Overlooking the early support proved costly yesterday looking at the results, my selections weren't really worth the ink used despite a short head being that cost us having three land in the places.
Saturday looks very competitive and with Cheltenham on the horizon I won't be dabbling too heavily.
Attacanter Racing Tips
Joyeuse 4/1 – 15.35 Newbury
Nicky Henderson's mare Joyeuse rates a worthy inclusion on what she's shown in a short three race career. The trainer sends her to Newbury in a competitive Premier Handicap where she'll face 17 rivals off a 56 day break with two runs under her belt.
Her debut win at Taunton back in January 2024 looks sound enough with a couple of noteable winners having come from it, Tutti Quanti won next time rated 125 for Paul Nicholls whilst Into The Park from the Hobbs & White yard won his next two albeit at a lower level.
Off a 319 day break in November she put in an acceptable enough performance before being upped to 2m4f for the first time at Cheltenham rated 119 when 2nd of 12 in a Class 2. The winner is the impressive Wodhooh who is yet to lose over obstacles, a potentially shrewd pick up from the retired Sir Michael Stoute.
A half sister to stable star Epatante, the drop back to 2m looks set to be fine with conditions look set to suit, the horse carries a lightweight and has every chance of being involved if sent here in full working order.
Asgard's Captain 11/8 – 16.28 Newcastle
Dylan Cunha has quickly proved he is a more than capable trainer and given how many of the horses which went in after early support yesterday, I am happy to include his heavily backed runner Asgard's Captain in the GBB Plus Race in hope the gamble is landed.
The horse has a fantastic track record, winning on his last three visits, all over C&D, he is just 2lbs above his last win here back in December, since then he's been tried elsewhere over further, a return here can only aide his chances against a rag-tag field with the stiff finish also in his favour. The trainer had two winners this week and the 4/1 price I first saw has long gone – with that said I won't be backing it out of the L15 context.
Strong Run 15/8 – 16.23 Warwick
There were a couple of bumpers I strangely wanted to get involved in today but it is with another favourite that I have sided, a horse I put up here before when challenging his stablemate strongly before settling for 2nd on debut.
After that, the horse was then 3rd of 12 at Cheltenham in the November meeting. Going off at 12/1, he managed to finish 3rd, a neck behind the 2nd who was 5 lengths behind the winner. The 2nd won next time out, the 5th came into the race 2-2 which is form that justify's his price today.
Olly Murphy is one of the best to do it, in fact over the previous 12 months, he has the best win strike rate, operating at 23.5%. He does well enough at Warwick too, 9 winners from 41 runners equates to 22% – although unfortunately none of those were in bumpers.
I am hoping with the experience under his belt and Johnny Burke taking over, enough has been shown to risk the horse at such a price up against a potential lurker, the market will guide and help you avoid backing it as a single before the off.
Cloud Free 7/1 – 17.45 Wolverhampton
Sean Levey picks up just one ride on a busy Saturday and it's to God's country he goes for Tom Ward to resume his recent partnership with Cloud Free, a gelding out of Sea the Stars.
The horse started life with Michael Bell before finally winning over a mile in a lowly Class 6 at Chelmsford in October rated 61. Sold after a subsequent run, his new handler opted to try him over 1m2f round Lingfield in early January. That was an acceptable enough outing, 2 lengths off the leaders who seem decent operators for the level. A neck back in 3rd was Crafter who gets 1lb, he's a fair bit shorter and we have scope to progress on his second outing for the yard.
Advised bet – Eachway Lucky 15
