We have some great National Hunt racing to look forward to over the next few days with the declarations ensuring that this an even better weekend than usual.
This is as much a reminder for me as anything so here goes:
Friday
Wetherby
14:05 Ahoy Senior (10/11) (one of the best horses Lucinda Russell has had for a while)
15:15 Porticello (11/8) (Gary Moore top prospect); Too Friendly (100/30); Sacre Pierre (6/1)
15:50 Magic Saint (9/2); Good Boy Bobby (11/4)
16:25 Larch Hill (9/2)
Uttoxeter
14:48 Flic Ou Voyou (9/4) (chasing debut for Nicholls)
Down Royal
13:10 Hollow Games (1/4) (a Ballymore prospect for G Elliott)
13:45 Party Central (13/8) (another top prospect for Eliott)
14:20 Zanahiyr (4/9) (leading Cheltenham candidate last season and potentially more to come – really should win this)
16:05 Arahecan (is the RP nap at 10/1)
16:35 The Mediator (5/6) (unraced for G Elliott)
Saturday
Down Royal
13:05 Fil Dor (debut for G Elliott – watch the market)
13:40 Mighty Potter (yet another interesting debutant for Elliott)
14:15 Charli Parcs (20/1) (not expecting anything from him (now with Aidan Howard) but may improve on 5th last time out). Hearts Are Trumps (22/1) is another who has lost his way but might just run into a place.
14:50 I favour a fresh Frodon (9/2) over Gold Cup winner Minella Indo (evens) at this early stage in the season.
15:25 Envoi Allen (4/11) should win this easily.
Wetherby
13:20 Gericault Rouge (7/2) a likely improver
13:55 Molly Ollys Wishes (100/30) is a confident selection and could have an exciting season ahead.
14:20 Paisley Park (9/4); Thomas Darby (7/2); Master Tommytucker (5/1 and interesting over hurdles). Take your pick.
15:05 Cyrname (6/5) on a redemption mission; Shan Blue (5/1); Fusil Raffles (13/2) my selection
Ascot
14:10 Boothill (7/2) an unbeaten and potentially exciting prospect
14:45 Editeur Du Gite (100/30) won the Red Rum and was followed home by Sully D’oc AA (6/1). A forecast for a repeat?
15:20 Vinndication (3/1) one to watch
Sunday
We await the declarations but races of interest include:
Carlisle 14:00 Chantry House, Fiddlerontheroof, Sporting John
Cork 14:25 Beacon Edge, Bleu Berry, Diol Ker, Run Wild Fred
Cork 15:00 Eleazar Des Neiges, Agent Boru
Overall, we’ll know a lot more after the weekend but it’s worth bearing in mind that, in Ireland, the Down Royal meeting tends to be a benefit for Gordon Elliott, particularly for debutants or near-debutants and WP tends to avoid it. My most interesting candidates?
Ahoy Senior
Porticello
Flic Ou Voyou
Hollow Games
Frodon
Envoi Allen
Molly Ollys Wishes
Fusil Raffles
Boothill
Chantry House
What a treat in prospect! Just for fun, a 9 fold on the Friday and Saturday selections would deliver a 10,000/1 return. Yes, of course I’ve done it! Much better odds than the Lottery.
I’ve also done:
Ahoy Senior, Porticello, Flic Ou Voyou, Hollow Games, Frodon, Envoi Allen and Fusil Raffles accumulator at 679/1
Ahoy Senior, Porticello, Hollow Games, Frodon, Envoi Allen and Fusil Raffles accumulator at 226/1
Ahoy Senior, Porticello, Frodon and Envoi Allen as a Lucky 15 for a potential return of £117.49.
Let’s hope that the first two at Wetherby on Friday deliver.
Good luck!