Racing tips: Commodore has the attributes to jump them silly off top-weight

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The money came in again for Ballabawn as it did on hurdles debut. On the back of that performance, I'm not sure why, as he's simply not that good. I was aware the race wasn't that great in terms of the horses as the favourite at the time would be the one to beat, but Ballabawn showed nothing to me that would suggest he would be a decent hurdler, even at this early stage. He finished second, but it was a poor run.

Cheltenham 2:25

Looking through this race I see nothing that is a well-handicapped horse who is on the rise. You have well-handicapped horses for the wrong reasons like Spiritofthegames, who was once rated in the 140s and is a consistent horse, especially at this track where he is always given a hold-up ride and runs on to grab a place. But nothing screamed out to me, so I felt that the top-weight COMMODORE could land this race as he did twelve months ago.

This grey jumps like a stag, and he did that last year when running from the front and putting a lot of the horses under the cosh. I don't think he'll be able to get an easy lead in this, but if they race him prominently his jumping might take Charlie to the front without wanting to as he is electric at his fences. As a 10yo you'd have to think this will be a tough assignment winning this off a career-high mark and top-weight, but he is lightly raced and has plenty of time between his runs, with only two runs last year proving that. He was last seen running in the Grand National where he didn't run as some would've expected, but you can put a line through that.

Venetia is more than capable of readying one off a layoff, and it seems this lad keeps his best performances for when he's fresh so I don't see it as a negative. The yard is going great guns and you'll struggle to find a better jockey over the fences than Charlie Deutsch, who is absolute mustard.

Doncaster 3:17

Another stable returning to form is Sue Smith, and as I mentioned the other day when I had one of her runners as a selection when she returns to form, her horses seem to find another level and it stays like that for quite a while. On handicap debut, I think COPPER BEACH could offer more than his opening handicap mark of 105.

This horse finished 2nd to a previous selection of mine (Bingoo) which came at Hexham. That run was a real change of form, where he had previously shown very little, so it was an encouraging effort and looked like he would appreciate a decent gallop, as he was staying on strongly. I think Doncaster could suit his run style as it is a galloping track with a very long straight which should allow him to hit top gear and reel back the horses who are ahead of him.

Thomas Willmott takes the ride and takes off a further 3lbs, which makes his chances even better. Fingers crossed on a big run.

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