1.30 I have only had the one ante post bet this year & that was on Mystical Power at 20’1 after he won his first hurdle start back in July at Galway. I was struck by the high class pedigree and the fact that he showed power rarely seen from a novice hurdler late on after a shoddy bit of jumping too. That view was more than backed up when he powered away with a Group 2 in effortless style and looked even more impressive as the jumping had come on plenty this time. For me he looks an outstanding prospect for this season and beyond. Off the rest stable mates Tullyhill & Mistergif look the most interesting with the latter looking more of a stayer long term. The price on Mystical Power is still a fair enough 7’2 in my view so rates a good opening selection. Advised Bet Mystical Power 2pt win @ 7’2
2.10 There does not seem to be an obvious outstanding prospect in this years renewal with the form of most of the runners a bit in and out. Gaelic Warrior looked imperious when scoring the time before last and most of his best runs have come on right handed tracks as was the case that day, left handed today and that looks a bit negative to me. Found A Fifty & Il Etait Temps don’t have much to separate them on form & it’s hard to choose between them. Hunters Yarn is unlucky not to be 2 from 2 over fences & certainly has the look of one that could well improve again. All those mentioned previously are short enough in the betting , but one I think may have a decent chance at a much bigger price is Master Chewy. The run last time out can be ignored because he was badly hampered early doors yet still managed to get within a few lengths near the finish , a fast run 2m is right up his street and I can see him finishing well from off the pace. Advised Bet Master Chewy 1/2pt ew @ 25’1
2.50 A race that has been a bit of a home fixture for Uk based runners in recent years , but this years crop don’t look that strong this time around and maybe this year is going to be set up for the Irish. Current favourite is Meetingofthewaters who has recently been purchased by JP McManus , the horse is not the biggest however & has taken a fair hit in the weights for the victory in December and he has never raced at this venue before which I find can be a big negative in these competitive handicaps. The Goffer looked to be about to strike in this last year until a couple of late errors seemed to cost him. He is lower in the weights this time and has more experience this time around , he is a bit tricky but Jack Kennedy who was the last jockey to win on him gets back on board for the first time since and I can see a bit run on the cards. Advised Bet The Goffer 3/4pt ew @ 6’1 firms offering 6 places
3.30 A rather poor looking field behind the obvious State Man who has by far the best form of any of these. Irish Point drops way back in trip and I can’t see him troubling State Man at this 2m trip. Iberico Lord has been Supplemented for this race at a late stage & while he is ideally suited to the 2m he looks the type that needs delivering off a strong pace and is that really likely in such a small field ? Mares have a decent record in this , mainly because of a substantial weight allowance and would bring Luccia in with a shout , she has form at the track & is tactically versatile ; so this small field should not bother her at all. Advised Bet Luccia 1/2 pt ew @ 28’1
4.10 Lossiemouth has been all the rage for this since her romp in the Triumph last year , she enhanced her domination when swotting aside her rivals here in January , she is undoubtedly high class a tough one to beat. But the rest of the field look exposed enough for this level and may be something lightly raced from left field could sneak a place. The one that falls into that category is Lantry Lady who has only seen the track twice and won by big margins both times , it struck be how full of praise her trainer was after the last win her strength at the finish on both occasions suggested that longer trips would be within range; this is a tough ask on only her third start but there’s surely more to come from her. Advised Bet Lantry Lady 1/2 pt ew @ 33’1
4.50 A race in which the home team has struggled in over recent years , but also one that it tends not to be the obvious Irish trained ones hitting the score board with either. With that in mind Lark In The Morning who has been hyped up as a very likely winner of this ( easy to see why on previous runs ) is the favourite . But as I said it tends not to be the obvious ones and that being the case Bright Legend & Palamon look likely candidates on that score. Both look to have been handicap projects this season and they could just be lurking in the shadows at decent prices. Advised Bets Bright Legend 1/2 pt ew @ 33’1 Bet 365 6 places & Palamon 1/2 pt ew @ 20’1 Bet 365 / Paddy Power 6 places
5.30 A race that tends to be dominated by the Irish and the top Irish amateur riders. The race is also run in the memory of WP Mullin’s mother who died recently so Embassy Gardens is highly likely to be primed and ready to strike for that yard , the price is very short however and he is often a free going sort who ran badly here last year. Salvador Ziggy is a strong alternative , he cut out pretty quickly when last seen in the USA after a long summer campaign and it may have been a case of one race too far that time. Off since and saved for this , he had almost exactly the same layoff before his excellent second here on soft ground in last year’s Pertemps Final. Advised Bet Salvador Ziggy 1pt ew @ 5’1 / 9’2 firms offering 3 places