It was two duds on the main page for Sunday, but two winners on the Lucky thread.
Patrick's Wells didn't put in a convincing jumping display on his chasing debut around Carlisle. He warmed to the task, but after one mistake he was on the back foot and then made more mistakes when trying to catch up.
Grand Geste wasn't racing on his favourite ground, but I think he was in need of the run. He was always in with a chance until a couple of fences from home, where he made an error, and that took the remaining energy out of the gas tank.
Alien Storm 17/2 – Plumpton 3.00
I struggled to justify backing either of the two at the top of the market, but I imagined that Rickety Bridge would be the favourite before looking at the odds due to him winning all three of his chase wins. I think he is the one to beat, but the question surrounding his form over fences coming at Newton Abbot and now trying Plumpton is enough to stay clear.
I liked Tommie Beau in this race and was going to back him, but after a little more thought, Alien Storm stood out a little more. Alien Storm has won at this venue on four occasions, which borders on him being a bit of a course specialist. He's already had a run this season, which came over hurdles a couple of weeks ago, and it was simply a run for fitness. He is much better over fences than hurdles, and was in need of the run.
I like the fact that Alien Storm has form in Class 2 races at the back end of last season. He was second at Bangor and was in store for a good run at Uttoxeter before he fell two from home. Both of those races have better-quality horses than today's opposition, so I believe he'll find this a lot easier.
This is a longer trip than he's tackled in the past, but I think he should stay, and if he's going to do that anywhere in the UK, it will be at his favourite track.
Chinese Whispers 7/4 – Southwell 2.15
It's hard to back against the favourite in this race, as if he turns up in similar form to his third-placed finish on his bumper debut in March, it's going to be a tough job to beat him.
Chinese Whispers ran in a decent-looking Warwick bumper race, which has seen the form boosted. He was third, just less than three lengths behind the winner, who has since finished fourth in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree. The form of the others in the race behind Chinese Whispers hasn't been boosted, but the front three that day were miles clear of the rest of the field, so I wouldn't focus on the rest being average.
The pedigree looks decent, and he is related to Range, who is a decent handicapper over both hurdles and fences (peak rating of 131).
GambleAware