And Kim's only runner today obliges in the first at Donny

Venetia got 4 today, 3 at Newbury and 1 in the last at Donny
I shall be playing them all, to medium stakes, would have liked it softer at both meetings

Gl all

wd Reg. I was not organised in time to have a bet at Donnie.

Big Stage had been available at 150/1, but can't kick myself too much as he would only have been fifth. That said did a lot wrong - quite keen, stuck out wide, and dragged himself through a succession of fences with the jock not much help. Perhaps a drop in trip?

Supreme George wrecked the each-way gambles by getting home this time. Joto jumped well enough, but is very small, and never really close enough. As I thought, given that he fell in at Carlisle, the favourite looked very short.

That's about as surprising as tomorrow being Sunday. He's useless.

Don't think De Boinville could have done much more other than try and make the running. I questioned the flat rating, and he just looked a slow boat.

Rula Bula ran well, but probably needed the ground a little bit softer, at least at that trip. Also needs to tidy up her jumping.

Fit enough but not good enough.

Shame that people need to start new threads that could easily go on here. I have even covered the answer to the question.

The New Lion travelled very strongly and much too good. I think he's very much speed over stamina, and you could drop him trip. Second and third looked like staying chasers. There isn't much of French Ship, and he was disappointing.

Rightsotom another for Joe Tizzard. Not sure about The Changing Man his only other one today. He was never going at Wincanton before falling so is very short again. Sir Gino won as he liked but Lump Sum was rated 12lb inferior so that worked out right. The rest were moderate.

Well Well. I really fancied Broadway Boy but my unmoveable system of backing Nicholls in the most valuable race of the day overcame my big doubt that Kandoo Kid was good enough. I would have been in tears if I had not backed it and it won so I did. Still wanted Broadway but very happy with 1-2. They were both in the first 4 or 5 the whole way. The French horse looked odds on 2 out but faded quickly.

WD sage by the way

And I was on frero banbou for Venetia, of course

Elleon Made 2 shuddering mistakes at successive fences at the end of the first circuit and there was no way back into the race after that. Kandoo Kid travelled powerfully and, as hoped for, improved for the step up in trip at his favourite course and won nicely.

Thanks, you too.

Well done on the winners, unfortunately, I had to settle for 14/1 and 7/1 seconds, plus a 16/1 second that I cashed out.

Normal service resumed. That's what I usually associate with Sam Twiston-Davies. It was a scruffy round of jumping, but that mistake, at a critical time, cost him more than the distance he was beaten.

Big credit to Our Champ in the Gerry Feilden. He raced very close to a hot pace, and did exceptionally to stay in contention, on ground softer than ideal.

It looked as if General Medrano took a huge leap forward in the last. He has travelled strongly in the past, but the end result has been nothing like that.

Hobbs stable continues to decline - French Ship disappointing, Ballee already looks as if he has 'gone', and a tame effort from Imperial Saint.

Sir Gino impressive, but questionable what sort of test it was with the second favourite blowing out completely. I can't see him going chasing, particularly with the doubts about Constitution Hill, and the possibility that State Man might be in decline.

The Changing Man throws away another one. How many is that now? Perhaps try a different jock?

At Fairyhouse, very good effort by Ballygunner Castle to win the maiden hurdle. He would have won a good deal easier without the attentions of the loose horse. The flat bred, A Dream To Share, hasn't gone on. Bumper a bit of a puzzle. You Proof was virtually out of control, and should have made it easy for the favourite who settled nicely, but in the end he wasn't good enough. The seemingly unfancied, William Butler, surged past the front two, and could be useful.

Thanks, but winning even a small amount is much better than losing.

I think the thread is helping because without it I wouldn't be giving the 'lesser days' as much attention.

It is always instructive to see which novices are kept for Saturdays and which run in lesser races but where does that leave Caldwell Potter?
Carlisle is a popular place to run a novice chaser but if he is all he is cracked up to be, why take him all that way from Ditcheat? I am sure that Paul Nicholls will have a plan.

Nicholl's says he's a bit too fresh and a bit too brave and wants to get him some experience into him before stepping him up in class.

Makes sense Duffy but is Carlisle very different from courses closer to home?

No bets today. A few I considered at Carlisle last night have shortened up, and are of no interest at the current prices. I thought Big Bert was a mad price in the bumper, and no surprise he has drifted. It was a slow mention finish to his point with the two fancied one's bombing, including the very well bred Chuggy. It was soft ground, but his action suggested that's not the surface he wants. Add in he was a relatively cheap purchase and the trainer has yet to do much with the national hunt breds. Maximum Offers was 6/1 last night, but now no better than 5/2. He was run down late in his point, but that was over a year ago. Camberwell travelled well in his point, but another who produced a weak finish. The Skelton horse is weak at the moment, but wouldn't need to be much good to win this. Lieutenant Mayne the obvious shortie on the card, but you might have hoped for a better price given the form boost Gamesters Guy got yesterday. Grand Albert looks a chaser, but the stable continues in modest form, and I doubt he has the engine to trouble the favourite. I have to chuckle when I read the Racing Post comment on Willy De Houelle: ' french form reads well'. What does it take to read badly? I repeat every horse from his last run has been stuffed since. It couldn't read much worse, but today's race looks threadbare, and it might not matter. I liked Lossiemouth over Teahupoo, but she is speed, and any softening should be in favour of the latter. The market has already flip flopped once, and could easily do so again.

Couldn't agree more about the Carlisle bumper dd. Laid the fav at 2.46 lastnight but not for as much as I wanted. Thought there was a few dangers and the Skelton horse if money came would def go close