It was a mixed bag of results on Saturday, but we walked away with a solid amount of profit.
Dartmoor Pirate put in a gutsy performance for the Anthony Honeyball stable. He looked in a lot of trouble turning for home, but he kept grinding and eventually got to New Order, who doesn't look like a true stayer at the trip.
Karuma Grey halved in price as I anticipated, but he was off the bit after jumping the second fence. He found himself a furlong behind after four fences, and he evidently wasn't on a going day—massive shame as he was fancied in the market.
Javert Allen ran a blinder from the front on his first attempt over 2m 4f. They had no choice but to run from the front, as he is a keen-going horse. He jumped brilliantly, but his willingness to go faster cost him inside the final two furlongs.
Blaze The Way 9/2 (1pt) – Naas 3.25
It's been a while since I've tipped up a horse in Ireland, but Blaze The Way caught my attention against a fairly average bunch.
Argento Bay will be fancied, as will The Enabler. Both hail from the biggest yards in the country, but I don't think they have covered themselves in much glory since transitioning to fences.
Flicker Of Hope looks a much better option against those two, but Blaze The Way put in a very useful performance at Cheltenham at the December meeting, and the form now looks quite strong.
Usually, I would pick holes in a handicap performance of Blaze The Way's win last time out, mainly because he carried 10st 4lbs and this is now a Graded 3 non-handicap. However, he won that race in a very taking fashion, and the horses behind have franked the form.
L'Homme Presse ran a belter in the Cotswold Chase yesterday, losing narrowly to Spillane's Tower. The fourth (Herakles Westwood) won at Cheltenham on New Year's Day in a Class 2, and The Doyen Chief won at Kempton in a Class 2 earlier this month.
The ground is heavy at Naas, and my fancy won on good to soft. I don't think there's anything to worry about as he stays further than today's trip, and did win a bumper on heavy ground.
In other news, I hope that Sir Gino is okay after his incident at Cheltenham yesterday. Thankfully, he got into the ambulance, so it doesn't seem to be the worst. I hope connections do the right thing and what's best for the horse. He has had his injuries over the years and is clearly a brittle horse. We know how much these superstars mean to Nicky, so he will definitely not be rushed back if we do get to see him on a track again.
There will be no Lucky 15 bet for Sunday. There is plenty of racing on, but nothing stands out, especially four horses to be put into a multiple bet.
GambleAware