Good morning all,

Three from the last few days that have caught the eye on the main piece.

Today's racing makes as much appeal as cold Christmas pudding, with both Leicester and Hexham surviving inspections, but there's one from Leicester worth a small bet.

Unai (Ben Pauling)

Ran Monday, Musselburgh

Last month I had the pleasure of interviewing Ben Pauling as part of that evening’s entertainment for the Cheltenham and Three Counties Race Club evening and it was fascinating to listen to Ben talk about all the problems he’s had this autumn with his horses. In a nutshell, the feed was the problem, it was lacking in potassium, and that’s rather important, but they were hoping they had got to the bottom of the issue and were looking forward to having runners again.

Unai was one he had quite high hopes for this term, and certainly the form of his bumper third at Warwick back in April is working out perfectly well. He had his first run over hurdles at Musselburgh on Monday and it’s fair to say he’ll improve plenty for it – his jumping early on was less than fluent, and he looked rather outpaced for much of the 2m contest. But in the closing stages he stayed on nicely without being knocked about, very much giving the impression a bit further next time wouldn’t go amiss, and with the yard having a winner later on the card, hopefully they should be firing on all cylinders before much longer. With that, keep Unai in mind for better contests once he goes up in trip.

Sorbet (Lucy Wadham)

Ran Sunday, Huntingdon

This was a lively little betting heat. There was decent money around for a few in the ring – firstly Kim Bailey’s Rhosneigr, who ran well below form, then Perfect City (handicaps for him now, he’ll be very interesting there) and then a few e/w fivers and tenners around at 100-1 for Sorbet, who was definitely fared the best of these three and ran a bit better than a finishing position of sixth would suggest. She travelled as well as anything throughout the race and looked set to finish in the places turning for home, but got tired and faded in the final stages. That was her first start since April, so she may well have needed it, and I’d suggest there’s definitely a race or two in her when the ground is decent.

It’s worth pointing out too that right on the off, a few (from the yard?) wanted to be with the second, Marlborough Sounds each-way as well, and he traded at even money before finding the race-fit favourite West Cork too good. Should be some winners out of this race.

Soft Summer Rain (Mick Easterby)

Ran Aintree, Saturday

I’d had a few quid on her e/w on Saturday and so had my eye on her anyway, but the bottom line with her is that she just wants further than a bare 2m – she has no speed, but plodded on at one pace in the straight. I’m not saying she’s any good thing next time, but she’s handicapped now, and if connections decide to go down that route, she’ll get the allowances as a 3yo as well. Could be a weak 20f+ Northern handicap to be picked up with her.

Over at Leicester today, the 1.30 is about the only race that interests me, as it sees Donatello Mall make his appearance in handicap company after an eyecatching run at Warwick last time. The surprise is that it comes in a chase rather than a hurdle, which now leads me to believe connections had a plan all along, and this was it. He certainly has the size for fences, and this is certainly weak enough a race for him if he can jump fluently. Small win bet against the shorter front two, both of whom have something to prove.

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Good luck with all your bets today,

David.