Wednesday 13th April

Newmarket 1:50 – what a remarkable horse Pocket The Profit is, after winning a class 6 at Brighton in October off [54], he has won four more times and has a new mark of [90]. He bolted-up at Pontefract last week in a 0-95 and should follow up in this higher grade with a 7lbs penalty before his 11lbs rise kicks in, if he can cope with the better ground. I’d like to see him win again, but 5/2 is very short in a three-year-old sprint handicap.

 

And 5/2 is also short for Captain Morgs in the opener at Cheltenham (1:30), the race was priced up two days ago as it is live on ITV and he opened at 15/2. He is the runner that interests me most, but not at that price.

The feature race, Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (2:05) is also on ITV, which explains why it is second on the card. Simply The Betts is due to win another one of these events, but is a bit of a ‘Goldilocks’ horse, can’t be too soft and can’t be too quick. Good ground given as the reason for his flop in the Cotswold Chase then withdrawn at the Festival because it was soft. Just when I think Coole Cody can’t possibly win again, he does. He needs a career best to win here, but he produced one at the festival. He was fourth in last year’s renewal to Manofthemountain, who is 4lbs better off here. It looks like being similar conditions to last year and he could return to form. Stolen Silver also has a pull with Coole Cody having finished fourth behind that one in the Plate last time out. That was on soft ground, but he has to have good going to be at his best, connections will not want any more significant rainfall. It looks difficult without knowing what the official going will be.

 

Call Of The Wild (2:40) has only been beaten once and that was by ½ length to Onemorefortheroad when it was rated [126] and is now [137]. Datsalrightgino looked like being a top novice hurdler when beating three subsequent winners at the track in December. He has pulled up twice since but that was on heavy and soft, and he looks a player here on better ground. Pull Again Green was impressive at Newbury last time out, while Royaume Uni has been handicapping but doesn’t have much to find on ratings.
In the staying handicap chase (3:15) Mint Condition was favourite on Tuesday evening but he seems best with a testing surface. I had the race between Champagnesuperover and Big Nasty and I prefer the undoubted stamina of the latter who goes well on decent ground but was only beaten ½ length by Fortescue last year:

 

I thought Undersupervision (3:50) beat Mister Malarkey by more then the official margin in the Grimthorpe Chase last time out. He is an improving novice chaser and goes well at the track, unlucky to be beaten twelve lengths by Does He Know earlier in the season. Bbold would be the danger if it is genuinely good ground. I will advise Undersupervision but not with a price as I can’t see Chambard running unless it’s soft:
Cheltenham 3:50 – UNDERSUPERVISION – 1 point win

 

The staying handicap hurdle (4:25) is tricky as there are several runners that are out of form but that would be on decent marks if returning to their best, particularly Lisnagar Oscar and Pileon. I prefer the less exposed pair, Jesuitique and Last Royal. Last Royal, a brother to Honeysuckle, improved nicely to win over an extended 2m 5f last time out and the form of his second two starts back has worked out well. Jesuitique was a big improver for longer trips before getting bogged down in the Heroes Handicap at Sandown. He has had a wind op since then and will appreciate better ground and has place claims.

In the last (5:00), Herbiers has not been missed in the market. He ran well in the Conditionals race at the Festival and will appreciate the drop back in trip and better ground. He faces two less exposed and improving rivals in Lord Of Cheshire and Rock Legend and has to concede 10lbs and 20lbs to those two. No bet.