1.30 – This looks to be at the mercy of Ballyburn but you won't get very rich backing him at 1/2 and you also won't make much if you fancy Ile Atlantique to finish second like I do so I'm going to have a bach at finding something at a decent price to finish 3rd. JINGKO BLUE looks to be the one for me and I can't believe he is 20/1. I was adamant he was thrown in off 123 last time out and I was proven right as he won with his head in his chest. A step up to this level looks warranted and I think he is great value at his current price given he could yet still be improving.
2.10 – Fact To File has to be one of my lays of the week at his current price. He is vastly inexperienced and you can certainly question the strength of his form so at 10/11 he is well worth taking on. The most solid and arguably the classiest of these is last year's Albert Bartlett winner STAY AWAY FAY who has the stats in his favour along with the form. A step up to open company last time out looked like a big jump but he performed admirably and boosted his reputation if anything. Paul Nicholls will have him in tip top shape for this and I expect him to be very hard to beat.
2.50 – I've had LUCKY PLACE in mind for one of the festival handicaps for a long time given his strong novice form and it appears I am not the only one to have had him earmarked. He is now 11/1 for the Coral Cup so he has been well found in the market but there is still value in that price if you, like me, think he is well handicapped off 137. Barring the obvious favourite, there aren't too many hiding in here I don't think so if there are to be any improvers then surely this lad has to be in the picture.
If he finds it too much then I will hope my next best, MIGHT I can save the day. He was one of my best bets last year when competing in the Martin Pipe only to finish fourth in what turned out to be a good race. Chasing hasn't quite worked out for him but his trainer knows how to target a race of this nature and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go very close.
3.30 – I am really looking forward to the Champion Chase this year as I think it is going to be fast and furious. JONBON really impressed me first time out this season as he looked a much bigger and stronger individual than last season. His dead eye fencing that day helped him on his way to an easy victory and a Tingle Creek success after that had him a lot closer to El Fabiolo in the market. However he fluffed his lines last time out which means he comes here with a bit to prove. The return of Nico De Boinville is a big plus in my eyes and although the favourite looks unbeatable, I feel he is due an off day sooner rather than later. If Jonbon gets into a rhythm then this will be some race.
4.10 – No strong opinion on this race but I think DELTA WORK remains the standard bearer. Having won this race for the last two years he should be the one to beat but is playing second fiddle in the market to Minella Indo currently so if you think like me there is plenty of value in his price.
4.50 – A fiercely run handicap which won't be for the faint hearted. I feel SAINT ROI has been aimed at this race for a long time and a return to handicap company might just spark a revival. A once classy horse who found himself in a golden generation of 2 milers both over hurdles and fences did manage to win a Grade 1 Christmas 2022 which shows the talent he possesses. I find it hard to believe he has since lost all ability and instead I think connections have decided to map a route to this handicap which he is able to run off 152 which could prove very shrewd.
5.30 – This looks like a wide open race this year with no outstanding candidates. SIXMILEBRIDGE who has impressed me most, visually, this year and the 20/1 you could get was far too big in my view. Ben Pauling is having a fine season and has a top batch of young horses to go to war with with this lad being somewhere near the best of them. Pauling admitted he bolted up at Sandown despite having a dirty trach wash which is quite impressive when you consider the story behind Constitution Hill's absence this week. If he improves for that run which he should do then he has be going close here.
At a huge price I think Tripoli Flyer could be worth a couple quid each way after a good performance at Lingfield. I thought he was heading straight to Aintree but connections have obviously decided this is a good opportunity and he could be worth supporting.
