Jumps are BACK!

Finally! Some good, decent jumps racing. I'll be only concentrating on the jumps today, which looks like it'll be a cracker.

12.40 Cheltenham
GULLINBURSTI screamed handicapping to me last time, and I feel he is going to be running off a decent enough weight. In my opinion this horse has the potential to be in the 140's. It's not an easy race to read as there are plenty of past winners in here, but they are all up in weight and Gullinbursti can improve. 
7-1 Best price

13.15 Cheltenham
A good 16 runner handicap over fences here. Its worth going for bigger priced horses in here as you should get the 4 places. The 2 at the head of the market in Katenko and Bold Sir Brian have question marks for me. Katenko is up 11lbs from last time and this is tougher... then Bold Sir Brian is back handicapping where he was poor last time, and is now 10lbs higher. Also, BSB has a lot of question marks over his jumping. Its unusual for me to back 2 in a race, but I have done here. OUR MICK and CHANCE DU ROY. Our Mick is making his reappearance but his form is up there with the best here and he's running off a low mark. He ran well enough here in March in the JLT and there is a good chance he has improved. Chance Du Roy is running off the same weight as last time where he was very well fancied and backed in the Grand Sefton. Why he should be 33-1 for this is beyond me. Small e/w on him.
10-1 Best price on Our Mick
33-1 Best price on Chance Du Roy

14.25 Cheltenham
GRAND CRUS should be too good for these today. If Imperial Commander is back to his best, especially with his record when fresh, then he will push him all the way. I would have been all over Tidal Bay before he became a Non Runner and Hunt Ball should be the best of the rest. You can say that there is a sense of bravery going for Grand Crus, but considering it was Heavy ground in the King George he still ran very well... and 14 lengths behind Long Run that day is still probably the best form in this race.
7-2 Best price

15.35 Cheltenham
Oscar Whisky versus Reve De Sivola.  I think its fair to say the winner of this race will be between these. I'm going for the classier of the 2 in OSCAR WHISKY. Both horses like heavy and RdS is the confirmed stayer of the 2. They have both finished 2nd fiddle to Big Bucks and even though RdS finished closer, I think its unfair to judge Oscar Whisky that day as he was running to win, whereas RdS was surely only running for places. Oscar Whisky, the classy horse to win for me.
2-1 Best price

16.10 Cheltenham
DILDAR is by far the best horse in this race and still looks well handicapped. At the prices he's an e/w bet and i'd be amazed if he didn't at least place.
9-2 Best price

Best of luck all

The Rascal

Saturday 12th January - Racing

Good morning, and thanks for taking the time to read. Its been a fair few weeks since I've had the time to write a blog, but I've been up since early doors and have a few I like.

I'll start off with my 2 win bets, and will then let you know a good e/w and a long shot, who I think has an excellent chance of placing.

13.50 - Warwick
At the weights they are pretty much level, but one of them will surely suit this course more than the other. Don't get me wrong, its not only about the top two in the market, but I do think the winner will come from one of them, and I am going for Rocky Creek. Even though Highland Lodge is a horse I will follow this year, I think the track and ground conditions will suit Rocky Creek just that little bit more. I know its a short price, so apologies for that, but its a win bet that I have backed.
6-4 Best price.

15.25 Wetherby
Dashing George has been running in much better races of late and running really well. His 3 lengths behind State Benefit LTO is cracking form. He has to run off top weight here but I think he can justify that... he's won off 4 lbs higher in the past and is probably my best bet today.
15-8 Best price.

14.40 Kempton
Oscara Dara has got some good NHF form along with great novice hurdle form and he even ran well on chase debut behind Cheltenham bound Cantlow. He drops back to hurdles today on handicap debut and a mark of 140 looks absolutely fine. He beat Malt Master readily in a novice hurdle who was rated 135 over hurdles and won very nicely over fences yesterday. Terminal was also behind him that day who went on to frank the form. 
6-1 Best price - E/W

14.25 Warwick
An 18 runner, competitive hurdle. What a great race to go through form and replays. It looks a good'n too with plenty in with a chance.The Package is too short for me at 3-1. He's very good over fences, but his form over hurdles wasn't as good. There are a couple of other horses here coming back from chasing, and one has caught my eye. I've always thought that Battle Group was wasting time over fences as he was an absolute monkey. He has talent, but just didn't like fences in my opinion. He's now running back over hurdles and off the same mark as when an excellent winner at Aintree back in April 2011. He can handle soft and will relish this distance. The price is too big for me.
25-1 Best price - E/W

That's all for me. I will be out for most of the day, so will catch up later.

The Rascal