Air Force One just misses out

Morning everyone, hope you're all keeping nice and warm, unfortunately our each-way selection Air Force One was touched off by Madison Du Berlais in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup thwarting a bumper payout.

Either the Stan James King George VI Chase (Kempton Park) or Lexus Chase (Leopardstown) now beckons for the Charlie-Mann-trained runner-up, but a hard race at Newbury might just have taken the edge off the six-year-old and I'd argue he'll need some time off to recover.

It was sad to see Inglis Drever being pulled-up in the Long Distance Hurdle on the same card on Saturday, and I only hope that the triple Stayers' Hurdle champion enjoys a long and happy retirement.

Elsewhere, Brave Inca almost brought off a fairytale return to the track, the 2006 Champion Hurdle winner was just beaten by Catch Me and is a 25/1 chance for glory next March at Cheltenham. The winner is 20/1, with Binocular heading the market at 4/1.

The cold snap looks sure to claim numerous meetings this week, so good luck if you're stepping outside and having a bet.

All-time record: Bets 87; Winners 27; Losers 59; Non-runners 1; Profit £840.43.

Flying high despite ups and downs

Afternoon everyone, were you starting to think I'd won the Scoop6?

A mixed day on Saturday with Souffleur grabbing a very respectable second place (advised at 14/1 - but returning 25/1), but Kauto Star (advsied at 2/5) unseating at the last to cost us £50 and wiping out any profit for the day.

Personally I believe Kauto Star now rates an very good betting proposition for the Cheltenham Gold Cup (4/1 generally, but as big as 5/1 in places).

History is littered with horses which put in a bad race during the season on their way to Gold Cup glory - See More Business and Looks Like Trouble are two for starters.

Also, I've got to question how the bookies can cut Binocular a point or more for the Champion Hurdle (4/1 generally) after winning at 1/9 at Haydock!! Okay so Crack Away Jack was beaten, but come on - please.

Finally, my closing message - Get on early ahead of Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup - Air Force One is the one for me, I'll have £50 each-way at 6/1 on the Charlie Mann-trained runner.

All-time record: Bets 86; Winners 26; Losers 59; Non-runners 1; Profit £815.43.

 

Kauto Star to shine again

Good afternoon all. Kauto Star is aiming to complete a hat-trick in Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock (2.15pm) and it's hard to see past the 2007 Gold Cup winner.

He faces just five rivals in the Grade One contest and only Exotic Dancer will provide any sort of competition. However, you can expect the same result as their previous seven meetings with Paul Nicholls' racehorse triumphing. I'll have a £50 win at 2/5.

I'm also backing a return to form for Souffleur, successful in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury last season, in the "Fixed Brush" Handicap Hurdle (Haydock 1.05pm) and will be having £10 each-way at the current price of 14/1.

Good luck with all your betting over the weekend.

Bad day at the office

Morning, anyone got the Monday morning blues?

Things didn't exactly go to plan over the weekend as all three selections ran way below expectations.

Leo's Lucky Star, Oh Jackie and Piraya never looked likely winners and the end result was a £60 hole in the profit.

I was looking to get the above quickly out of my system, but looking at the card at Leicester hardly inspires me to have a bet.

If anyone has any suggestions, as usual all comments are always welcome.

All-time record: Bets 84; Winners 25; Losers 58; Non-runners 1; Profit £830.43.

Jackie set to celebrate?

Morning everyone, hope you've had a good week.

I'm going to focus on the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Cheltenham 3pm) today which has a real international flavour to it with a strong raiding party from Ireland and even a runner from the Czech Republic.

As usual legendary Banks trainer Enda Bolger dominates the betting with Garde Champetre and L'Ami - both owned by JP McManus.

I like the look of Oh Jackie trained by Stuart Crawford, who enjoyed his finest hour earlier this year at Punchestown when he lifted the La Touche Cup, the 10-year-old is available at 33/1 and I'm going to have £10 each-way at that price.

I'll also have a bet on Leo's Lucky Star (Cheltenham 1.50pm), who was tipped here back in July when winning at Stratford. I'll have £20 win at the current morning price of 7/2.

Looking ahead to Saturday and I'm going to back Piraya in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (Cheltenham 2.35pm). The David Pipe-trained five-year-old could be another French star in the making at Nicholshayne. I'm going to have £10 each-way at 12/1.

Good luck if you're going racing or having a bet today.

All-time record: Bets 81; Winners 25; Losers 55; Non-runners 1; Profit £890.43.

No stopping Nicholls

Morning everyone, a bad day on Saturday when I chose to go against Paul Nicholls at Wincanton.

The master of Ditcheat rattled-up a five-timer at his local course on Saturday including Tchico Polos, who slammed our selection Ravello Bay by 21 lengths.

In the end the Nicky Henderson-trained Ravello Bay was punted into favouritism, but despite getting lumps of weight wasn't up to the job of holding off Tchico Polos.

Everything now moves to Cheltenham's The Open meeting which starts on Friday and a bet in the cross-country chase is very much on the cards.

Saturday's highlight the Paddy Power Gold Cup sees Nicholls' Silverburn head the ante-post market.

Then on Sunday we have the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

All-time record: Bets 81; Winners 25; Losers 55; Non-runners 1; Profit £890.43.

Go Barry go

Afternoon everyone, Wincanton seems the place to be on Saturday with the Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase the feature race on the card.

Personally I'm a big fan of Blandford Fry from the Dorset-based brewery's stable, with Tanglefoot running it a close second.

Looking at the meeting I'm going to cheer on Ravello Bay (Wincanton 12:40pm) to upset the likely odds-on chance from the Paul Nicholls yard Tchico Polos.

The Nicky-Henderson-trained mare gets plenty of weight from Tchico Polos and has been entered up and down the country over the next few days so must be fit and ready for the racecourse and I fully expect Barry Geraghty to steer home the five-year-old.

I'm going to have £40 win at the opening price.

Good luck if you're having a bet this week, don't forget to post your views and selections.

All-time record: Bets 80; Winners 25; Losers 54; Non-runners 1; Profit £930.43.

Air Force One shot down

Afternoon everyone, Saturday saw our selection Air Force One almost register a pillar-to-post win in the United House Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot, but the six-year-old was just run out of it by Roll Along.

It would have been nice to hit the £1,000 profit for the column, but we live to fight another day and with Cheltenham just around the corner, I'm more than confident we can find a couple of winners before the end of the month.

I thought Charlie Mann's Air Force One was going to collect from a along way out, but make no mistake the runner-up lost nothing in defeat.

Another selection who finished second on Saturday was Mobaasher - Paul Nicholls' five-year-old looked all over the winner from some way out, but was out-fought on the run-in by Pettifour.

All-time record: Bets 80; Winners 25; Losers 54; Non-runners 1; Profit £930.43.

Air Force One to strike

Morning everyone, hope you've had a good week keeping warm and studying the form.

I was very interested to read Paul Nicholls' Stable Tour in the Racing Post and I am keeping my fingers crossed that Denman does indeed tackle the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris next May. It's a great race and if you've never been to Auteuil I'd suggest a trip across The Channel is well worthwhile.

As for Saturday's selection I've decided to put my faith in Charlie Mann's Air Force One (Ascot 2.05pm).

The Brian Walsh-owned six-year-old rounded off last season by winning at the Punchestown Festival and updates from Whitcoombe House Stables suggest he will be ready first time out to deliver.

That's good enough for me and I'll be having £20 win at the opening price.

Of course there are a number of leading horses in action over the weekend and Kauto Star should get back to winning ways at Down Royal in the JNwine.com Champions Steeplechase.

I'll be keeping an eye on Mobaasher (Wetherby 3pm), mentioned here in my Monday bulletin for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Good luck if you're going racing over the coming days. 

All-time record: Bets 79; Winners 25; Losers 53; Non-runners 1; Profit £950.43.

Lineman lands double

Morning everyone, another successful weekend with Tatenen (4/7) and Witchita Lineman (3/1) both winning to land our £25 win double to secure another £132.14 for the pot.

There was a feast of National Hunt action on Saturday and Sunday with quality performances on show. I saw enough from Voy Por Ustedes (general 5/1 chance) to suggest a huge run in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

Exotic Dancer also ran a blinder and has seen his odds slashed (10/1 from 20/1) for the Boxing Day clash.

AP McCoy was seen at his vintage best in getting our selection Witchita Lineman first past the post at Chepstow, while Ruby Walsh enjoyed a far easier ride aboard Tatenen.

I wasn't too impressed with the jumping of Witchita Lineman and he'll need to fence a lot smarter if he is to take his chances in the top novice chases this season.

Tatenen, however, was very, very impressive. The Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival is his number one target.

Paul Nicholls' Stable Tour in the Racing Post makes for interesting reading and Mobaasher is an interesting one which he has picked out as a 'dark horse' always highly regarded when under the care of Charlie Mann, I reckon a small each-way interest in the Stayers' Hurdle (general 20/1chance) at Cheltenham could be worthwhile.

All-time record: Bets 79; Winners 25; Losers 53; Non-runners 1; Profit £950.43.