Just a few days to go now until Cheltenham 2016 kicks in, and any extra cash will be welcome by all of us, so let’s try and take some off Paddy this weekend. You hear me Paddy?
I want to start with the tricky Grade 3 novices’ handicap hurdle at Sandown over nearly 2m 4f at 2.00pm.
At face value DIVINE SPEAR was a little bit disappointing at Doncaster last time, but he’s a big horse who can still improve for Nicky Henderson. The winner of that event is improving, and I expect a big run from Nico de Boinville’s mount each-way.
There’s a handicap chase at Sandown over 3m at 2.35pm, and the one I like is MOSSPARK, who is lightly raced for Emma Lavelle. He’s only run once this season, but showed enough to suggest a good effort here.
It’s the Imperial Cup at 3.10pm at Sandown, and the 2m event is ultra competitive. The youngster FOR GOOD MEASURE has gone up 10lb for a facile success last time, but appears to be improving fast for Philip Hobbs. The master trainer can land this with Barry Geragthy on top for his guv’nor JP McManus.
Finally at Sandown the big mares bumper is over nearly 2m at 3.45pm, and the one I like is the Warren Greatrex-trained THE NIPPER. The selection has looked good in two wins at Bangor and could be anything.
It’s a big day on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, and taking centre stage is the Lincoln trial handicap over an extended 1m at 2.15.
Have a few quid each-way on INTRUDE , who is trained by Dave Simcock and ridden by Jamie Spencer. The four-year-old is drawn well in stall 7 for another big run.
Finally, it’s the Listed Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton at 2.50pm over 7f, and I want to be on SOVEREIGN DEBT for David Nicholls. This is a class act on the all-weather, and can finish off fast to land the prize.
I’ll be back all next week with a blog for every day of Cheltenham. Not long now. Yeeehaaa!