Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I continue my look ahead to a big Easter weekend of racing action.

Charlie Appleby Update: Another Winner

Yesterday I highlighted Charlie Appleby as a trainer to follow in April well he had a winner at Kempton (9/4) and third at Nottingham. The ground was soft at Nottingham and Appleby is 0-3 with his runners on soft ground in April.

Looking Ahead To The Weekend – Part 2

I looked at Saturday’s feature race the Queen’s Cup in Wednesday’s column but there are three other competitive handicaps from Musselburgh being shown live on ITV. The most notable is the tote World Pool Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap (3:00).

Musselburgh – tote World Pool Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap

This Class 2 contest run over 5f has £45,000 in guaranteed prize money and we should get a decent sized field.

I’m not going to spend too much looking at trends but there are a couple interesting negative ones that stood out. Looking at the last nine running’s of the race.

Odds SP: 18/1 & bigger – 0 winners from 50 runners 2 placed

Age: 4-year-old’s – 0 winners from 25 runners 6 placed.

Some contenders…

Last year’s winner Zarzyni could be in the line-up once more. He’s 2lb lower this time around but doesn’t have the benefit of a recent run like 12 months ago. Still he has to be respected if ready to roll first time.

The bookies early bird favourite is Came From The Dark. He was a head 3^rd of 13 in the race two years ago, from 2lb higher, and then went onto win a Newbury handicap and a Group 3 at Sandown. He failed to get anywhere near his smart 2021 form on five starts last season and has questions to answer but he’s now down to a good mark.

Makanah likely faces some better treated rivals. However, he’s 3-7, 5 places over C&D and he was a 1 ¾ length 4^th of 11 in this race 12 months ago (4lb lower).  He had to wait for gap that day and if he got earlier would have gone close. Stablemate Look Out Louis would of more interest back at Chester.

Le Beau Garcon looked a useful 3-year-old sprint handicapper when a ¾ length 2^nd of 11 on his seasonal return over C&D last June. He was unlucky to win that day given he was badly hampered at the start that. Didn’t really build on that promise on four subsequent starts last but he starts this season off on what looks a good mark. Worth noting he also holds an entry in the 4:45 and that would be an easier option.

Count D’orsay is on a long losing run. However, he ran several good races last season that make the 7-year-old very well handicapped. He’s suited by some juice in the ground and if fully tuned up for his seasonal return wouldn’t be with out a chance.

Haydock & Fairyhouse

There’s likely to be some big fields at Haydock for Challenger Series Finals Day.

The going at Haydock was good to soft on Wednesday lunchtime.  However, rain was being forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. Although its due to be dry on Friday and Saturday. I’m happy to leave those races alone until I know going and the final line-ups. Likewise, the first day of Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival where there are a couple of valuable handicap hurdles I won’t be looking until final declarations are out.

Thursday Racing

National Hunt racing dominates today with jumps fixtures at Hereford, Wetherby and Clonmel. There’s no flat turf action this side of the Irish Sea although there is a Flat card at Bellewstown. However, there are all-weather cards at Chelmsford and in the evening at Southwell.

William Haggas gives inform apprentice Billy Loughnane – 6 winners from 18 rides in the past 14-days – the leg up once more on In The Giving in the 7:30 at Southwell.  The filly will be short price to go one better than at Kempton 27-days ago. However, it provides a good opportunity for the young jockey to ride a winner for a top Newmarket trainer.

Despite having 43 races to look at. The day that can be filed under the category dreadful.

They’re only three horses that vaguely caught my interest and they all run in the same race at Wetherby.

Wetherby

4:55 – Gentleman De Mai looked in a need of more of a stamina test when a 2 ½ length 2nd of 10 on his chase debut at Ayr. He should come on for that effort and is open to further improvement over the larger obstacles.

Not Sure made it two wins from his last three starts over fences when winning by a nose at Uttoxeter 19-days ago. He’s 3lb higher now but looks capable of better stepping up to 3m for the first time.

Anglers Crag – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Thursday bets.

John