Saturday selections: Godsmejudge is just divine

FEWER sights were more uplifting last season as GODSMEJUDGE soaring over the last few fences at Ayr to win the Scottish National. It was some performance for a novice chaser who had been on the go since the previous October and who had already run some mighty races. Alan King’s chaser looks a ready-made Grand …[Read More]

Dark Horses: Centasia, Carraig Mor and Ainsi Fideles

I’M off to Wetherby on Friday where the highly promising Oscar Rock makes his hurdling debut in the opening race. But I’ll be casting a beady eye towards Uttoxeter where two young horses really catch the eye. CENTASIA is a big strong mare who won a couple of bumpers impressively last season before running well …[Read More]

Arthurian the stuff of Legend

HORSES for courses is a well-worn cliché but when it comes to finding winners it is a reliable system. Desert Orchid always looked unbeatable at Kempton, Bobs Worth has a growing love affair with Cheltenham while Red Rum and Aintree are embedded in racing folklore. On a more modest scale is ARTHURIAN LEGEND and Chepstow. …[Read More]

Saturday selections: Sky the limit for Balder Succes

BALDER SUCCES is a nervy individual but a very talented horse. It didn’t really happen for him last season after a promising start and the fact he was hampered and knocked over by the loose Grandouet in the Champion Hurdle kind of summed up his season. But he has always looked like a chaser and …[Read More]

Dark horses: Custer’s last stand

ALAN King enjoyed a purple patch in April, with the highlight being Godsmejudge winning the Scottish National. His string have continued in fine form into May and he landed a treble at Kempton on Sunday (probably would have been four if Pantxoa had stayed on his feet). Today he sends a couple to Wincanton and …[Read More]

Dark Horses: Owen can score with Ice Pie

TOM DASCOMBE has his horses in decent order. Most seem to be running well and several have been knocking on the door in recent days. He sends an interesting filly north to Thirsk on Saturday in ICE PIE, the winner of her only race. It was the manner in which she put the race to …[Read More]

Manyriverstocross to strike

ALAN King has his team in tip-top form and if Hold on Julio gets his jumping together he could run a huge race in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday. But he also sends decent hurdlers MANYRIVERSTOCROSS and Ardlui up to Ripon for the £25,000 2m handicap at 2.55. Manyriverstocross ran a blinder …[Read More]

Dark Horses: Open Sesame for Ali Baba

STEROIDS apart, it’s been a wonderful week of racing so far. Today the Grade One gravy train continues at Punchestown, while the classic pretensions of several bluebloods are on the line at Sandown. There is also the final day of the Perth Festival, a decent flat card at Doncaster and two National Hunt evening meetings. …[Read More]

Godsmejudge holds the aces in the Scottish National

by JACK MILNER THE Scottish National is set to be a gruelling four-mile slog with the ground expected to include a lot more soft than good in the description. Two-time winner Merigo won’t be there this time but Auroras Encore, the horse who chased him home last year, is. Sue Smith’s 2013 Grand National winner …[Read More]

Dark Horses: A Knight to remember

TODAY is last chance saloon for a horse that I’ve been waiting to shine for two years now. COLD KNIGHT was once regarded as among Alan King’s better bumper horses and he has shown glimmers of promise. But he hasn’t fulfilled the potential he has shown on the gallops. Today is his second run over …[Read More]