The Novice Tipster

  Aintree (g)   12:40 Ratings : Asa Going : Heather Honey/Doc Mccoy/Ernest Grey Speed : Doc Mccoy Selection : Doc Mccoy 4/1   1:15 Ratings : Spadestep Going : Spadestep Speed : All The Glory Selection : Spadestep 3/1   1:50 Ratings : Marown Going : Le Milos Speed : Ashtown Lad Selection : Le Milos 11/4   2:20 Ratings : In The Age Going : Jimmy Hurdstrom Speed : Marsiac Selection : Marsiac 11/2   2:55 Ratings : Imperial Saint Going : Minella Drama Speed : Imperial Saint Selection : Imperial Saint 9/4   3:30 Ratings : Moonbow Going : Ace Of Spades Speed : Cracking Rhapsody Selection : Cracking Rhapsody 6/1   4:05 Ratings : Dotties Promise Going : Dotties Promise Speed : Lady Dapple Rose Selection : Dotties Promise 6/1

  1st Boombawn 7/2 - 65 2nd Imperial Saint 11/4 - 60 3rd Minella Drama 7/1 - 55   Boombawn ticks a lot of boxes, the track, ground, distance will all suit him well, the team are in great form also which will help. He also goes well fresh. There are some very good horses in this though, so it won't be easy, but he must have claims Imperial Saint I actually thought would come out on top when doing this, his course form is 1, 1, 1, 2. the ground is perfect, and he won't mind a little rain if it were to come, and the distance works for him. He hasn't won a graded race yet, but he is a horse who could well one. He would need to improve as Ahoy Senor is in this, and although he will need to recapture his old form, he could well do that.   Minella Drama won this last year and is a pound lower this year, he has also come 2nd in this, the best time to catch him fresh which he is again, i wouldn't rule him out.  My Selection: Boombawn 7/2  

  1st Elvis Mail 6/1 - 50 1st Cadell 11/2 - 50 2nd Olivers Travels 3/1 - 35 2nd Whistle Stop Tour 11/2 - 35   A similar race to the Cheltenham one, where 2 are clear and 2 are 2nd.  No surprise, Elvis Mail scored well. He has won the last 2 runnings of this, so we know the track and distance are fine, and we know he can win after a break, but this is a longer break, he is older, and he will need a career best to win.  Cadell is also a C&D winner, the track, distance and going is perfect. He can go ok after a break, but I think he needs to improve again here, which is entirely possible as he has only raced 6 times over fences. Olivers Travels has never run here at Kelso, but based on previous runs the track shouldn't be an issue, the ground is perfect as well.  He has the benefit of a run, and he has won his last 2, I can see why he is favourite.   Whistle Stop Tour would probably prefer the rain to come and that would be my only concern, i do think...

  1st Hyland 13/2 - 45 1st Transmission 8/1 - 45 2nd Manothepeople 16/1 - 35 2nd Inch House 22/1 - 35   Hyland and Transmission came clear together, and nothing is splitting them.  Hyland runs off the mark he last ran when 2nd at Kempton. He didn't stay in the National so that run can be ignored. His stats at Cheltenham are 1, 14, 1, 1, and over fences it's 1, 1. Ground is perfect and so is the distance. He does run well fresh, just one worry for him is that he needs a career best to win this. It's not out the question Transmissions last 5 races have all been at Cheltenham, which ended at the Festival in March, where he came 5th over 3m 6f.  I think he would probably prefer the ground to dry out a little, which is a worry as its raining there now and although Saturday will be clear, can it dry out in time? Distance is perfect for him and he can run ok back from a break, but he was beaten by Hyland by 15L when both were making their season debut over course and half a...

    Cheltenham (g-s)   1:10 Ratings : Double Powerful Going : Springs A Girl Speed :Double Powerful  Selection :Double Powerful 15/2   1:45 Ratings : Easy Love Going : Miss Goldfire Speed :Island Bridge  Selection :Island Bridge 28/1   2:20 Ratings : Hyland Going : Inch House Speed :Light N Strike  Selection :Hyland 13/2   2:55 Ratings : Long Draw Going : Ma Shantou Speed :Winning Smut  Selection :Winning Smut 13/2   3:30 Ratings : Give It To Me Oj Going : None Speed :Give It To Me Oj Selection :Give It To Me Oj 8/13   4:05 Ratings : Intense Approach Going : Leave Of Absence Speed :Welcom To Cartries  Selection :Welcom To Cartries 9/2   4:40 Ratings : Chicker Going : None Speed :Le Beau Madrik  Selection :Le Beau Madrik 3/1

  1st Third Time Lucki 10/1 - 80 2nd Matata 5/1 - 50 3rd Calico 3/1 - 45   Third Time Lucki scored very well here, at his peak he was 153 rated chaser, he has won twice at Cheltenham over distance to. Ground is fine and he is now rated 137 after dropping way down in the handicap. Obviously he is 10 now so he probably won't reach the 153 again, although is still potentially well handicapped.   Matata is rated 160, he was 2nd in this last year off 147, so i he up a massive 13lb in the handicap. Where as the winner Calico is only 4lb higher in the handicap, which probably shouts that Matata is at a huge disadvantage meeting Calico again. He did however come 2nd in a Grade 2, so this is much easier. He is probably better on good ground but can cope with softer. Distance and track are fine, and he is not without a chance.  Calico has, as said above, won this last year, so we already know that Course and Distance is fine. He is another who i think prefers good ground ...

  Cheltenham (g-s)   1:15 Ratings : Service Minimum Going : Navajo Indy/Prince Imperial Speed : Navajo Indy Selection : Navajo Indy 6/1   1:50 Ratings : Country Mile Going : Country Mile Speed : Relieved Of Duties Selection : Country Mile 11/4   2:25 Ratings : King William Rufus Going : Fiveonefive/Norman Flecther Speed : King William Rufus Selection : King William Rufus 11/2   3:00 Ratings : Un Sens A La Vie Going : Jack Hyde Speed : Sir Galahad Selection : Sir Galahad 8/1   3:35 Ratings : Third Time Lucki Going : Third Time Lucki Speed : Brookie Selection : Third Time Lucki 10/1   4:10 Ratings : Dalston Lad Going : Dalston Lad Speed : De Temps En Temps Selection : Dalston Lad 3/1   4:45 Ratings : Hung Jury Going : Unanswered Prayers Speed : Harrys Hope Selection : Harrys Hope 14/1