Well, here I am, back at my my much neglected website and what’s brought me back? Two decent prizes at Market Razen tomorrow for a hurdle and a chase. It’s a frustrating time of year because the advent of autumn makes me yearn for decent jumps racing and we have all those end of the season flat races to put up with. I’m really looking forward to this season, not just to see some of last season’s hurdling stars go jumping, but because my horse is about to start a new campaign in France, but more of that later.

Our first port of call is the Prelude Hurdle at 2.20. Viva Colonia is all the rage but my preference is for King In Waiting (currently 8.2/1 on Betfair). This is a late summer race (as demonstrated by the days since last raced) and this one has had a decent break since a win on the same course in late July. With a record of 5 from 48 and career winnings of nearly £43K this would be his biggest single win by some margin but this is a very winnable race and he’s a confident selection.

Next is the 2.50 £50K chase. We’re on good, good to firm ground, so summer runners have to be respected. Ostland is a decent horse and Neptune Equester is a popular selection but I’m with Tim Vaughan’s My Moment at an attractive 15/1. The horse is fit, as shown by his Stratford outing 20 days ago, and the current Betfair price is very appealing by comparison with the overnight betting forecasts.

Both races are on Channel 4.

In the 5.10 bumper there is no point in looking beyond odds-on Magnifique Etoile by Kayf Tara out of Star Diva. This is clearly an outing he is expected to collect on the way to much more challenging races. One of those early season bankers.

I’ll let you know what a treble would earn you when I get the prices tomorrow (no price yet for the bumper).

Quatre Heures has not been out since February 2008 and is now back in his national home with Francois Cottin in France. He’s fit and ready to run. We’re eyeing a claiming hurdle race at Auteuil in France in a couple of weeks’ time and then, if all goes well, a decent race again at Auteuil in late October. His previous visits to Auteuil were disappointing but he hit the practice fence on the first try and was unsettled by false ground on the second. We’re optimistic about his renaissaince and I’ll add posts here to let you know how he gets on.