Pool Picks

Git Maker

He has had three runs this season and is yet to encounter the soft ground he will face today, which could allow us to see him at his best. Despite the conditions last time, he shaped with plenty of encouragement, staying on well and suggesting that today’s longer trip will play to his strengths.
The blinkers, which were tried for the first time last time out, are retained, and over this marathon trip a mark of 129 should be within reach.

2:18

Shan't Wait

Shan't Wait is a horse who has improved since undergoing a wind operation. On his last two starts he has finished second and third, with the most recent third having since been boosted. Both of those placed efforts came over two miles and on each occasion he looked like a horse who would appreciate today’s step up in trip. Gavin Sheehan has been booked for the ride, which is another positive, and this gelding looks capable of opening his account with a win.

3:15

Cool Hoof Luke

He’s a lightly raced four-year-old who showed smart form as a three-year-old, highlighted by his victory in the Gimcrack at York. After a lengthy absence, he returned to action at Lingfield last time and shaped with plenty of promise, finishing a very encouraging third and getting the better of market rival Ferrous in the process. That run should have brought him on considerably in terms of fitness, and with natural improvement expected, he could prove very difficult to beat here.

2:30 - Grimthorpe Handicap

Broomfields Cave

He may be a nine year old but has only had the four runs over fences. Last time out was a good win at Wincanton, the third has since come out and won easily franking that form. The better ground is a plus for him and he is a progressive type who I think is better than his current mark of 120.

1:25

Valiant Force

I quite fancied Valiant Force in this race. He finished third in it last year, with Diligent Harry behind him that day. I do just wonder whether Diligent Harry, at the age of 8, is quite as quick over 5f as he was earlier in his career. Looking at Leovanni, I think she will have bigger targets further down the line and is likely to need this run after a period off the track. Valiant Force was an easy winner last time at Dundalk over 5f and gets 3lb from Diligent Harry. I think he has the chance to win the Listed Hever.

2:00

Boiling Point

Chancellor is sure to be popular, but he isn’t the easiest. Getting him to focus on his job has clearly been an issue. Last time, he hung left in the straight and, for all his talent, I think he’s one to take on. Nebras has won his last two, but in both races things have suited him perfectly — leading from the front and having everything his own way. I don’t see that happening here, so I’m happy to oppose him. I’ve landed on Boiling Point, last seen winning the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket. He steps up to 10f for the first time, which I see as a positive. He was a genuinely improving horse towards the back end of last season, and I think he could have a big year as a five-year-old. His connections won this race last year, and I think Boiling Point can make it back-to-back victories for them.

3:10 

Wiltshire

This race looks an intriguing affair, Heathcliff is towards the top of the market after seeing the form of his third at Kempton franked by the first and the second that day finishing first and second at Kempton again last week. Benevento comes here on seasonal reappearance, has been gelded since last run to make his stable debut and all weather debut, looks interesting but hard to have a strong opinion on.

Wiltshere is the one for me, ran an eyecatching effort last time over 6 furlongs when coming off the pace to finish 3 lengths behind the winner, he has been generously dropped a further 2lbs for that. He has had problems in the starting gates being slowly away but I think a combination of the step up in trip and not a lot of pace on in this race that it shouldn't be as much of an issue.

2:50 Kachy Stakes (Listed race)

Marshman

A wide-open renewal with eight runners declared to go to post. It’s great to see Cool Hoof Luke back on the track after 526 days off, and while he looks a horse with a big season ahead of him, that lengthy lay-off is a big enough question for me to look elsewhere this time.

Last year’s winner Marshman returns to defend his crown and I’m expecting him to go back-to-back. He made his seasonal reappearance back in November, a race that was effectively over at the start after he made a real mess of the gates. He could only finish seventh on the day, but was beaten just five lengths, and notably it was the first time in his career he’d finished outside the top three on the all-weather. With that poor start in mind, it was a solid comeback run and always looked a prep with this race in mind.

The main danger appears to be Completely Random, a horse very much on the upgrade, but stepping out of handicap company — Marshman sets a high enough standard.

2:37 "Chasing Excellence" Novices Chase

Juby Ball

Stencil, sporting the famous JP McManus silks, is likely to be popular since he is receiving weight from all four rivals. He however is a tricky ride, one who has struggled to settle in his races, and his jumping can be sketchy at times — enough concerns for me to oppose him here.

Juby Ball is the one for me. Connections wasted no time sending him over fences after he won both hurdle starts in good style. He returned this season to just about get the job done on his seasonal reappearance and chase debut, but crucially left the impression he’d come on a great deal for the run. Last time at Ffos Las, it looked a case of how far he would win by before coming down at the third-last fence.

I’m expecting this gelding to put that fall behind him and really show what he can do at Chepstow today.

3:00 Great Yorkshire Chase

Deep Cave

The rain has finally arrived and, after a season largely run on quicker ground, conditions at Doncaster on Saturday could be heavy. Over three miles this will turn into a proper test of stamina and there looks to be plenty of pace on, with several habitual front-runners likely to take each other on. If that happens, the race sets up perfectly for something coming from just off the speed.

Deep Cave is the one that stands out. He was excellent last time at Ascot, digging deep to win a strongly-run race and needing every yard of the trip — exactly the profile you want for this contest. His trainer has since mentioned Grand National aspirations, but a rise of around 5lb is probably needed to get him into the race, so this looks like a clear opportunity to strike again.

The ground is a big positive. Deep Cave made a winning chasing debut on very testing conditions when beating The Doyen Chief, and he has continued to look a natural over fences. He’s a relentless stayer who keeps finding under pressure, yet he also has that touch more class than most of his rivals.

With conditions in his favour and the race likely to be run to suit, Deep Cave looks the one to beat.

3:00 Fleur De Lys Chase

Protektorat

Last year’s winner Protektorat returns to defend his crown and arrives here having had just the one run this season, which I thought was a monstrous effort under top weight at Cheltenham when finishing third. I’d expect him to have come on significantly for that outing, and his trainer has made no secret of the fact that this race has been the target and what he’s been trained for.

It’s an unusual setup in that several horses rated inferior to him are required to give him weight. While I’m a fan of the current second favourite Handstands, he is rated 154 — 11lb lower than Protektorat — yet still has to concede 8lb.

Protektorat may be short in the betting, but he’s proven around this track, is clearly ahead on the ratings, and I’d be very surprised if he didn’t come out on top.

1:20

Salver

There are only six runners for this rearranged Hampton Novices’ Chase, and one of the horses that wasn't due to run at Warwick last Saturday is Salver. He opened his account over fences with a very impressive victory at Sandown, comfortably beating the reopposing Doyen Quest by 12 lengths.

He then stepped up to Grade 1 company at Kempton on Boxing Day, where he finished a creditable fourth. I do feel the ground was a bit too quick for him on that occasion, but conditions should be much more suitable on Sunday, with Windsor having received a good amount of rain.

Cheekpieces are applied for the first time, which could unlock further improvement, and I expect him to be ridden patiently once again, as he was at Sandown, before powering home to take the race.

Try a britbet Double and combine these two selections in Race 3 and 6.

3:00

The Thames Boatman

Accural is the short-priced favourite and arrives in excellent form, having finished 1st, 2nd, 1st and 2nd on his last four starts. However, those runs have come in quick succession, and this could be the right time to take him on. He’s likely to go forward and set a strong pace, which may  leave him vulnerable late on.

That scenario looks ideal for The Thames Boatman. He was last seen finishing a solid second in November and runs off the same mark here. He returns fresh, and the application of wind surgery since that run could unlock further improvement. With a strong pace expected to aim at, he should be well suited by the race setup.

The Thames Boatman looks a very fair price and gets the nod to swoop late at Lingfield.