Racing tips: There will be many Brighterdaysahead for Gigginstown and Elliott

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Jefferey's Cross was an easy winner at Haydock, winning at a drifted price of 9/2 with a small rule 4.

I'd expect to see a quick turnaround for this horse, and he'll probably make a trip up to Ayr as it's a meeting Dan Skelton likes to target.

Ballinslea Bridge was creeping into contention in his race and jumping well until making one shuddering mistake and he exited.

Cork 3:30 – Feronily 7/2 (1pt)

I doubt we'll be able to get great odds on Feronily, even though he is on chase, due to being trained by Emmet Mullins who the bookies are scared senseless of, but as long as he's around 2/1 I think he is a worthwhile bet against the older horses.

Some people might be sucked into backing Chacun Pour Soi as it's the weakest race he's probably even run in since his novice days, but surely this is a big no-no. This is his first ever try over 3m, and that's happening at the age of 11! He never ran in a PTP, so he hasn't even run over today's distance before racing over rules and his record over 2m isn't convincing. He has tried 2m 4f the last two times, finishing 3rd behind Fakir D'oudaries by 18L and then 29L behind Envoi Allen, obviously the quality of horses those days are better than today, but you'd have wanted more. There's a reason why he was kept to 2m for the whole of his career, and that's because he is quick, he's never looked like a 2m who should go up in trip like your Altior's and Shiskin's.

Feronily is very lightly raced and is making his chase debut in a decent race against some proven quality horses from years ago, which is strange, but they must evidently fancy their chances. He is a PTP winner, winning by 10L, being heavily backed on that day, so clearly, he's always had a reputation. He was a decent bumper horse, finishing in the places on both starts, the final start was behind the Champion bumper winner and runner-up so that looks like solid form. He was then pitched into Grade 2 company on hurdles debut, where he finished 4th/7 before winning a maiden hurdle as he liked at long odds of 1/6F, recording an RPR of 135 in the process. I think it's of note that they aren't waiting around over hurdles and they're going markedly up in trip for his chase debut, I think they believe they might have a nice one on their hands for some decent pots this year. The trip should be fine, with him having a staying pedigree on both sides. As the youngest horse in the race, he is obviously open to more progress and might be able to beat these horses whilst they're on the decline.

The others should be mentioned, Bachasson has clearly had problems, he was off the track for 700+ days so it was a surprise to see him make a return and win 19 days ago. He's a 12yo and isn't totally familiar over 3m, he's a winning machine but he might bounce after such a huge layoff. Ronald Pump's form has fallen off a cliff, he has never really looked like a proven chaser, hence why they went back to hurdling for him, and he is totally out of sorts after getting battered in a couple of average races.

Cork 4:40 – Better Times Ahead 11/4 (1pt)

This race can go to local trainer Robert Tyner who trains at Cork and has clearly laid this race out for Better Times Ahead after he romped up in a Grade B chase at Navan around three weeks ago, landing a 35k prize in the process. Robert won this race 12 months ago with the same connections as Better Time Ahead (JP McManus) and they have another belting chance with their lad today.

He comes across like a typical low-graded Irish JP McManus horse who runs over trips too short for him, then gets put up in trip and finds plenty of improvement, and that's what happened last time around. He has previously been running over 2m, then 2m 4f for one run before stepping up to 3m and winning with his head in his chest. His chase rating went up to 119 from 107 as a result of that performance, so it's no great surprise to see Robert Tyner go back to hurdles and exploit his handicap mark of 108 in that sphere, where he must be well-handicapped. He has run 6x over hurdles, five of those runs being over 2m, with just the one run over 2m 4f, so I'd expect to see the same level of improvement now he goes up in trip to 3m.

Fairyhouse 2:35 – Magical Zoe 10/3 (1pt)

This Mares Novice Hurdle Grade 1 race is contested by many horses who have previously raced against each other, so you kind of know what to expect from most of them. I think Magical Zoe has a great chance in this race now she gets the extended 2m 4f trip.

She was a good winner at Down Royal over 2m 1f on soft ground when beating Nikini in a Grade 3 race, the 1L distance between the two horses doesn't tell the full story as with an extra half furlong, Magical Zoe would've pulled well clear of that horse. She is a real stayer and will get 3m in time, but for now, this trip is what she needs if she wants to land Grade 1 honours. She ran a corker at the Cheltenham Festival when she was held-up miles off the pace and only managed to get rolling when turning for the hill and running up when the stamina kicked in. She was a very big eyecatcher that day and it gives me more confidence seeing that run knowing that she needs a longer distance.

The ground will be different to what she has raced on over hurdles the last twice, but she did win on good to yielding on hurdles debut and did win a bumper on good ground, so she should be fine.

Fairyhouse 3:45 – Hunters Yarn 15/8 (1pt)

A bit of faith needs to be placed on Hunters Yarn based on his below-par run at Cheltenham, but before that run he was looking like a nice horse to follow.

He was well-fancied for the County Hurdle, backed into 11/2 for a very competitive handicap, where he finished in the middle of the pack. Connections must feel that wasn't his true showing as he's back out quite quickly and back in a Graded race.

This race doesn't look to be that strong, and if he gets back on terms, he should win, especially with an entry in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle Grade 1 later on this month, which shows what kind of horse they think he is.

Fairyhouse 5:30 – Brigherdaysahead 6/5 (2pt) – Paddypower/WHill

I've been wanting to see Brighterdaysahead run since I saw her win on debut. I think this could be a very special horse in the making, which might sound daft after just one bumper run to her name, but I thought she was immense at Gowran Park on debut.

Considering this mare had no PTP background or racecourse experience, the performance she put in was quality. She wasn't pushed out to her full potential, as she managed to cruise to the lead turning for home on the bridle and when the jockey asked for a bit she wooshed clear under hands and heels, winning by 13L. The main market rival and favourite for the race was PU, and apparently lost her action, but I think it would've taken a very smart mare to beat her that day, as she oozed class. I was hoping she was going to go to Cheltenham on the back of that, but they've opted for the ‘easier' route for this race, which is a big prize of 59K to the winner, and in previous years an RPR of between 114-121 would've won you eight of the last ten renewals. Considering Brighterdaysahead ran to a mark of 120 on debut she would've won this race based on that performance, and she wasn't even asked for maximum efforts, so with that experience under her belt, she should be tough to beat with further improvement likely to come.

Ffos Las 3:25 – Amateur 17/2 (0.5pt ew)

To put it in nice and simple terms, I think Amateur has been plotted out for this race since he won it 12 months ago.

I'm a big fan of horses returning to races they've previously won, and this horse has won this race 2 years in a row. He doesn't do much in between his wins, but that doesn't come as as surprise to me and he is trained and owned by connections who like to land a gamble. He's back on a mark from which he won this race last year, on form he has it all to prove, but this is his Gold Cup and he'll be primed for this race.

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