Morning all,

I went to Wetherby yesterday and really enjoyed my first visit to a racecourse this year. The weather played ball and it was nice to be out and about among the horses.

From a punting perspective though it was a bit of a disaster. Inside today’s main piece I look back at yesterday’s Wetherby card. Plus, there’s a Tuesday selection from Sandown.

Wetherby Review

I thought Albert’s Back would be back to winning ways in the 3:30 but he went down by a short head to the long absent Dan Skelton trained Playful Saint. It was a welcome return to form by Albert’s Back. Unfortunately, he came up against a better handicapped horse on the day.

It didn’t get any better as Indian Brave couldn’t peg back Buster Valentine in the handicap chase at 4:05. For the winner it was a welcome success for trainer Mark Walford whose yard has been struggling for winners. It was also a triumph for persistence by jockey Jamie Hamilton. The winner was the first to be pushed along but found plenty for his jockey’s urgings.

I thought Indian Brave ran well in second. However, the extended 2m 3f trip was a shade short for my selection. Still, this run showed that the 11-year-old retain plenty of ability after his long absence.

I was on the 6/4 favourite Motown Lake in the 4:40 and bad day was about to get worse. I really fancied the Christian Williams 6-year-old and I thought coming into the straight he was going to win. It wasn’t to be and on very testing ground with the last fence being omitted, he faded on the long run in to finish 4^th. The 6-year-old isn’t not one to give up on just yet and can win again when racing on better ground.

Ride of the day came from Hayley Turner in the 8:00 at Wolverhampton. Ok, I’m biased as she saved my day punting wise. Still, it was a great ride. Her mount Clap Your Hands lost ten lengths at the start. However, Hayley didn’t make panic and let the horse get himself back into contention and in the end won a shade cosily.

Tracker Time

Two for the tracker this week. Both eyecatchers ran on Saturday. The first at Doncaster and the second at Newbury. The second I have to say will likely have gone into plenty of trackers.

King D'argent – Dan Skelton

Seems to be coming to the boil with a spring campaign in mind. A 4 ¼ lengths 5th of 7 to Funambule Sivola on his previous start. The 7-year-old ran even better when a neck 2^nd of 6 to Bun Doran at Doncaster on Saturday. Twice a winner last March, he travelled through Saturday’s race like a nicely treated horse and can win again in the coming weeks.

Kildisart – Ben Pauling

The Greatwood Gold Cup saw an easy winner in the shape of Paint The Dream. However, there were a couple behind who caught my eye.

Senior Citizen ran well in third. It was his first start for four months and he seems likely to be heading once again for the Topham at Aintree, a race he finished third in last season. The ground would have been plenty soft enough on Saturday and the better the ground at Aintree the better his chance.

Kildisart was having his first start since finishing 7^th of 18 in the 2020 Ladbroke Trophy. Looking in need of the run as you would have expected. Held up in the rear and was never really in the race but steady enough headway in the straight to finish fourth.  The 2m 4f distance of Saturday’s race would have been plenty short enough for him, given he stays 3m well so in the circumstance this was an excellent effort. He’s another who will now have Aintree in his sights. The 10-year-old has an entry in the Grand National or he could go for the 3m handicap chase that he won in 2019.  Provided he comes out of the race sound, he looks on a winnable mark.

Tuesday Racing

There are three meetings across the UK on Tuesday with jumps fixtures at Sandown & Newcastle. Plus, an all-weather evening card at Wolverhampton.

The feature race of a six-race card at Sandown is the Grand Military Gold Cup (3.30).  Besides the Military rider race there are three interesting handicaps on the card.

Sandown

2:55 – Doukarov continues in decent form occupying the runner-up spot on his last two starts, including last time when a 4 ¼ length 2nd of 9 to The Russian Doyen at Newbury 16-days ago.

4:05 – Git Maker, a winner of an Irish point last spring. He’s won both his starts over hurdles this season and looks on winnable mark for his handicap debut.

4:40 – A tricky 2m 4f novice handicap hurdle.  At the prices top-weight Noah’s Light could be a bit of each way value. The 5-year-old is having his first start since switching from Ireland. A 6 ¼ length 3^rd of 12 to Cheltenham hope Ginto on his hurdle debut. He then went two places better when winning a Navan maiden (good) in November. I don’t know much about his new trainer Richenda Ford but she’s gone 126-days since a winner. That said Noah’s Light is unexposed and open to improvement.

Tuesday Selection:

It's a toss up between Doukarov and Noah's Light but I'm going to take a flyer with the latter.

Sandown

4:40 – Noah's Light (each way)

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John