Nine Nine Nine ran his consistent race, but he didn't seem to be at his best today.
He was niggled along early, but fair play to the horse, he kept finding until the end, where the others were too strong for him.
Not A Light was dreadful. His confidence went after a mistake, and then found himself losing places with every yard. He was eventually pulled up.
Gold Emery 12/1 (1pt) – Bangor-on-Dee 4.00
My previous selection for the North Welsh National race isn't in the lineup, as this is the second attempt at this race being run, with the first one being abandoned.
As a result, I am still going to have a bet in this race, and Gold Emery was the one who caught my eye.
This is a race where you could easily give a chance to the majority of the runners, but I thought that Gold Emery is still unexposed at this trip, and we know she stays this far.
She has attempted 3m 5f or further a couple of times, once in this race in 2024, where she was pulled up, and the other was at Haydock on her next start. At Haydock, she finished behind Jubilee Express, who was on a very good handicap mark that day, and has since gone close in the Welsh National, and was second in the 2026 Devon National last week.
Gold Emery has run well over 3m 2f, including once this season when a few lengths behind Aworkinprogress, who has since won the Surrey National race.
She hasn't won a race in a while, and she often throws in the occasional bad run, so she is a gamble, but the odds will hopefully reflect the risks attached.
Plantaroma 11/8 (1pt) – Wincanton 2.20
Plantaroma is becoming a frustrating horse, especially if you have followed her career with money on the line. Thankfully, I have only tipped her up once, which came at Sedgefield. She got beaten that day, but finished as the runner-up.
She is not only frustrating because she hasn't won yet, but because she definitely has the ability to win races.
This race has to be her best opportunity to get her head in front, as the field doesn't look fantastic, and I am surprised that she is odds against. It wouldn't surprise me if she drifts in the market, with punters wanting to take her on, due to her record of zero wins.
The Long Point 11/10 (2pt) – Wincanton 2.50
I doubt the bookmakers will be offering attractive odds for The Long Point, as on recent form, he is the obvious candidate for this race.
Phantom Getaway might have dropped to a decent handicap mark, but he is definitely better over hurdles. The top weight is out of form, and might not want this far. West Orchard looks better over shorter and on better ground, and Doctor Midas is making his chasing debut whilst being winless over hurdles.
The Long Point is 1/3 over fences, but he did make a better impression last time out on his third attempt. Maybe he needed the soft surface, as it was a much better performance, and the runner-up has since won. He has gone up a few pounds in the handicap, but this doesn't look particularly strong, and he can definitely land another win.
GambleAware