5 minutes Top tipster Barry Hill picks out for of his best bets this Sunday from Musselburgh, Punchestown and Kempton.
1.55 SOUTHWELL - WILLIAM EWART - 9/4 (NAP)
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This horse is set to reveal his best form again now that he's returning to jumping fences, after coming in third in a hurdles race at Fakenham last time. His trainer, Christian Williams, has given him a bit of a break since that race, and he's coming back to chase with an additional 9lb. His last chase was pretty impressive, securing a close second at Wincanton in October on a two-mile course that really didn't play to his strengths as a strong long-distance runner. Now, he's moving up to a three-mile race on challenging ground, which is generally where he excels. Even his last race, despite being over hurdles and on tough ground, showed some promising signs as he kept pushing all the way. With a decent weight this time around, it seems like a great opportunity for him to find his way back to the winner's circle.
2.15 MUSSELBURGH – SHADOWS IN THE SKY 7/1
George Crawford Legacy Trust Handicap Chase
This race looks pretty open and easy-going, perfect for those horses rated up to 100, but there are a few in the mix that might surprise us yet. Get With It, who's not too seasoned at nine years old and has a couple of wins under his belt from 15 tries over fences, tends to mess up his chances by getting too excited early on. He's great in the middle of the race but then loses steam when it counts. If he can chill out a bit, he's definitely one to watch.
Then there's Shadows In The Sky, Chris ‘Rambo’ Grant's horse, who I'm pretty sure is way better than his score of 96 lets on. I've been keeping an eye on him since he nearly caught up to Deep Charm over this track, missing by just a couple of lengths. His last race wasn't his best, with some slow jumps at the start before he was pulled up, but I'm willing to overlook that. Back at Edinburgh with the ground drying up, he's looking good to make a strong comeback.
2.35 PUNCHESTOWN – QUEEN JANE 14/1
QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Listed Race
It's cool to see Any Second Now hitting the track again, though he's got a tough score of 144 to beat. Honestly, it seems a bit too tough for him after he fell behind by a whopping 81 lengths in his first two races this season. Maybe he'd have more fun in hunter chases. Frontal Assault is another one who feels like he's on the brink of getting it right, but it's starting to seem like that day might never come, even with Carl Millar taking off 7lbs to help him out.
But I'm leaning towards Queen Jane this time. She's always seemed like she'd thrive in a real test of endurance. Her close second to Brides Hill, where they left the third place far behind, showed she's got what it takes, and she wasn't even slowing down at the end. With a longer distance and a slower pace this time, she should find her groove pretty well. She's my pick over My Immortal, who seems ready for this challenge, and Stormy Judge, who really turned heads in the Thyestes Chase with a strong finish.
4.10 PUNCHESTOWN – JERIKO DE BAUNE 7/1
David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Novice Handicap Hurdle
Ballycashin was the hot favorite last time but didn't live up to the hype, which was a bit of a surprise. I think the problem is he needs a shorter race, not a longer one. Rusheen was super close to winning before he finally did at Fairyhouse, but he's stepping up in class and barely scraped by last time, so I'm looking elsewhere.
I've got my eye on Jeriko De Baune, a five-year-old who just nailed a win over three miles. He's sitting at a mark of 104, so he's gotta pull off something special to win this one, but he seems to have hit his stride. If the pace is good, I reckon he'll outlast the competition in the final stretch, especially Buachaillbocht and the intriguing Jack Du Large.
Speaking of Jack Du Large, he's the dark horse here. His first few races weren't great, mainly because of some shaky jumps, and he wasn't really in the mix. But after his last run, where he came in second to Now Is The Hour (who just won at Haydock), it's clear he's stepped up his game. If he keeps improving like this, he's definitely one to watch in this race.
6.00 KEMPTON – PORFIN
Unibet Support Safe Gambling Handicap (Div II)
I always get a kick out of trying my luck with these class six handicaps on the all-weather tracks, and this second division looks like a perfect match. With at least six horses likely to push the pace hard, some of them just can't seem to take it easy, and I'm betting this will play right into the hands of my seasoned pick, Porfin.
Porfin, now six, feels like he's been part of the scene forever. With a track record of 5 wins out of 49 on the all-weather and another 14 places, this bay gelding has shown he's no slouch. The trick with him, though, is he thrives when there's a real pace to chase. It might sound odd since he's often out front early, but I'm thinking this time might be different.
He's been taking it easy race-wise for the last couple of months and was a bit too eager in his last outing. I'm crossing my fingers that Grace McEntee might switch things up and give him some cover this time. Even though he's won leading from the front before, his best performances usually come when he's just off the pace. Here's hoping they'll hold him back a bit this time and not stick to the front-running strategy.