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13:45 Worcester Our first selection of the day comes in the first race at Worcester. Current market leader is the Adrian Wintle trained eight year old Milly Malone. A horse who has the services of Richard Johnson on board which is a very big positive but with only one win, in a point to point, it needs to improve markedly. It’s already had four runs this year and a fourth last time out at today’s course was relatively encouraging but I feel it’s likely to find one or two too good for it again today. My selection is therefore the father and son, Scudamore partnership of No Through Road. A horse that was finishing really well last time out and should relish the step up in trip. It’s true the horse is still a maiden but the trainer is bang in form and at the age of seven the horse should have more to come after two runs to strip fit this year. No Through Road (WIN)
15:35 Fontwell Sticking to the jumps and the second selection comes from Fontwell where, as with our previous pick, there is another noticeable father and son runner as the Moore family both train and ride the favourite Triumphant. A horse that clearly has a chance after a decent second at Huntingdon last time out but it’s only win over obstacles was over two miles and I wonder just how much the horse will benefit from today’s trip. Another question mark is surrounding today’s ground. The last time the horse raced on good to soft ground it finished eleventh of eleven and with such question marks against it I have to look elsewhere. This leads me on to a horse from the yard of champion trainer Paul Nicholls who saddles Pressies Girl. A horse who has won 66% of its hurdles races and should still have further improvement left. The extra step up in trip should be of no major concern after winning over two miles and six furlongs last time and has finished well on soft ground before to. Sam Twiston-Davies is a young jockey with a bright future and has the horse to get another winner today. Pressies Girl (WIN)
16:10 Fontwell Our third and final pick is out of another jumps race as we stay at Fontwell. A very open looking race here with various cases being made for most of the runners. The one that caught my eye however was surrounding the value it represents. At around 6/1 I think the Venetia Williams trained Browns Brook is very over priced and if it can repeat some of last years form should be head and shoulders above today’s rivals. The horse is on a decent mark and isn’t saddled with top weight here. It will relish any cut in the ground and the trainer tends to have her horses firing in the early part of the jumps season. It may need the run but I’m willing to take that risk. Of the remaining runners the one I fear the most is Darryl Jacobs mount Alanjou who despite being a maiden is open to improvement after some encouraging runs. Browns Brook (E/W if 5/1+)
by Rory Paddock