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Remind me next time

Following an amazing four days at Cheltenham, racing returns to ‘normality’ this afternoon. The big event of the day is the Midlands National at Uttoxeter with supporting NH cards at Fontwell, Kempton and Newcastle and an evening meeting at Wolverhampton.

Uttoxeter Tips –

3.50 – Uttoxeter – The make and shape of this race is made of course by the top weight Harry Topper, set to race off a mark of 161 with his nearest rival in the list off 142 and no less than 10 of his 19 rivals set to run from out of the handicap.

The other factor here is the state of the ground. Described as heavy earlier on in the week, at the time of writing on Friday it is now soft and that is likely to change to good to soft on Saturday afternoon, a(get rid of ‘a’) very similar to the ground changing scenario that unfolded last year.

Harry Topper won’t necessarily mind that as the extra yardage will make up for the ground change, but my main worry is how many mistakes he can afford to make under his huge burden against out and out stayers receiving plenty of weight.

I will be taking two against the field here in LOCH BA and FILL THE POWER. The first named ran an extraordinary race in the Grand National Trial at Haydock, prominent early, dropping himself out at halfway and then passing nine horses down the home stretch. A visor will be employed for the first time here and that may just make the difference.

Fill The Power simply bullied a less talented field into submission at Wetherby last time out and has a nine pound hike in the weights to answer for here. However, he can be effective in this grade, fifth in the Scottish National, and Jonathan England grabs back three pounds of that penalty.

Are Ya Right Chief ran a solid race in the Grand National Trial at Punchestown and should be in his element here as will the rejuvenated Wyck Hill, winner of the Eider Chase and the well handicapped but hugely disappointing Alfie Spinner.   

BET NOW – LOCH BA

BET NOW – FILL THE POWER


Kempton Tips –

4.05 – Kempton – The timber topping debut of Solar Sky is interesting with David Elsworth having booked Sam Twiston-Davies on this 106-rated flat performer.

However, this looks a good opportunity for FIRST MOHICAN to regain the winning thread after taking on the big boys in the Dovecote Hurdle here which was too much of a test. This quicker ground combined with the drop in grade makes him a huge player and he will have learnt plenty from that run against more experienced rivals.

I take him to see off Nicky Henderson’s Oscar Hoof, an impressive winner at Doncaster over two and a half miles. However, I consider this drop in trip a negative and as long as the selection puts in a clear round of jumping then he may well have to settle for second best.

BET NOW – FIRST MOHICAN 
 

Newcastle Tips –

5.10 – Newcastle – This is an interesting little punting handicap hurdle over two and a half miles with bottom weights Mootabar and Northern Aces big players and closely matched on their run here last April. The former was outstayed by Brae On at Catterick last time out and this is more of his trip while the latter ran way too freely last time out, but was in contention previously when falling at the penultimate flight over a quarter of a mile further here two months ago.

However, they could both be eclipsed by the giant ANOTHER DIMENSION, trained by Roe Dobbin, lightly raced in the last 24 months. He travelled well for a long way until weakening late on at Doncaster over three miles and this trip looks spot on. Set to race from a mark of 95 again, the experienced Shaun Dobbin is replaced by the bang in form Craig Nichol, and this looks a clear cut opening for him.

BET NOW – ANOTHER DIMENSION


Wolverhampton Tips –

6.10 – Wolverhampton – It can sometimes be a very dangerous betting occupation to follow a horse ‘over a cliff’ but I think now is the time to reacquaint ourselves with the frustrating FLOW CHART in a race which looks eminently winnable.

Peter Grayson’s runner has been in fairly good form over five and six furlongs of late at Kempton and here, but the minimum trip is a shade too sharp for him here and this step up, a mark of 47 and a make-up which looks sure to suit him should all combined(remove ‘d’) to make him a solid each-way play. The selection last won over course and distance almost exactly a year ago off 51 and if getting the breaks will surely prove too strong for the likes of Daneglow and Very First Blade.

BET NOW – FLOW CHART (e/w)