Nice when it drops right.

Air Chief though wasn't helped by interference and the rain. We may get some strange results at Ponty as it has rained heavily all night, so we will stick with Ascot. The first of two selection is Tajdeef in the 4.30. The Barry Hills runner took on some top performers last season and is still open to improvement. In the 5.05 Bankable is a typical Cumani handicapper, very lightly raced and open to any amount of progression.

Ted Durkan just before he got his arms pulled out by Mousy Mousy.

Sorry for delay...

Have been trying to find a working computer. A quick update with two runners at bath. The first is Air Chief in th 3.40. I saw this one cruise in last time and 6 pound extra shouldn't stop the hat-trick. Morinqua in the 4.10 is our only other selection. After two impressive victories, she came up against a couple of well handicapped horses, before finishing the season with a poor effort. She may have been over the top then and could be best when fresh.

A blank Sunday...

Something amiss with Djalalabad, one to watch next time. Today we certainly like the look of Black Tor Figarro in the 6.10 at Windsor. He landed a massive gamble last time out and won well despite a slow start, there should be plenty more to come. In the 7.10 race Seamus Shindig could be another success for the back to form Henry Candy. Ground and trip are ideal for this well handicapped horse.

A meeting with Danny obviousy inspired Neil Callan to have 6 winners in 2 days!

Another winning day....

This is turning into a decent run, let's hope we can continue the good work. At Brighton Sunday Djalalabad is an interesting runner in the 4.25. It has gone well here in the past off higher marks and the booking of Seb is a bonus. In the 5.15 at Ludlow Acordeon could be another bumper winner for Nicky Henderson. He has an excellent pedigree and will no doubt know his job.

Danny with his new buddy William Buick at Ripon, by the way it's the lad's birthday today. So.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Danny!!!

The winners are flowing..

Well not exactly but it is nice to have a bit of profit. We are heading to the Garden racecourse in a couple of hours and just one stands out here, Cherri Fosfate in the 4.15. It was process off eleimination as the other runners all have question marks where as the selction loves the ground and trip and knows how to win. In the big one at Sandown Bewleys Berry is the one we like. He ran very well in the National and will appreciate this drop in trip. As Sir Michael has done us a few favours this week we will go with Jamboretta in the 5.05. This one owes us a few bob and with the stable's handicappers flying at present she is hard to oppose.

We needed that winner...

That will help towards Ripon on Saturday. Let's see if we can enhance the funds today. Just a couple from Sandown, the first is Corrybrough in the 2.25. Candy thinks a lot of this horse and following an impressive maiden win he could have got in here on a fair mark. You dont often see Sir Michael put two in a handicap so he should win the 4.10. We just prefer impressive Bath winner Colony to Conduit.

So so close...

A couple of big priced placed horses but they don't pay the bills. Anyway a tricky card today at Beverley and just one selection here, Thunderstruck in the 3.10. The booking of JP looks significant and this course and distance winner will appreciate this drop back to 7 furlongs. In the 2.20 at Fontwell we like the look of Jeu D'Esprit. She improved from her hurdles debut, finishing third in a better race than this and can continue on the upgrade.

A couple of winners...

Short prices, but at least they stopped the rot. A few fancies on Wednesday starting with Cabinet in the 2.55 at Nottingham. We followed this one last year and it should have won more races. There could be more to come and the stables handicappers are doing well. Bond City in the 4.05 is our next choice. A promising return to the track and he should improve. We selected Kyllis last time out and we will go for it again. First time in a handicap and an extra furlong could aid this one's cause.

Still smarting from Monday..

But as you know we are never too disheartened and we wait for the tide to turn. Today we are selecting acouple from Folkestone, the first is Oarsman in the 2.15 race. Charlton's runner put in a solid effort last time and looks the type to improve. We have to go for Hereford Boy again as he runs off the same mark as last time when just beaten. In the 6.45 at Bath we will give another chance to Sugar Ray. Thought to be a Group horse early last season he could be good enough to win off this mark.

Can't do much right at the moment.

But spent all night looking at Ponty, having a go at the jackpot. Transcentral should win the first as the form is solid and none of the newcomers look anything special on pedigree. Race two could fall to Stow who should appreciate the trip and looks on a fair mark. Now it gets harder but Damika ran well in a strong contest last time and has a fitness edge on most of these. We will have these three as the blog selections. However just for interest here are my other jackpot runners. In the 3.45 At The Money showed improved form last time and could be ready to strike. The newcomer Strawberry Moon is a speculative choice in the 4.10. Perfect breeding for this trip and the stable can get one ready first time up. As an alternative Solar Spirit is suggested. In the 4.40 Prince Golan was highly tried when with Kevin Ryan. This superbly bred colt is now back over the correct trip and may improve for the change of scenery. Prince Egor is the other one I like.

Great Leighs has finally arrived..

For some reason I just had to try and pick the first winner in the first ever race at the new Essex track and so i have plumped for Sue's Hawk. At first glance she appears to have little chance. However she played up before it's debut, so you can forget that run and she is very nicely bred. The trainer has pitted runners against the two market fancies last season so he should know how he stands and the final fact is that he trains relatively local and may know more about the track than the others. Well i've just about convinced myself. Now for the second selection we go over the jumps to Stratford and the 3.40. Pretty Star ran well over 2 mile seven last time out, coming under pressure two out. The drop back in trip should be ideal.

Not so good on Friday...

But 2 very strong fancies for Saturday. First of all Confront has an excellent chance in the Greenham at 4.00. Very impressive when landing his maiden, he has bags of scope for improvement and this doesn't look the strongest of renewals. In the Scottish National it is hard to get away from Old Benny. Very impressive at Cheltenham, he gets in here on a featherweight and ground and trip are ideal.

Wrong Cecil horse..

But Henry is proving a man to follow and we have selected his Monbretia in th 1.40 at Newbury. She was well supported on her debut when given by us and ran with plenty of promise in a strong looking race. Richard Hannon has alreay done us a favour with a juvenile debutante and the well bred Sun Ship could also make a winning debut in the 1.10. Our third selection is Houghton in the 4.55. Michael Stoute's charge ran very green on his debut and will know more this time around.

A couple of inexplicable runs..

But at least we got one winner. The main hope today is Giant Love in the 5.30. This well bred colt has always been thought of as a Group horse and he now runs over a more realistic trip. We also like Multidimensional in the 4.20. Henry's charge ran a blinder here last time out and will appreciate this easier company.

Sorry we are a bit late..

But we have had a good look at Newmarket and have come up with three fancies. With the booking of Frankie for Cheklow and the stable in such good form, this superbly bred colt could land the opener at 2.00. We have gone for Stimulation in the 3.10. This one is held in very high regard by the trainer and a mark of 106 is very fair following some good efforts last season. Mookhlesa could also be very well treated in the last. The Hills trained filly beat Missit and Spinning Lucy on debut, both are rated a lot higher than the 82, which is the rating our selection has.

So close on Monday...

Let's see what tuesday brings. It is another tricky day and the only stand out horse at Nottingham is Modernist in the 3.20. He boasts a terrific pedigree and Sir Michael will have this one primed for debut. In the 5.00 at Warwick Dusk could have started the season on a fair mark and is now over the ideal trip.

A nice winner...

but the second ran too badly to be true. The real stuff starts with the Craven meeting this week, but before that we have the delights of Windsor. The one that catches our eye is Hereford Boy in the 4.00. Dean Ivory's gelding is well treated on his best form, made a very pleasing return and should be spot on for this. There is a good word for Brendan Duke's Daarth in the 4.30. This Derby entry will be a big price and so with this in mind and the fact that the jockey is an unknown, we will be having half a unit each-way.

The wrong Nicholls horse.

Never mind, we will get him right before long and he is worth following this season. We head to Brighton for two selections today. The first is Bentong in the 3.10 race. Paul Cole's charge has his easiest task for along time and is now down to a decent mark. The Flying Cowboy in the 4.40 is the second choice. Jane Chapple-Hyam's runner is quite lightly raced for a four-year-old so with more progression likely, he starts the season on a fair mark.

Getting closer....

A difficult Saturday as usual and just two selections. The first is Bigalos Bandit in the 3.05 at Doncaster. The Nicholls' runner has done well off much higher marks in the past and has won first time out in the past. We like another Dandy horse in the 4.10 Varadoura. we selected this one last time and it was backed from 33/1 down to 10's. He got going late but was staying on well and should appreciate the extra furlong.

A good run again...

We are getting close with the big priced selections, let's see what we can do on Friday. We will give Dnata Flyer another chance in the 3.15 at doncaster. This well bred type should step uop on debut run. In the 4.25 we will take a chance with Tajneed. This ex-Irish runner starts his British campaign on a very nice mark.

Thursday is very difficult..

And so just the one tentative selection Kyalami in the 3.55 at Carlisle. Nicky had this one down to run last week-end but the meeting was abandoned. Obviously he is fit and ready to run despite such a long lay off and off this current mark he could be well in on his best form.

Small profit on Tuesday..

We are concentrating on Bath today. The first is April Pride in the first race. Richard Hannon's newcomer boasts an excellent pedigree and the stable have a great record in Bath juvenile maidens. Our second choice is Blockley in the 3.40 race. He ran a good second on similar ground at Catterick last season and is three pounds lower.

A bit of a run for our money...

Ran well but not well enough on Monday (just out of the money). Let's see what we can do on Tuesday. Just one selection from Southwell in the 5.00, Sir Jake. He ran better than official figure suggests last time out and the drop in trip should suit. Our only other runner is in the 2.40 at lingfield, Sir Billy Nick. He was well backed on debut and did well under the circumstances as he was very green, he should improve leaps and bounds.

Close call on Sunday.

Two beaten in photos, but never mind, let's see what we can do on Monday. The first is a Fanshawe newcomer in the 2.40 at Kempton, Qui Moi. The stable can get one ready first time out and this one boasts a very nice pedigree. Our second choice is Ocean Rock in the 4.10 race. Con Horgan's charge has had a few setbacks, but his best form was over this trip and on that effort his current mark is very lenient.

Well done to connections of Comply Or Die...

A terrific Grand National as usual, although not profitable. It's is now time to start concentrating on the real flat stuff. Washington Irving is our first selection today in the 4.55 at Leopardstown. It wont be much of a price but this superbly bred colt can land this before going onto much better things, possibly even a tilt at the Derby. A much better price is Timetwogo in the 4.40 at Southwell. A little out of sorts this season, but he ran ablinder on fast ground back in November and has similar conditions today. There is a good word for Sir Mulberry Hawk in the 5.10 at Southwell. He is a full brother to Sir Boreas Hawk and hails from a yard full of bumper talent.

It's here....

The grand National takes place today at 4.15 and confirming our two selections. We better make it half a unit on each. Butlers Cabin is Danny's selection to give AP his first winner in the big race and I have gone for Dun Doire. In the 2.05 we also like Celtic Change. The stable is in hot form and this one put in some excellent efforts last season.

Some good finishes today..

And some excellent racing on friday. We have to go with Albertas Run in the opener. He owes us nothing and won so well at Cheltenham he should go in again, although I am scared of Starzaan. In the 4.55 McCoy can get a second winner of the day with Alderburn. An exclllent run behind the National favourite last time out and is open to more improvement.

Aintree is here...

However we are stuck between two horses in most of the races, so just one selection Junior in the last. Alan King's charge has improved with each outing and we reckon he met a couple of well treated horses at the festival. Over to the 3.20 at Leicester for our second choice, Bespoke Boy. Following an impressive debut win, he didn't really live up to the stable hype. However he goes well fresh and this doesn't look too strong a line up.

Not such a good start to the week..

With Aintree coming up let's hope it gets better. We are going for two Michael Bell runners on Wednesday, the first is Gull Wing in the 3.40 at Nottingham. This one had solid form last season and will love this longer trip on soft ground. Great Charm in the 5.10 is the second choice. He has shown enough in three maidens to be given a good chance on handicap debut off this mark. We are also going for the very expensive purchase Dnata Flyer in the 4.20 at Catterick. Ground and trip should be ideal for this son of Mr Greely.

Dire on Monday..

With three beaten favourites, things didn't go right, but we have a couple that may go in today. The first is Pure Imagination in the 4.35 at Folkestone. This one makes the long journey south from Thirsk and ran a great race on his return last week. Bryan Smart has made a good start to the new campaign and his runner Kyllis in the 4.15 at Southwell has strong claims on the pick of last season's form.
National; As promised here are our selections for saturday's big race. Danny has opted for Butlers Cabin who stays and jumps well and can go well for AP.
Dun Doire is my main hope having been well supported for last year's race, he was a bit naive and with another year under his belt he should do a lot better.