By Tony Calvin - 23 January 2025
First things first, the going for Cheltenham and Doncaster have been updated below.
LOW SUN
It looks like we are possibly going to have plenty of fences and hurdles omitted for low sun – one of punters’ big bugbears.
In fact, many would rather have the option of cancelling their bets in these unsatisfactory, if unavoidable, situations.
Walking On Air, as expected, is out of the 12.40pm at Cheltenham, so that is now a seven-runner race.
As for the betting, some TV channels have a habit of lazily using Pricewise tables in the Racing Post as their reference point for “overnight movers” in ITV races.
Incorrect – those tables are out of date as soon as they are assembled, probably at around 4-5pm the day before.
The paper only persist with them because the bookmakers like them. They are not an accurate source as a starting point.
Billytherealbigread, 10s on Thursday morning in a place, is now a [5/2] chance in the 12.40pm, and [9/4] in places.
Probably the biggest and most consistent Thu-Sat shortener. He was 6s and [11/2] first thing yesterday.
Jagwar has drifted to 4s from 2s.
East India Dock opened up at evens in a couple of places on Thursday and is now best at [4/7].
Moon D’Orange has shortened from 10s (in a few spots) to a general 6s in the 1.50pm, a race in which Iroko has now hit 5s from an opening [7/2]. Ginny’s Destiny has been clipped in from 4s early on Friday into 3s (was some [9/2] early on Thursday).
Imperial Saint has been clipped into [11/2] here – he opened up at 7s and [13/2] – and that probably won’t last either.
There was some fleeting [5/4] early on Thursday morning about L’Homme Presse, and he was a general [11/10] and evens in the 2.25pm. He is now best at [5/6] “in the village” (C/O Big Mac).
The 3pm is a non-event betting-wise.
The 3.35pm has seen the money for Gowel Road continue, but will it now dry up?
6s, and [13/2] in a place on Tuesday, he is now into a general [7/2].
I think this is one of the rare occasions where “each way money” is probably correct. The two market leaders have drifted to 3s in places – on Thursday, Crambo was [9/4] best and Strong Leader [5/2].
No real changes in the last, though Quebecois is very weak at the moment, out to 10s, and there have been some nibbles for Kdeux Saint Fray into 14s – you will often see The Times’ Saturday naps attract support (this has been true down the years, so worth looking out for from 6pm on a Friday when the RP selection box comes out online).
I’ve a train to catch, so I’ll be briefer here.
Nothing much is happening in the 1.30pm, but Jig’s Forge was 6s in six places yesterday morning and he is into a best-priced [7/2] now. Gamesters Glory is now out of this race.
Nothing of real note in the 2.40pm either, but The Changing Man is winning the battle for favouritism at [9/2] in the 3.15pm.
Snipe – if his stable name isn’t Wesley we may as well give the game up – opened up at 12s and 11s on Thursday and is now into [15/2] into two places, and as short as 6s.
There may be no Lossiemouth or Capodanno, but, with 55 confirmations from 70 eligible horses at the five-day stage, I’d say Cheltenham will be absolutely delighted with the turn-out for their seven races on Saturday.
They have switched the first two races around, with an excellent 10-runner Triumph Hurdle Trial now on the box at 1.15pm .
That seems a very good move considering the Timeform novices’ handicap chase has eight runners, and one of those (Walking On Air) is also in at Doncaster, which is his first preference. So we are looking at seven runners here.
ITV have also added the 1.30pm at Doncaster to their schedule, bringing their telly tally up to nine races.
Be aware the 12.40pm at Cheltenham and the 2.05pm at Doncaster are set to become seven-runner races (both now are).
The initial copy is now written but it will follow on Friday morning after a final edit, re-write and sweep of prices (I find the value is getting sucked out of the market at the 48-hour mark, for relative pennies, and only returning late on Friday/early Saturday).
We are due plenty of rain at Cheltenham in particular, and at Doncaster too, overnight – there inevitably will be price changes and the like, which frustrates, but I won’t fall into my old trap of rushing it out in very weak early markets, trying to nick a point or two here and there, unless I am out of action on a Friday – but here are some snippets of information that may be useful in the meantime.
The first-time headgear stats are now included, and I have also added in first and second preferences for the two double-entered horses below.
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Right, it is 9.45am on Friday, so here goes. There are 11 races taken in here, in what is a long read, so apologies.
They had 11mm at Cheltenham on Friday morning and the going is now soft, good to soft in places.
Given there were two different sponsors involved, well played to Timeform for agreeing to get jocked off terrestrial coverage here (though maybe a reduced fee was agreed for their flexibility…).
We had eight confirmed for this but Walking On Air is also in The Great Yorkshire Chase on Saturday, and that looks to be his first choice, so we are down to just two places for each way punters.
So bear that in mind.
Jagwar heads the betting at [9/4] in a place – one of the few to have drifted a bit in the last 24 hours, albeit from 2s – but that looks a little skinny considering he was roundly beaten off this mark at Uttoxeter last time.
I appreciate Jingko Blue followed up at Windsor (perhaps luckily, however) but the runner-up Hashtag Boum did little for the form at Ayr on Tuesday.
If he comes back to the form of his Bangor defeat of Lowry’s Bar (who may well have beaten the aforementioned Jingko Blue at Windsor but for a bad mistake 3 out), then I can definitely see him winning this, to be fair, though he did go up 9lb for that success.
Billytherealbigred is the early mover from 10s into a general [9/2] and 4s, a typical example of a big price slash for very little money.
It is not a race I have a strong opinion on – the betting tells you they all have their chance – and I won’t be getting involved.
So at least I won’t be behind after the first….
This looks a pretty good Triumph Hurdle trial, but East India Dock will surely take a lot of whacking, with maybe one doubt attached to him.
No matter what he does here he is not going to be grabbing back the mantle of Triumph Hurdle favouritism after what the hugely impressive Lulamba did at Ascot on Saturday – James Owen’s horse is currently available at 6s for Cheltenham – but it’ll be a little disappointing if he can’t win this, given the stunning impression he made here in November, both visually and on the clock.
The [4/6] is available with AKBets.
I suppose the absence since November is a very slight doubt (though that seems to have been planned) but perhaps of more concern is the recent rain.
His two hurdle wins have come on good ground, as did his best form on the Flat, though he did win of officially soft going at Salisbury off a mark of 68 last season (Timeform actually called it heavy that day).
With the opening evens being snapped up and any [5/6] and [4/5] and [8/11] thereafter, he is now best at [4/6] to win this – understandable as he has run to a very high level already – but the official figures actually have French recruit Sauvignon, [11/2] in a place, 1lb his superior.
I imagine he cost silly money-bundles after winning a Listed race at Auteuil in June, and he has to be respected, but this looks a stiff task for him on his first start since June, as there is plenty of depth in here.
There are a couple of others in here with French form (I was staggered to see Mambonumberfive, nought from three, cost 450,000 euros at the sales in July, so god knows what they paid for Sauvignon) and newcomer Victory Shout is interesting. He cost 150,000gns after winning at Hamilton in July, and he ended the Flat campaign rated 88.
Most of his form on the level was on good or quick ground, but he ran perfectly well on his only outing on soft.
He was put in as big as 40s on Thursday morning and that looked a touch too dismissive for each-way purposes.
He is 33s best in a place, now.
They didn’t get anywhere near as much rain as was forecast throughout the week, so the ground shouldn’t be too bad (see below), even if it will be opened up by Friday’s racing.
This race was only promoted to ITV status on Thursday, but I’ve had a look and I am happy to sit this out.
Maybe Stormin Crossgales is fairly priced at 5s to complete his hat-trick but a win for any of the seven wouldn’t surprise me, with many a person’s cliff horse Petit Tonnerre chief among them, no doubt, at a best-priced 6s.
I said in my ante-post piece that 11 five-day entries for a 100k handicap chase was a sorry state of affairs.
But, lo and behold, they have all rocked up.
My other main observation from Tuesday was that Ginny’s Destiny was a silly price (as in too big) at 6s in a spot, when the next best price about him was a mere [7/2].
Middle-ish ground has been established here at [4/1] – the Thursday morning [9/2] was taken – and I can definitely see the case for him, for all there are a lot of prominent racers in here should they wish to get on the front end again.
Ginny’s Destiny is down to a mark of 152 now after a fair Peterborough Chase third last time and he surely must go well on a track he has tended to excel at (besides his return in the Paddy Power at a time when some of the stable’s runners were still needing their reappearances).
But, with all 11 standing their ground, [4/1] is resistible, even if that is attached to four places with some, for each-way punters who can get on with the bookmaking group in question.
We have two former winners of this race, Il Ridoto (2023) and Torn And Frayed (2022) in here, and some other real improvers like Imperial Saint.
It’s a hot little race, as you would hope and expect for the money, and Iroko heads the betting with Ginny’s Destiny at 4s. Actually Iroko has just hit [9/2] in a place).
There is a guessing game with him here, as he has long been touted as a Grand National hope this season, but obviously a win here off 152 in this strong handicap would see his Aintree mark take a hit.
Mind you, maybe they aren’t bothered, as he was sent off at [11/8] to win a good Graduation Chase at Ascot last time, featuring 155 and 152-rated horses, only to take a fall at the first.
It’s a tricky handicap this, but I was initially leaning towards Moon D’Orange, who opened up at 10s in six places on Thursday, with two firms offering four places at those odds (though that was quickly taken).
Trainer John McConnell hasn’t had a winner in either code for getting on for two months but he must be tearing his hair out, as he had a near-miss in the Rossington Main last weekend and he has had a few others run okay.
Anyway, Moon D’Orange is only 1lb higher than when second to the decent prospect Inthewaterside at Newbury last time (the winner would have run here but he was ineligible) and maybe the step down to an extended 2m4f will suit, in a race which promises to be strongly-run.
However, all the 10s (I admit that someone may have backed him for me at that price) and 9s went throughout Thursday, and the 8s (available with just one bookmaking organisation, so one well-placed bet and both prices could go) doesn’t get me quite as excited, obviously.
I obviously fully expect him to go well, though.
Be aware there are only eight in here, and the double-entered Gamesters Glory’s first preference is to run in the last at Cheltenham.
So we are looking at seven runners and just each way 1,2 betting, once again.
And there will be a small Rule 4, too.
Actually this race is already down to seven as the outsider Frisby was declared a NR at 4.55pm on Friday as the horse is not qualified. That may mean Jig’s Forge could get a solo now.
We have already lost Bill Joyce and Minella Sixo at the overnight stage, and they were first and third favourites in the ante-post betting, so Western Knight leads the line at [9/4].
I thought this was a tricky race to call, with (likely) seven, relatively unexposed, winners locking horns, but I highlighted the claims of Ma Shantou at 6s earlier in the week, and I’d still marginally side with him if asked to pick the winner (if not the bet at the current odds), even though [10/3] is now the best price on offer.
Actually, one firm has just gone 4s.
He’s from a stable having a good season (see the “Trainer In Focus” section below) and it sounds like Emma Lavelle expects him to thrive at this 3m trip.
And I thought he did it very comfortably in a four-runner race over 2m4f at Windsor last time, for all the three beaten horses have all been chinned since.
I’ll not be betting at the current prices though, as I quite like Jig’s Forge too.
This point winner on heavy ground (the second and fourth have won over hurdles recently) looked a real grinder when winning by 6 lengths over 2m4f at Ffos Las time and it was a positive (a qualified positive) to see the runner-up coast home at odds of [2/9] next time.
And I have just spotted on the final run through that the fourth has won since, too.
At [6/1], in six places, I’d venture to suggest he is the best bet at the current odds (the [15/2] went on Thursday afternoon, followed by the [13/2] later on, which was annoying), though even that price (available in seven places, including with AKBets) may be coming under pressure.
Ben Pauling said he would stay at 2m4f with the horse after the Ffos Las win (and he had the horse in the closing Grade 2 2m4f+ race at Cheltenham), but this looks a far better, winnable, spot for him, given it is a far easier 75k pot to pick up.
I’ve backed him, and take the 6s, win-only, if you can if you want to get involved.
L’Homme Presse has 8lb and more in hand of these on adjusted official ratings, and he really should be getting the job done here.
However, best-priced at evens – and that is only available with one firm – the betting is not offering any bargains. The [11/10] was taken on Thursday.
Whether or not he wants 3m1f56yd in soft ground is obviously the main question he has to answer, but the Gold Cup fourth and King George third is the clear class angle in this, and I’d say [11/10] is a fair assessment on a track on which he is two from three on, with the Gold Cup obviously the other outing in question.
The stable form is a slight worry for those tempted to play at the odds, even though they had a short-priced double at Leicester earlier in the week.
Last year’s scorer Capodanno was a surprise no-show at the overnight stage, but we still have a former race winner in here in the shape of Chantry House, but the main rival to the jolly is clearly Gentlemansgame at [3/1] in a place.
He has 9lb to find with L’Homme Presse at these weights on their current ratings, as he carries a 6lb penalty here against the unburdened Venetia Williams’ chaser, but he shaped well behind Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File in the Savills Chase on his reappearance and he is the obvious one to bustle up the favourite.
This wasn’t a race I was particular fond of at the five-day stage, and that sentiment holds true now we are down to six runners.
Della Casa Lunga looks fair at [15/2] – the 9s was taken on Thursday – but her chance will be compromised by the presence of Wyenot in here (and maybe occasional forward-goer Pinot Rouge, too), so this is possibly best left to the Grade 1 class of Jetara.
The first-time cheekpieces are an unknown (see stats below), and the stable have been very quiet, but [3/1] – albeit in one place – looks okay if she can return to her best after two modest runs.
If.
If you wanted big prices about Pinot Rouge, you are disappointed, as the 33s and 25s was taken on Thursday. I can see her running well, if they take it steady. She is best at 22s now, including with AKBets.
No Lossiemouth means only the bridge jumpers will be out to back Constitution Hill at [1/9] to win this – generally [1/10] – but at least good prize money down to fifth (£3,350) has ensured five runners and each-way betting if you are so minded.
I am not.
Actually, am I allowed to say bridge jumpers?
If you are having a forecast on the race, be aware that Brentford Hope’s trainer Harry Derham (that horse is the [15/2] second favourite) has certainly not kicked on as expected this month, and he is on a long losing run now after Slugger won on New Year’s Day.
He has five runners on Friday, and you’d like to see one of those cop.
They didn’t.
UPDATE 1.53pm: We are down to 13 here now. Arizona Cardinal, Famous Bridge and Sine Nomine are NRs due to going, and Charlie Uberalles is out with a sore eye (new one on me).
Check with your bookmaker on the changing each-way terms (All firms would have dropped down a place, six places becomes five, five places becomes four, four becomes three).
I backed Forward Plan at 8s earlier in the week and I still think he has a favourite’s chance, so the [6/1] still looks a very solid each-way option, with five places readily available.
The fact that Donny missed much of the rain is a positive.
That [6/1] is available with three firms, but that is probably pretty much his price now, so I went looking for a second personal bet at much bigger odds.
You may want to make sure you don’t lose if Forward Plan wins, though. I have.
I mentioned I quite liked Erne River earlier in the week and he remains a fair price at 20s, as does Arizona Cardinal at 16s (again, on the disappearing prices front, the 20s about the latter went late on Thursday).
They are my two against the field at the current odds.
I should say both are effectively 18s and 16s, as the 20s about Erne River is only available in one spot (some blighters stole the 25s on Thursday, but such is life).
Actually, Erne River is now 20s in two places, and some 20s and 18s has appeared about Arizona Cardinal.
However, he is 18s, five places, with five firms and that looks fair to me (more chance of being able to access the 18s obviously) if you want to play each way.
Given his recent completion record, ideally I’d want to be playing win-only, but the problem is that I think he is the sort to go off at 30+ on the nose on the exchange (could even be 50+ given the increasing illiquidity is breeding some extreme drifts near the off).
But I am going to bite the bullet and back him each way at 18s, with those five prices (the firm offering six are only 14s).
He hadn’t completed in his four chase starts prior to running over hurdles here last time (he was going well when unseating his rider here in December), so I think they would have been delighted with his fourth there, even more so now that the winner followed up at Huntingdon on Thursday.
He is a three-time course winner who is now 3lb lower than his last winning mark, and he is 6lb lower than when a good fifth in this race last season.
I have no opinion on the merit of his 5lb claimer Tom Broughton but his overall stats are okay.
Arizona Cardinal had a wind op prior to being given a spin around the stuff-and-nonsense Cross Country course at Cheltenham last time, over a 3m5f trip that would have tested his stamina to the hilt, and he actually got dropped 1lb for it.
That leaves him just 4lb higher than winning the Topham three starts ago, and that Aintree race has worked out well.
The third was Coral Gold Cup winner Kandoo Kid, the fourth Celebre D’Allen has won his only start since, and the eighth Grandads Cottage has also obliged since.
He was pulled up in only previous start here (but that was over hurdles in 2021) but 3m around this course should be ideal for him, as should good to soft (more rain would have been fine, too).
I’d like to see the stable in much better form (it is not great and an undeniable worry, and their two runners on Thursday were pulled up, including an 11-4 chance – he has one runner on Friday and I want to see him running okay) but I am not going to let that put me off at the price.
The 16s each way, five places, in eight spots, looks a fair trade to me.
There are doubts about both then, as outlined above (notably that Edmunds stable form, which could see his horse go walkies in the market), so I will be playing small. Neither are obviously big shorteners to me, and maybe they will drift.
UPDATE 8am Saturday: Arizona Cardinal is very weak and can now be backed at 33s. I imagine the form of the stable has played a part in that (as well as an exchange drift in a light market).
By the way, Nicky Richards (see below) has a good record with first-time cheekpieces and he puts them on Famous Bridge here.
A very quiet punting day for me on the day, though I have played a couple ante-post as well, as outlined earlier in the week.
Earlier in the week, I wrote that Gowel Road looked an outstanding each way bet here, three places, at [13/2] in on spot and a more generally available 6s, and I managed to get involved at the latter price.
To be perfectly honest (and cynical I know), I was hoping this race would cut up a lot more than it did – only the other Lossiemouth didn’t confirm – but I have still nicked a half-decent price, as he is now a general [9/2] chance in the dead-eight (there can be as many non-runners as they like from here on in, obviously, as long as it isn’t him…).
Thankfully, for selfish ante-post purposes, Ga Law and Kerryhill have come out on Saturday morning.
The [9/2] is available in six places as this goes live, but it will come under pressure soon enough, so be quick.
For some reason, I have never warmed to the dual Long Walk winner Crambo and Strong Leader has questions to answer here after his Ascot flop in that race last month (he has had a wind op since), so I am not interested in that pair under their 6lb Grade 1 penalties.
To be fair though, they have drifted to more reasonable prices at [11/4], which is much more like it.
That could easily fill the first two spots, but I am very happy with my Gowel Road each way position, without feeling the need to press up myself at [9/2].
He will clearly need to improve if the big two run to their best, despite getting 6lb from them, but, as I said on Tuesday, you can set your watch by this guy, he loves it here and probably comes here on the back of a career-best behind Lucky Place in the Relkeel last time.
I’m a bit concerned that a combination of 3m in possibly soft ground may tax his stamina, but I’ll be disappointed and a fair bit poorer if three of these beat him home.
If you want to have a bet in the race, it is definitely Gowel Road at [9/2] each way – but that dead-eight always worries me….
UPDATE: And, as bad luck would have it, Ga Law has come out on account of the ground…quickly followed by a lame Kerryhill at 11.40am. So down to six here.
Potters Charm is obviously fresh and well to be coming here, as connections (assistant trainer Willie Twiston-Davies to be precise) said he would go straight to the Festival after emerging from the fog to win his Grade 1 at Aintree on Boxing Day.
Under his 5lb penalty, I can definitely leave him alone here at 10/11 (any evens was taken on Thursday) and it wouldn’t surprise me if he got chinned.
I reckon Paul Nicholls may have a decent day at Cheltenham and his Quebecois is weighted to dead-heat with Bill Joyce on their Sandown form, being 5lb better off for a 5-length defeat.
Maybe he is better than he showed there – it was all slow-motion stuff, as is often the case at that track – and 7s about him looks fair, if not bet-inducing.
I won’t be getting involved unless there are some major price shifts.
It’s a very small-stakes day for me, with my main two bets struck ante-post on Tuesday, though I have had an interest in a few (other than the pair in the Great Yorkshire Chase, which is going to be sun-riddled) since the final fields were known, as the copy underlines (notably Jig’s Force and Moon D’Orange).
Good luck, however you are playing the day and the cards. Hopefully, the info in here is of some little help.
Arizona Cardinal at [16/1] each way, five places in 3.15pm at Doncaster. Available in nine places – NOW A NON-RUNNER
Erne River at [18/1], each way, five places, in 3.15pm at Doncaster (take the 20s if you can, currently available in two places as at 10.37am Friday). Available in five places. (NOW FOUR PLACES FOR EACH-WAY PURPOSES)
Plenty of other betting suggestion in copy (Gowel Road at 9/2 each way and Jig’s Forge at 6s win-only, for example – up to you if you can access those prices) so please have a read.
Going – Soft, good to soft in places
Going stick reading : 5.9 at 4.15pm Friday
Weather: Pretty much dry now for Friday; 2mm Saturday
Saturday course update: “13mm from Thursday to Friday morning. Dry from 07:00 on Friday. Leaf frost overnight with air temperatures dipping briefly below zero at 05:20. Air temperatures due to remain at c1 degree until 09:00 and then start to rise. Bright sunny day forecast with highs of 6 degrees.”
Rails
Chase rail +9y Hurdle rail +8y
Going – Chase: Good, good to soft in places; Hurdle: Good to soft
Going stick readings – Chase: 5.8 ; Hurdle: 5.3 (7.30am Saturday)
Weather: Dry and windy
Saturday course update: “2.2mm rain during the week. 2.2mm Friday morning. Saturday dry, bright and sunny 8C Gentle SW breeze.”
Rails: Shared bends Fresh ground on bends both days. Exact distances confirmed
12.40pm Cheltenham: Guard Your Dreams (prom), Ryan’s Rocket (prom), Walking On Air (prom – double-entered. SECOND PREFERENCE), Billytherealbigred, Whistle Stop Tour (prom)
1.15pm Cheltenham: East India Dock (prominent), Teriferma (prom), Believeitanducan (on Flat). Mambonumberfive (prom), Victory Shout (Flat), Quantock Hills (prom)
1.30pm Doncaster: Calico, Storming Crossgales
1.50pm Cheltenham: Ginny’s Destiny, Il Ridoto (prom), Soul Icon, Gemirande, Moon D’Orange (prom), Imperial Saint?, Grandeur D’Ame (prom), Happygolucky (prom)
2.05pm Doncaster: Gamesters Guy (double-entered – SECOND PREFERENCE), Jig’s Forge
2.25pm Cheltenham: Stage Star, L’Homme Presse (prom), Tommie Beau?
2.40pm Doncaster: Pinot Rouge, Della Casa Lunga, Wyenot
3pm Cheltenham: Constitution Hill, Brentford Hope?
3.15pm Doncaster: Tightenourbelts (prom), Frero Banbou (prom), Young Buster (prom), Bowtogreatness, Erne River (prom), Docpoickedme, Idalko Bihoue (prom), Charlie Uberalles?, Raffle Ticket (variable run-style but can be prominent), Walking On Air (prom – double-entered – FIRST PREFERENCE)
3.35pm Cheltenham: Botox Has?, Gowel Road, Ga Law (prom)
4.10pm Cheltenham: Gamesters Guy (double-entered FIRST PREFERENCE), Quebecois, Sixmilebridge, Wade Out, Bill Joyce (prom)
Emma Lavelle has had an excellent November to January, with 18 winners, and her form this month is the most impressive of all.
She has had 29 winners this season and the majority of her horses are running well, if not winning, including an 18-1 runner-up, Hardy Fella, of late.
Going into Friday’s racing, she was 5 from 21 this month, with seven placed second or third.
She has three runners on Friday (the first of which won the opener at Doncaster at 10-11).
She has General Medrano (1.30pm), Ma Shantou (2.05pm) and Tightenourbelts (3.15pm) running for her in the ITV races at Doncaster on Saturday, as well as Classic King and Auba Me Yang.
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Good: James Owen, Olly Murphy, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Gary Brown, Nicky Henderson (short priced double on Thursday), Neil Mulholland, Emma Lavelle (“Trainer In Focus” – among winners on Friday, too), Dan Skelton, Dianne Sayer (one runner, one 13-2 winner), Greenall and Guerriero (4-1 winner on Thursday), Lucinda Russell, Hobbs and White, Jamie Snowden (another winner on Thursday), Warren Greatrex
Fair: Paul Nicholls, Fergal O’Brien, Venetia Williams (arguably more moderate despite two recent winners at short odds), Gordon Elliott, Ruth Jefferson (10-1 winner from three runners), Anthony Honeyball. Joe Tizzard, Ben Pauling, Brian Ellison, Alan King, Jonjo and AJ O’Neill, Nicky Richards, Henry Daly
Moderate: Jack Jones, Nigel Hawke (all big prices though), John McConnell (certainly in winner terms; knocking on the door recently, though), Harry Derham (he had five runners on Friday and no winners, though he had 5-1 runner-up – I’m sure a winner is around the corner given the numbers but they don’t seem to be finishing off their races at the moment), Gary and Josh Moore (much-welcomed 9-1 winner at Sandown on Friday), Bailey and Nicholls (likewise, their 7-2 winner on Friday), Stuart Edmunds (two pulled up on Thursday, including an 11-4 favourite, so a concern), Seamus Mullins (only five runners though), Mel Rowley, Anthony Charlton
Don’t really know: George and Zetterholm, Keiran Burke, Mouse Morris (very few runners and a good third on Thursday, but can do with a winner), Richard Hobson (just two recent runners), Patrick Neville (no recent runners), McPherson and Killahena, Susan Corbett (no recent runners), Jessie Harrington, Clive Boultbee-Brooks (though he had a winner on Thursday), Fiona Needham, Nick Kent, Charles and Adam Pogson
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