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12:30 Lingfield We start today’s selections off as we end it, on the all-weather. Our first race is quite a tricky and open looking selling race. I’m predicting quite open betting and cases could easily be made for several here. I am however going to side with age and experience and opt for nine year old King Olav. I am a firm believer that course form counts for a lot on the all-weather and with a course and distance win to its name it has to have a great chance. Add to this a trainer who is in great form and the booking of jockey Luke Morris, a top all-weather rider, and it may be enough to overcome its 190 day absence. King Olav (E/W if 5/1+)
13:10 Newbury We take a break from the flat and the artificial surface to take in a hurdles race from Newbury. With seventeen runners and many top yards being represented I am setting myself up for a fall by saying it seems to be a two horse race. The two horses in question are Rebecca Curtis’s Beast Of Burden and Jonjo O’Neill’s Communicator. Top Irish Jockey Davy Russell takes the ride on Beast Of Burden and after a win at Ffos Las theres not too many reasons to back against it maintaining its 100% record. That said however the yard isn’t quite hitting the high notes with many favourites from the Curtis stable being beaten recently. This therefore leads me to my selection, Communicator. I know this maybe somewhat hypocritical considering I dismissed Beast Of Burden because of the yards form and Jonjo’s yard is struggling even more so. Despite this though the horse has had a brilliant flat season with great runs in major, big runner handicaps. If it can translate a fraction of that form to its jumps career it should definitely take a hand in this and with The Champ onboard it can’t be underestimated. Communicator (WIN)
19:10 Kempton Our third and final selection comes in the last race of the day from Kempton. As with the first selection I’m going for a course and distance winner who has experience on its side. I am opting for another nine year old who is only three pounds higher than its last winning success and has the very talented and somewhat of an all-weather specialist jockey Adam Kirby in the saddle. The horse in question is Graylyn Ruby and with eight runners it certainly has enough to place. The likely dangers are other course and distance winner Hazzaat and based on its connections, three year old and likely improver Haines. Graylyn Ruby (E/W if 5/1+)
by Rory Paddock