Jonjo O'Neill's Team

Difficult yard to follow best laying….

Place lay and lay…..that’s it….

Double landed although not so short priced as the bumper horse was a big drifter. You could see why. To make his task harder he has been taken four wide, and he has ended up plodding on better than what was probably a very modest bunch. Stable will be hoping that their other big money purchase, The Gooner (280,000), is a bit more impressive than this one.   

Today's first leg probably didn't have that much to beat either, particularly with Skelton thinking he could out speed the favourite with a three mile plodder.

Not overly impressive, but got the job done. One nasty moment when the jock became unblanced early on. Can't help thinking these would be going off even shorter if punters had any trust in Jonjo.

Over the last two weeks these have won, but everything else has been beaten.

A few chances to add another winner tomorrow, but if the rain arrives it's going to be difficult.

Ground at Worcester is currently given as good, but how much rain are they going to get? If everything runs it's the most interesting card thus far, and particularly good for a Wednesday.

If Fame And Concrete reproduces his Newbury run he should be odds on, but I doubt he would want too much rain, and he has already bombed once in his three starts. Little bit of a surprise he isn't starting over a shorter trip. Several point to point plodders in opposition, the most interesting of which looks to be Thomas Mor, but on point form he looks another who wouldn't want the rain.

The horse in the bumper is from the Artiste Gaye line, but it's not a pedigree that shouts bumper winner. Nicholls had a beaten favourite from the same family a couple of days ago. I doubt that they would be disappointed if it finished in the first six. Bit surprised that O'Neill can just get off the stable's runner to ride for McManus. Surely De Bonville could have done the steering to avoid a clash?

All The Glory looks to have landed in the stronger of the two mare's races, but on bumper form she should at least place. Again I would suspect rain would be a big minus.

Cedar Row out.

Very strange betting on the race, both Get Up Mush and Harjo were bumped out this morning, but now appear strong again.

Second and third very likely to be better than the winner
Not sure how you've come to that conclusion. But we all see races differently. My take on the race is
the unbeaten winner looks the type that just does enough. Thought he won with plenty in hand. The 2nd is an out and out stayer and if he gets a step up in trip on an equally stiff track next time out, I would be very interesting in backing him. The third looks a bit one paced and possibly needed the race

The second looks to stay well on the evidence of both today and his point, but given he didn't jump with any fluency I wouldn't be rushing to back him at a relatively short price next time. Disagree entirely on the third. Market support (5/1-2/1) would suggest he was fit enough. He went backwards because he couldn't make up seven lengths and sustain the effort, particularly with that mistake. I expect him to have more than enough pace to win over the intermediate trip. As the analysis suggests both second and third didn't settle as well as the winner, but I wouldn't make too many excuses on that front.

Carrigdoun Boy runs in the last at Cheltenham, but I suspect they were probably just looking for a good ground starting point, and he is essentially making up the numbers. He was a shade fortunate to win an ordinary bumper, and was twice turned aside under a penalty. I will be keeping an eye on the two Michael Scudamore runners tomoorow: the one in this race doesn't appear fancied at all, but the earlier one was the most impressive novice winner I have seen this season, and has been punted accordingly. Hopefully, he copes with the undulations.

For once a decent punting day. Mofasa wasn't as good as at Uttoxeter, but displayed a good attitude having nearly thrown it away at the last. He again travelled like a decent horse. Decent effort by the horse in the last. He looks the part, and now that he has finished a race off hopefully he can continue to progress. I had 50/1 six places, and even without the casualties I think he would probably have just about justified that position.

Very good run, but would have been closer had he turned in a cleaner round of jumping. Might be able to nick another off this mark if they can avoid the soft ground.

Three novices tomorrow.

Track And Trace was poor on bumper debut. He will have to step up massively to figure in a much better race tomorrow. Having been a very impressive point winner showing a nice gear I had expected much better from Chianti Classico. On a couple of occasions he didn't really finish his race off. Hopefully, he can do a deal better tomorrow. I am not sure the Nicholls horse has done enough to be such a short price. Interesting market support for Unspeakable as the stable don't win novice races. He was length down and looked beaten when coming down at the last on point debut.

Wideeyedandlegless doesn't have much of a pedigree and it probably wasn't much of a race he won on debut. That said he looks the part, jumped very well, and looked to stay very well. You would love to think O'Neill might make the most of those attributes and go off in front, but we know that never happens. Hopefully, even with a negative ride he can challenge the places. Of the others Tightenourbelts ran third in an above average point, and is probably worth keeping an eye on.

Gwennie May Boy goes at Bangor and although he has a smart pedigree (Black Jack Ketchum is in there) this test looks like it will be on the sharp side for him. The current 20/1 with Bet 365 looks much closer to the mark than the general 8/1. Given how he bolted up in his bumper Sergeant Wilson has to be of interest. I am surprised he wasn't put in shorter.

In the concluding bumper Peaky Boy is of obvious interest given his pedigree, his purchase price of 240,000, and the fact that Scudamore doesn't appear to have sold him. Add in Tommy seems to be riding this one in preference to the not quite so expensive Pipe horse in the concluding Chepstow bumper.

The first race at Chepstow is a very interesting. A few in there to keep close tabs on this season, especially the Kim Bailey horse. I agree with you about him not seeing out the race at Ascot and he was too keen at Aintree. He's probably strengthened up now and I think you will see a more finished article this season.

A most pleasing result! Jumped superbly and I'm thankful the Skelton beasts are needing a run.

Got plenty on here at just over 9/2. Disco did the right thing bringing him over to the stands rail and after pulling really hard early doors he settled and jumped really well. I actually thought he won a big snugly in the end. If this guy can learn to settle he can be very competitive in the top Novice races this season.


Another 2nd for Skelton there after looking the winner.

" Bellamy from off the pace " was being diplomatic, not sure what he was playing at getting that far back, horse finished better than anything in the race imo.

That one should help the level steaks for season.

Gwennie may boy

I mean for a set up like he has the guy should be fighting for Champion Trainer every Year ffs.

Mad race, but nice story with the winner. You knew once he got close he was going to stay, and he should improve for more of a test. Question answered regarding why Sergeant Wilson wasn't put in shorter. No reason to have done that, and he looks a nut job.

Walk Of No Shame runs in the last at Chepstow tomorrow. She had every chance to win both her starts, but having travelled well didn't see either race out. I doubt she wants softening ground, and I wouldn't be surprised if she drifted from the current 7/1. It doesn't look a strong race with the three bits of point form looking ordinary. A shock wouldn't be the biggest surprise.

The horse who tonked Realisation in their point was Between Waters who is now with Henderson (Tabor). She had already been trimmed for the Mare's Novice, and not surprisingly has been trimmed a bit more to around 16/1.