Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece you’ll find two horses for the tracker.

Key Commander ran a cracker at Carlisle and three out I thought he might go onto win. However, he had been up with the strong early pace and paid for those exertions in the closing stages. It was good effort to finish third in race which was set up for the closers. If you were on each way you got a handy return. The winner Tile Tapper was on my short list and he had to be brave to hold off Destiny Is All close home. If you ignored the winners previous performance at Kempton which came a bit too quick after a previous good run then your faith was rewarded.

There's a race to be won with Key Commander but he may have had a hard race yesterday.

Two For The Tracker

I thought Saturday’s action was good and the field sizes for the big handicaps races at Ascot held up despite the good ground.

It was good ground at both Ascot and Haydock on Saturday. The official going description for Haydock was good to soft but there didn’t seem much soft in the ground looking at the times.

Good ground at Haydock could explain the woeful performance by the well fancied Omar Maretti (6/1) in the National Trial. He needs more juice in the ground than was on offer on Saturday.

Don’t be fooled by the yielding going description at Punchestown on Sunday. The rain that fell and an impact on the ground making for heavy work for both horse and rider. Indeed, the times suggest that the going was heavy.

The first of today’s tracker horses ran at Haydock on Saturday.  But first an honourable mention for Collectors Item who was beaten a short head in Saturday’s Grade 2 Prestige Novices' Hurdle at Haydock. The 6-year-old has really improved for the step up to 3m on his last two starts. Officially rated 125 coming into Saturday’s race I had improving by 10lb on his previous form. He’s going the right way and might do even better with more juice in the ground.

Mill Green – Nicky Henderson

We don’t see Mill Green very often. But he doesn’t have too many miles on the clock and is one to note for the spring festivals.

The 11-year-old posted a career best when a 2 ¼ length 3^rd of 22 to Third Wind in last year’s Pertemps Final. Having his first start since April he has qualified for this season’s race when a 7 length 3^rd of 9 in the Haydock Pertemps Series Qualifier on Saturday. He wasn’t given a hard race and will be spot on for next month’s race. He’s available at 25/1 for the race and should go well. He’s certainly on my race shortlist.

Revels Hill – Harry Fry

Not for the first time this season Revels Hill caught the eye. He had ended last season looking a progressive staying handicap chaser. And he began this season with an excellent 3 ¾ length 2nd of 13 at Ascot over an inadequate 2m 5f. Not his best at Sandown on his previous start 8-year-old seemed to take to the first time cheekpieces when a staying on 11 ¼ length 3^rd of 14 to Cap Du Nord in the Swinley Handicap Chase at Ascot. Three mile around Ascot wasn’t enough of a stamina test for the 8-year-old who remains capable of a big performance when returned to 3m 2f+.

Tuesday Racing

The big racing story of Tuesday will be the unveiling of the weights for the 175^th Randox Grand National. And I will look at the handicappers allocations in Wednesday column.

In truth limited opportunities today and it took me all of 20 mins to go through today’s cards.

Southwell

7:30 – Urban Dandy put in a much improved performance when winning over C&D 19-days ago. The handicapper has put him up 6lb for that success but I think the 3-year-old can win again if in the same form as last time.

Taunton

3:00 – Previous course winner Stormy Flight is sure to be popular after a back to form effort at Ffos Las 18-days ago. However, at each way odds it may pay to side with Dock Road. The 7-year-old has been running well since joining his new yard and can get into the money.

Tuesday selection:

Taunton

3:00 – Dock Road – 8/1 @ Bet365 (e/w).

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John