The weather fails to stop the racing.

A great card at Aintree and Paul Nicholls has claims in all three of the big races, but his best chance could come in the Beecher with Mr Appointment. This one is going for back to back victories in the race and is only seven pounds higher than last season. Paul can also land the big race at Navan with Officier De Reserve. He returned with a smooth success over hurdles and if his jumping holds up he should go close. Smart bumper winner Honest John is our other selection at Liverpool. Tom Tate's jumpers are in good form and this son of Alzao will know what's required.

Let's try again...

Nobody won the jackpot yesterday and I was knowwhere near. It looks a little easier today so here we go. The opener is a bit tricky, Little Shilling, Catline, Great Compton and Storm Haven are the 4 against the field. In the 1.30 Beau Torero is the selection. He landed this race last season and comes here fit from the flat, Silvergino could be the main danger. Starluck and Latterley are the choices in the 2.00 In the 2.30 Scots Dragoon and Backbord are the obvious 2. The 3.00 is another toughie and Salhood, Leopold, Dont Ask Me and Good Old Days all have claims. Rawdon in the last is our best bet of the day. He was given an easy time on his return after being well backed. He is on a very fair mark and being relatively lightly raced, is open to more improvement. So the perm is 4 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 4 x 1. 128 bets at 10p... wish me luck.

A bit busy over the week-end

But back for the start of the week. A big jackpot at Kempton today and so we have had a good look. The first race is very hard, with Supernouvere, Knock Three times and Dougie Peel three in with a chance. Mystic Art is our choice in the 2.10. Two very good efforts recently and looks on a decent mark. Another Mystic in the 2.40, Mystic Storm. Hasn't shown much this season but is dropping down the weights and is well in on best form. Princess Cagliari and Hillside Lad are two with claims in the 3.10 In the 3.40 Mutasb and River Kirov are our two against the field. In the 4.10 Dark Camilla and Ten Pole Tudor look set to run well.

No joy over the week-end

On to Monday and Iwillrememeberyou in the 2.25 at Carlisle is our first choice. He is making his chase and seasonal debut this afternoon, but was rated 132 over hurdles and has no problem with the heavy ground. There are doubts about his main rivals on the going and so he could be the value. Akilak in the 2.55 must have a chance off this mark He is rated 133 over hurdles and did start well over fences.However he lost his confidence after making mistakes in subsequent races. If over that and back to his best he would easily beat these.

A bit quiet at present...

But we hope to find some winners today. At Kempton in the 5.30 King's Icon is down to a very nice mark. When with Marcus Tregoning, he was rated in the mid-eighties. Michael Wigham part owns this one and they have got his mark down in the 50's. There is definitely a coup in the offing and it could be today. At Hereford there could be a double for Alan Swinbank. He runs recent flat winner Ozone Trustee in the 1.40. A rare jumps runner for Bill Gredley and this 82 rated flat horse has been given a decn opening. Alan's second runner is Alto Stratus in the 3.40. She returns to hurdling after a spill last time out and she doesn'tn look badly treated.

As usual plenty to look at

So have concentrated on Doncaster and the first is Bryan Smart's Sadeek in the 12.25. He held on gamely last time out despite the saddle slipping and is open to plenty of improvement. In the feature at 3.10 Greek Envoy could go well at a decent price. He has dropped down below his last winning mark and ground and trip are ideal.

A decent card at Exeter..

In the 1.40 According To Dick is expected to make a winning hurdles debut. Very highly thought of by the stable, he won a bumper at Cheltenham in great style and the fact that he goes hurdling so quickly is a tip in itself. One selection from Southwell, Another Try in the opener. Alan Javis's gelding shaped nicely on debut after a slow start and can only iomprove.

No luck with the j/pot...

Have to continue working and doing this blog. Our first choice today is Kerayasi in the 1.30 at Plumpton. Gary Moore's charge ran well behind a couple of decent types on final hurdles run last season and has since shown great form on the flat. In the 2.00 Alderluck is an interesting runner. He landed a couple of decent bumpers and this ground and trip should be ideal for hurdling debut. In the last at Warwick Flirtatious is of real interest. She was backed for her debut but sweated up and never got in a blow. They have obviously been patient and this well bred type may do much better thuis season.

A massive jackpot at Huntingdon.

And so we have concentrated on this meeting. In the opener Puerto Azul is the selection. He is highly regarded by the yard and having just failed to stay 2 miles in bumpers today's trip could be ideal over hurdles. The 1.50 is a very poor race and Ours looks the obvious choice. In the 2.20 we are stuck between Soulard, Dont Tell The Wife and Lake Legend. In the 2.50 Hold Em looks the best bet. He was a very good hurdler and will no doubt have been well schooled by his astute trainer. Another tough race at 3.25 with Benetwood and Majorca our two selections. We finish with a nightmare of a race. I dismissed the bottom eight with little hesitation, the topweight North Walk is the obvious form horse, but I dont like backing horses with more that 12 stone. So in the end I was stuck between Mount Usher, Mucho Loco and Upright Ima.

A busy Saturday..

A lot to look at, but we are concentrating on Wetherby. Paul Nicholls is always worth watching on a week-end and he could land a double with Mobaasher in the 3.00 and Turko in the 3.35. Both got a very good mention in the stable tour and Mobaasher's long term target is the World Hurdle. He ended last season on a high and can only improve. Turko puts in the odd dodgy jump but on his day he is very capable. In the 1.35 at Ascot Sentry Duty is our hopeful selection. A decent flat performer, he looked a star in the making over hurdles, but was a little disappointing after a smooth debut win over subsequent Triumph hurdle winner. However a mark of 134 looks very fair if he is back to his best.