Racing tips: Beakstown can win another Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase for team Skelton

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The form since Cheltenham has been poor, there's no denying it. It appears I'm going through one of those patches, which I can only apologise for. It will turn, and hopefully that will be soon, starting off with today. It's the start of the Scottish Grand National meeting, where I've picked out one horse in the Listed Chase, and I've selected a runner on the flat at Leicester's first turf meeting of the year.

Leicester 1:35

It's no surprise to see the horses who are at the top market, be at the top of the market. They have the profiles who attract support from punters, but I'm not totally convinced by what they have to offer.

There is a possibility that Ventura Rascal could nick an uncontested lead in this, but that isn't enough to back him, despite him being a progressive horse. He is a free going type, and when you combine that with a 197 day absence, it spells disaster. Even when he has had uncontested leads in the past, he still has a tendency to pull and want to go quicker than what the jockey allows him to. It's going to be difficult for Kevin Ryan to have him spot on for seasonal reappearance, and when he pulls as hard as he has done, he can be avoided. Of the others, there is something about Hover which doesn't appeal to me. He has the profile of a lightly raced horse, but he is a 5yo, who clearly has his problems, as he has only been on the track eight times. He has won on turf in the past, but I think he might prefer the AW, and his form doesn't exactly scream out that he is well handicapped. Dark Spec is another lightly raced horse at the age of 7, but I think he was somewhat flattered to win in the style he did lto, beating Helm Rock. Pontefract that day was soft and they came to the stands side, and is benefited horses close to the pace, which he was, so I'm not convinced that form is what it is all cracked up to be.

So with all being said, the one I have landed on is GRANGECLARE VIEW. He is 1/1 on turf, which did come in a Class 6 Maiden at Redcar, which doesn't seem like a convincing case to back him, but the form of that race has actually worked out rather well. The runner-up is now rated 86, and the fourth is rated 84. His form on the AW reads quite well, as well. The 3rd at Newcastle behind Aerion Power and Forest Falcon has been franked, with the winner now rated 100 and the runner-up 90. He is a keen going sort with a strange head carriage, but they gelded him in the summer of last year, and that seemed to work at Southwell where he finished 2nd. That run produced an RPR of 83, and though that could be quite high for what it's worth, the winner likes that track and their best form comes at Southwell. You can ignore his latest run at Newcastle where things didn't go to plan at all. He was bumped into when leaving the stalls, which lit him up, and as a result he was far too keen. He hasn't been seen since, but will have a slight fitness advantage over a few of these, which I'm hoping Paul Hanagan can make use of and sit him in a handy position.

Ayr 3:30

Dan Skelton has targeted this race in the past, and he's been successful in doing so, winning 3 of the last 4 renewals, with last year being the only blip in recent years where he had the runner-up. BEAKSTOWN looks a likely candidate to play a big role in this race, with his recent run at Kempton over 3m being too far for him. He travelled nicely through that race, but only made a mistake when looking tired, where he then fell through the field to finish sixth. This galloping track should suit, and he gets in this off a nice weight, with only last years winner, Nietzche running off a lower weight. The better ground (hopefully doesn't rain too much) looks perfect for him, as he has put up some good number on Good and Good To Soft ground. He run behind Erne River looks good, with that horse winning 2/2 over fences, and looks a smart chaser for next year. The 2nd behind Imperial Alcazar looks good form, with that horse finishing runner-up at Cheltenham in the Plate Handicap Chase Grade 3.

There are some interesting runners in this, including last years winner. Gordon Elliot sends one over, which should be respected, but on the form we've seen from him, he has something to prove. I think the one who could be the main threat is Flic Ou Voyou, who has been running well recently and has some good pieces of form.

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