26th October 2012

A successful day yesterday saw Mossley return at an SP of 6/1, but hopefully you were on board from the moment the post was placed in the morning and got on at a very tidy 12/1! Super Duty just came up short at Carlisle to miss out on the double. On to today's racing and here are the best selections from a mix of flat and national hunt cards.

20.00 Dundalk

After the positive vibes emanating from Ballydoyle this week, the starting point for this race is whether you think STARSPANGLEDBANNER possesses the ability to overcome his dreadful outside draw to take this.  Personally I think he does. After needing his reappearance run at the Curragh, he kept on in unsuitable conditions to finish second to Maarek, who has gone on to win last week at Ascot. His run at Longchamp can be easily excused last time in the heavy going, and admittedly I probably shouldn't have tipped him that day. That second to Maarek, a true mud lark, meant I felt he could handle the going but it was wrong and on the polytrack today he will have conditions more to suit. O'Brien has been targeting a successful trip here and for me he is worth a wager. Kingsgate Native has a much better draw, and rates as the main threat on past performances between the two, but since his reappearance he hasn't been as impressive as the selection. Bordelescott has a course and distance win to his name, but carrying a penalty and at the age of 10, this would be a truly magnificent achievement. The 2 year olds have a hard task today but receive a big hand from the weights. Liber though has had a long season and may not have enough just yet to overcome the wide draw, and Liberting and Zoola haven't finished their races strongly enough to suggest they'll see this out against some of the classier types. Balmont Mast will be a threat; he likes it around here but he has been found out at this level before, and with the swing in the weights, Nocturnal Affair is taken to be more of a concern. Apart from Bordelescott, the big guns seem to be drawn to the outside, so Starspangledbanner's widest berth of all isn't as much of a worry. I'm hoping it should just mean everyone finishes a bit closer and class becomes key. As a result I'll stick with the selection, hope for a good start to get across and make the most of a very appetising price. 4/1 Boylesports, 4.7 Betfair

14.40 Doncaster

Normally 5 runner contests can be narrowed down to a couple, and yet again we can with Darkening and PENNY ROSE. Although the former is undoubtedly a talented horse and will put up a good challenge, the prevailing soft conditions and step up to 1 mile are going to suit Mark Johnston's horse more and she is taken to improve and enjoy the 3 pound allowance she receives to take this. The forecast looks a good bet also. 7/4 several, 2.78 Betfair

15.05 Fakenham

The booking of McCoy on Vulcanite ensures he stands out on the racecard, as does the fact that the horse was part of a move since he was last seen to the McManus yard. I was a big fan of Vulcanite's last year and would expect that with the sale McManus sees a profitable year with him. However this race doesn't look a 'gimmee', especially at an undulating track like Fakenham which has yet to be proven to suit Vulcanite. Laudatory warrants respect after a desperately close second to Local Hero last time out but Vulcanite should have the class to see him off. Conquisto is respected around a course that clearly suits him, and this mark seems within reach, but a place is only expected as normally he needs a run to get the best out of him. Instead I prefer MARODIMA, who made a mockery of the handicapper last time he was seen over hurdles. He's been chasing with success since, so to revert back to hurdles it's not as if he needs the run for confidence. His front running tactics will be suited by the course and his price is far too big. 8/1 several, 8.8 Betfair

15.40 Fakenham

The swift reappearance of ROMANESCO after falling at the last at Cheltenham ensures he has to be backed here. Gordon Elliott has never sent a runner to Fakenham, so he clearly thinks this trip is worthwhile. The horse gets to race off the same mark as last time and at the bottom of the weights today he is a major threat. The same theory can apply to Alpine Breeze who on the same day as the selection did the carbon copy and fell at the last only this time around Fakenham. Purely because of the 3 mile trip the selection is preferred but Alpine Breeze will undoubtedly be in with a chance. No Loose Change is the other market principal but may just need this reappearance run.

As a side note and for the notebook, it's tremendous to see Poker De Sivola back racing at Newcastle. I was on the horse when it performed miracles to win at Sandown 2 years ago, watch the run if you can. It would be great to see a good run from him today to show he's coming back and then we can back him in one of the marathon races later in the season.

So they're the 4 picks. That looks like a tasty Lucky 15 to me!

Good luck!

The Horse Whisperer