Racing tips: A clear round of jumping will see Valsheda tough to beat

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I have no words for the form of the horses I have put up in recent days, it's like everything I touch, runs like rubbish. I missed the start of the Hawthorn Cottage race, but it simply looked like a fitness run, as she wasn't ridden prominently and she was pushed along after the third fence. 

Haydock 1:35

The drying ground isn't ideal for SOLDIER OF DESTINY, but his pedigree suggests he should act on it, with the Dam winning on Good To Firm, and the Progeny statistics based on the flat form of Presenting read that this going should be fine. He has ran well on Good To Soft previously, so if handling this ground (if it dries further), I think he could be tough to beat now he's back down in trip.

The last two races he has contested have been a good watch. He won nicely at Ffos Las the time before last, where his jumping looked accurate and good in the closing stages. Last time out he travelled smoothly, and looked like the winner, but he didn't quite get home at Newbury, and his jumping became sloppy, probably due to being fatigued. I think Jaime Snowden and connections have done the correct thing in dropping him back in trip, as he clearly has the speed.

The form of the Ffos Las win has started to come along nicely, with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th all winning since.

Ffos Las 4:15

A shorter price than I was expecting, but the chances of VALSHEDA are fairly high in my opinion. I was impressed by his runs at Kempton last time out, where he stayed on powerfully after being tapped for speed. Kempton is a speed track, so the fact he stayed on like he did was impressive, so a return to a track which has a longer run in, should help, as he'll be able to get momentum and get into top gear, if he is struggling with the pace.

The ground seems perfect for him, where it might not be for the others in the race. Shaman Du Berlais seems to handle testing conditions well, and though I think he'll stay this trip, it's still up for debate, so a question mark is over his head. Ask For Glory makes his chase debut, and carried top weight against some decent horses, so will have to put in a fairly spotless round of jumping if he wants to win this. The bottom weight, Jaytee, arrives in good form, but this race is tougher than what he's been in with, so will have to prove he's classy enough to cut it at this level.

Everything points to a strong Valsheda performance. If he stays on his feet, he'll be tough to beat.

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