They have been poor recently but still showing a level stakes profit for the NH season. I would not back most of them at the moment but come March any horse trained J O'Neill and owned by a certain JP McManus will get close scrutiny from me.

Another winnerless day as expected. Jamie Brace spent most of the race trying to settle Sacre Coeur, but having kept her in contention the horse could only find the one pace in the straight. She might drop a couple of pounds, but the current tactics are not working, and if they go forward again her jumping is going to be a handicap. Inch House ran a respectable race, but nothing more. The horse was leaning towards the rail up the straight, but instead of trying to straighten him, O'Neill continued to use the whip in his right hand making the situation even worse. Mr Biggs has some size, but no engine.

No surprises today, no encouragement from Arrivederci, and Cawthorne Lad was closing late which might suggest O'Neill sat too long on the bridle. Trainer and jock both now on a losing run of 17.

Big day tomorrow, at least in a numerical sense, with eight runners split between Warwick and Newcastle.

Beginning at Warwick. Max Kendrick has another day out on Toute Chic. It's not the strongest novice, but Also Known As will need to step up on hurdling debut to even finish in the first six. Betty's Banjo stopped as if shot on her seasonal debut. If you could ignore that dire effort she would have an each way chance at a big price. The market should guide. Kept away from O'Neill Jnr, Manintheshadows has been ridden prominently, and been progressive at a low level. He looks to have every chance on chasing debut. At Newcastle, Blue Shark looks to follow up his surprise Ffos Las win for Jamie Brace. Again he looks to have every chance. Pulled out a month ago, Crebilly looks to have landed on an ordinary novice, but I do wonder whether if he will need a stiffer test. Monbeg Genius was poor on chase debut, and even if he steps up on that, he might find a couple too good. Impatient looks to have found a weaker bumper than the one he was pulled out of the other day.

A couple of obvious duffers, but it will a disappointing if they can't sneak at least one winner.

Was some late money for caw,by all accounts this stable is having a larf.

Oy Oy. They have retreated to Newcastle but with at 4 well fancied ones. Three down, one to go. JP on a 4 timer perhaps? I have not backed any of them.

Did one 0f his rags last night 20-1 at Warwick. Another reason to be gutted no he's back in form!

Monbeg Genius is owned by thiefs who stole money from the taxpayer.

The string of revelations appears to have taken its toll on Mone, who announced this week that she was taking a leave of absence from the House of Lords with immediate effect – according to her spokesperson, “in order to clear her name of the allegations that have been unjustly levelled against her”.

The only speck of good news for the peer this week appears to have come in the 1.17pm race at Newcastle on Thursday, won by Monbeg Genius, a horse she bought for her husband as his “second wedding gift”.

The six-year-old gelding, bought for £80,000, was one of a number of acquisitions that Mone and her husband made in the months after they secretly received at least £65m from profits originating from PPE Medpro. In a change of direction, several of those assets are now for sale.

Dollar Bae must have a favourites chance in the 2-28, humped 12st to a cosy victory lto.

Ballybough Mary looks a slow boat. Dr Hegarty never at the races again. Dollar Bae probably won with a touch in hand, but didn't produce the gear the jock keeps expecting.

As ever the significant action was over in Ireland. Arctic Bresil was keen, and ignorant at several hurdles, but he could be pretty smart. I take very little notice of times, but he was 6 seconds faster than the impressive juvenile winner, and carried 12lbs more. Besides Blood Destiny, I thought Impervious showed a nice attitude to take the novice chase. Hopefully, her form doesn't tail off this year. Not sure what O'Regan was doing on Teagarden Jazz in the opener, and I am not sure what O'Brien/Ward were doing in turning a blind eye. Perhaps he might be worth bearing in mind for a Boodles, but it is probably worth bearing he mind she has yet to win under either code.

Fingers crossed we can get something other than the not so all-weather this week.

* game.

A few of the stable dregs due out at Lingfield tomorrow. Last time Cawthorne Lad looked as if he would benefit from a step up in trip, and a stronger ride. He gets at least one of the two. On The Bandwagon showed a little more last time, but that was in a much smaller field. Bit surprised Brogan doesn't retain the ride. Also Known As looks outclassed in an above average novice hurdle. Destin D'ajonc was desperate on return, and probably wants softer ground. Punches Cross has shown next to nothing since the stable switch, and has dropped more than 30lbs. Irrespective of the degree of retained ability this trip looks too short, and presumably the idea is to at least try and get him to finish his race off.

Nice to have racing back today. Some pretty iffy rides, most notably from Cooper and Blackmore in the feature. They gave their mounts zero chance of winning. Interesting that Willie wasn't best pleased about Navan not being re-staged. He should try coping with the virtually non existent process over here.

Just noticed that today's bumper winner, Slade Steel, has been given various quotes for the Festival. Most are meaningless, as apparantly, he will stay in the bumpers this season. If a Telescope beats two by Arctic Cosmos I can't help but think it is a very weak race. Hopefully, when he reappears the markets take the opposite view. I wouldn't be taking any price for the Festival Bumper.

Sky are going 20/1 Hermes Allen for the Albert Bartlett. He has looked a very strong stayer, and the race looks perfect for him. If Nicholls committed him he would be around 4/1, possibly even shorter if he wins the Challow. Presumably, Sky have been given a steer that Nicholls no longer believes the longer race is his best option?

Nap hand of washing jobs today. Plenty of them failing to see their races out. Yes Indeed might nick one if his jumping ever comes together, but that's big if. I would give another jock a go on him. Magic Seven was much too short in the last and didn't get close to conceding the penalty. The ground was probably softer than ideal, but his limitations were exposed.

Another big day numerically tomorrow with four at Ayr, and two at Ffos Las. Again we are mainly dealing with low grade handicappers. The wind op seems to have sparked up Locks Corner, but you do wonder how long that will last. You didn't see much last time, but it looked as if he needed all of the trip on the soft ground. A drop of rain might help his cause. Are U Wise To That looks opposable on the basis he has been put in very short purely on the subsequent efforts of Attacca. That horse has wised up considerably since his debut. The Walford horse is an interesting debutant. Cobolobo hasn't won for more than two years, is only 3lbs lower than that last winning mark, and stopped as if shot on reappearance. Punches Cross was discussed above having missed a recent engagement. At least this is a more suitable trip. At Ffos Las Rocked Up won a poor Market Rasen novice before disappointing in two handicaps. The step up in trip and softer ground - she is a half sister to Pride Of Lecale - needs to work the oracle. Half The Freedom was disappointing last time. It's not beyond the realms that he could bounce back down in trip in first time cheekpieces.

The opener at Ffos Las is by far the best race of the day. It will be interesting to see if Firestream backs up, and in so doing looks a little more straightforward. Coleman got turned over on Parramount today, and I am sure bookmakers would love to see this one go west as well. Let's hope it doesn't.

Yes, the hat trick now looks a blip. I like to think I am calling it as it is. The big mystery is why owners stand for it. There is just as much money being spent on horses in this yard as there is on those at Skeltons. Nobody in the media calls him out despite the 'cheeky chappie' being as far removed from an open book as you can get. How often is he interviewed?

Today's runners at Ayr appear very weak in market, and the couple at Ffos Las the exact opposite.

Yes, Firestream was from my horses to follow and I had a small bet in the morning in case it drifted but it went too short later. Not sure if it underperformed though. The winner could be special. Mr Rucker even agreed to an interview!  My other big fancy was Al Agaila at Lingfield and that did win.

Five runners tomorrow, none for the stable jock who is at Kempton to ride Champ.

Dana's Gem makes her debut in the mare's novice at Wincanton. A 24,000 3yo from an ordinary family she seems unlikely to figure. A rare ride for Lorcan Williams. Similarly, two for Robbie Dunne at Wetherby. Both could do without rain. Zabeel Champion, in first time cheekpieces, looks by far the pick of the two, but so far he hasn't come close to translating the best of his flat form. As previously suggested the improving Blue Shark looks the best chance of a winner in the last at Fontwell. If he handles the track he has very good prospects of completing the hat trick. Piper Tom completes the nap hand in the Huntingdon bumper. He was purchased for 60,000 having finished third in an Irish point. He went off favourite, and the two that beat him have subsequently shown ability under rules. He looks to have an each-way chance at the general 14/1.

Eight runners tomorrow, split between Chepstow and Wetherby.

Two in the opening novice hurdle, but it would be a big surprise if either troubled the top two in the market. Preference would be for the unraced French bred as Mr Biggs, although he has the size his name implies, already looks exposed. Saint Davy made heavy weather of winning his bumper, but those who chased him have run well since, and he looks to have every chance in a not overly competitive staying novice. You would hope this test should suit Flight Deck, but he is 4lbs higher than his last winning mark, and he has to concede plenty of weight to a couple of potential improvers. Presumably, Time To Get Up was being prepped for this, but ran a shocker on his reappearance. He is very hard to fancy on that evidence.

At Wetherby, I would be pretty sure that we haven't seen the best of Pride Rock, but I suspect for the time being we will see another similar run tomorrow over an inadequate trip ahead of handicaps. Toute Chic will give the owner's son another run round. Big Ambitions was clueless on debut, but has a nice enough pedigree to figure if he is a good deal straighter for the experience.

Horrible yard to follow…or punt..

Anyone on a Jonjo treble? Not me.

Never in contention, but a little bit of promise from Inchester D'Amsyl. Likely better to come. As I said elsewhere I thought Saint Davy was beaten. He would have been a very unlucky loser with O'Neill for some reason losing his balance (he also lost balance after jumping the last on Comfort Zone) and irons, and then bungling the last. Horse has done very well to rally, and I would mark him up for the win. Perhaps a tilt at the Leamington Spa with a view to stepping up for the Albert Bartlett might be the route to take. Conditions did suit Flight Deck who produced a personal best. It's a mystery what happened at Aintree, but unfortunately that was a Pertemps Qualifier. Presumably, they will have another bash at qualifying. Much better from Time To Get Up who held every chance until fading from the turn in. Midlands National repeat?

At Wetherby Pride Rock was ridden into the ground. It appears they are doing their level best to make him look useless. Toute Chic was beaten at halfway. Better from Big Ambitions, but he was outpaced by the front three, and will be much better served by 2m4f+ and obstacles.

Elsewhere, no real surprise that Mullins dominated Leopardstown. Dysart Dynamo emerged as a threat to Jonbon, and Facile Vega did what he had to without being impressive. At Limerick where the ground was as bad as ever, Shecouldbeanything impressed in the mare's novice. Over here Edwardstone now has another blip on his record. Where was that Editeur Du Gite when I backing him last season? It's a very strange game at times. Since Bear Ghylls went wrong Nicky Martin has hardly trained a winner, but then along comes the thoroughly exposed The Two Amigos. You couldn't make it up.