Martin Pipe has 6 entered and I hope he allows STORMEZ to take his chance. He doesn't jump well but he tries all day and should run well at the current odds of 25/1. Should he not take part I would be looking most closely at Irish Hussar, Strong Flow, One Knight and Shardam. The feeling is that Strong Flow is an unlikely runner and if this is the case then I would think that Shardam would be the likeliest winner.
The 2.00 at Newbury features the return of the Stayers Hurdle winner Baracouda. He is a particular favourite of mine and should win. However, Deano's Beano is very good first time out and indeed holds a decision over Baracouda from last year. If it becomes a slog then he could cause problems. Also Baracouda's jockey tends to let him get quite far behind and doesn't like to rush him. So with McCoy on Deano's, Doumen will have to be on his guard.
The 1.40 at Newcastle, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, features some champion hurdle pretenders including Intersky Falcon, part owned by Michael Ball amongst others, Westender, Geos and Sporazene. I fully expect Intersky Falcon to win and enhance his champion hurdle prospects.
Sunday's best jump meeting is at Fairyhouse in Ireland. There are a few excellent races on the card and former Champion Bumper horse Pizarro goes in the novice chase at 1.40. He should win.
The best race, however, is the Hattons Grace Hurdle at 2.10. This race features a rematch between Back In Front, Secundai, and Solerina as well as one time Champion Hurdle favourite Davenport Millenium, Holy Orders and others. I hope Solerina can reverse earlier form with the other two and indeed expect her to win. She hails from the same small stable as Limestone Lad and has his fighting spirit. She will be fitter this time and ready to go.
Finally the best 1m4f race of the year is run in Tokyo on Sunday morning our time. There will be a host of very good horses on show including Islington and Ange Gabriel from Europe, Johar and Denon from America, Fields of Omagh from Australia and local horses headed by last year's third Symboli Kris S. I expect the last named to prevail this time around. As an aside it could be worth backing the American horses as history shows they will go off at much bigger odds than they should. If backing them ask for the returned SP.
Selections
SAT: NEWB 2.35 STORMEZ (EW)
NEWB 2.00 BARACOUDA
NEWC 1.40 INTERSKY FALCON
SUN FAIRY 1.40 PIZZARO
FAIRY 2.10 SOLARINA
TOKYO SYMBOLI KRIS S