Good morning all,

Well yesterday went well with Medburn Dream winning at an SP of 12-1 but there was plenty of bigger prices around in the morning and I hope one or two of you took advantage. Wadswick Court was a good winner at Cartmel too, and only the main selection let us down for the treble!

It's Worcester on the cards for me today, not the greatest racing in the world but it is competitive and there's an interesting Juvenile Hurdle on the card that's worth going for a look at. I'll give you my best bets on the card a little later on. 

Worcester undoubtedly has it's charms, but I'm struggling to find them most of the time. Some of the outbuildings are really antiquated and badly need modernising, the course floods regularly when the rains come in any great quantity, the ground is often patchy – Alan Hill, Lawney's husband, often tells the tale of the old clerk of the course here, Hugo Bevan, the man you'd ring up for a going description.

“What's the ground today, Hugo?”

“What would you like?”

“Good to firm?”

“Yep, there's a bit of that in there somewhere….”

and in truth, not much has changed. It's almost always quicker down the back than in the home straight, due to the proximity of the river, and you'll often see horses stop quite abruptly in the closing stages.

But it's the car park, the bloody car park, more than anything that winds me up. It's a right mix up and you can get directed in any one of five ways once you're in there. You get the proper tabard-nazi treatment as well, car has to be pulled up level within an inch of the one next to you or you're for the high jump. Just point me to a space, I know how to park a car!

Getting out is an absolute free-for-all. No-one stops or directs the traffic, so you get cars coming from all directions, jumping the queue, and you can be sat there for a good half an hour if you're unlucky. It's no wonder so many people leave before the last.

Tonight, they will open up what's called the North Exit – to get to this, you drive alongside the back straight until you reach the bend at the end of it, and the exit is there. It's fine if you don't mind knackering the suspension on your car at least twice trying to get there. The potholes are horrendous.

Anyway, enough of that, let's find a winner or two. Sadly, the price has already gone on Play The Ace in the first at 4.25 and I think he will win again. Impressive against the not-unfancied Hepijeu at Stratford last time, and could be called the winner a long way out. I find it remarkable he's getting a bit of weight from Adam De Breteau, who found himself on the wrong end of a hiding from the handicapper for winning a weakish race here last time, and I'll be surprised if he's good enough to beat the Bowen horse.

I thought the 5.00 was a bit trickier than the bookmakers are making it, particularly as many of these like to lead or press the pace. Because of that, there's a case to be made for Roman Flight, the one true hold-up horse in the race but he's not the biggest to be humping 11-12 and I think he's one for exactas and trifectas rather than the win. At this stage I'm slightly tempted with Owen Na View, who ran a very solid race at Killarney last time, and looks to be coming back to form.

The Juvenile contest at 5.30 is a no-go area until I've seen them in the paddock. But there's an interesting one in the 6.00 and that's Quench Tara.

She's had a mention before as one to watch once she got her jumping together and she did that in no uncertain terms at Fontwell last time, travelling well on the front and looking like the winner at one point (traded 1.7 in the run) before getting tired. She's clearly going the right way and this flatter track should help, particularly if ridden with a touch more restraint. The 12-1 makes plenty of appeal and I'm hoping she can start to fulfill her potential tonight.

The Mares Handicap Hurdle at 7.00 is to be avoided at all costs, it looks far too tricky, and the closing contest looks a penalty kick for Nice Thoughts, although I'm a little surprised connections haven't looked straight down the handicap route (is entered up later in the week in handicaps, but would pick a penalty up if winning this, so that makes even less sense to me) and if Barwick has learnt from his hurdles debut, he could outclass this lot on Flat form.

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.