton and the other at Aintree in the earlier part of last month, the horse seems to have found a new lease of life. The mark of 135 is still quite high but workable and at the tender age of 10 I think the Skelton's can grind out a little more (or even enough) progress with this horse to make him dangerous. LIKE MINDED will enjoy the ground and has course and distance form so track not an issue. A nice each way selection with a view to being in the vanguard come the final few furlongs.
Warwick
14.25pm Pertemps Handicap Hurdle 3m 1f (Series Qualifier)
Warwick holds it's stellar card this time each year and it really is a glorious card to look through. In this race I just can't abandon a grey who I've had in my notebook since running a blinder at Cheltenham in the Albert Novices Hurdle of 2012. GRAND VISION must be selected here in a race he can take with aplomb if he can recapture that form from the spring of 2012. This Tizzard trained Old Vic gelding must be making the right noises at home on the gallops as he's back out since running a disappointing run at Cheltenham last time out, on that day the ground was absolutely desperate and I'm not sure it was overly wise to run him after it being his first run for well over a year. GRAND VISION will be hoping to get his career back on track and I believe this is a much more suited opportunity for him to illustrate his ability and then all roads lead to Cheltenham. Mr Legg will be taking off a further 7lb's which will help and if he is ridden prominently he may well be hard to pin back.
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