WARWICK & NEWBURY – SATURDAY
2.40pm Warwick
Cap Soleil
She wasn’t seen out until Cheltenham last season and she clearly didn’t run up to her best either there or at Aintree afterwards. And she missed an intended engagement at Sandown last month. But we know what a good horse she is at her best – as we saw with her victories in 2017 and her second to Laurina at the Festival two years ago – and she is a horse who goes well when fresh, too. And she has been training very well in preparation for this race – I think moving to a new yard and a new gallop has really helped her – and she looks a million dollars at the moment. And the drying ground is no negative either; in fact you can argue that her best hurdling form came on good to soft when she won at Newbury.
3.15pm Warwick
Clondaw Castle
He is a very good ride to pick up. He clearly didn’t fire at Cheltenham last time but he went down 1lb for it and the better ground will suit him here. He had earlier run very well when second at Ascot and this winning pointer has a big chance with trip, ground and track to suit.
4.45pm Newbury
Brief Ambition
He ran a good race when fourth at Cheltenham back in November and I think that form entitles him to a lot of respect here, especially as I think he hated every second of the heavy ground that day. His point win came on good ground, and I think he has been crying out for a return to a decent surface. He is right up there with our better bumper horses, and he has a good chance in a typically competitive Newbury bumper.
EXETER – SUNDAY
3.30pm
Perfect Candidate
He is in great form and followed up his Haydock win with an excellent second to a progressive horse at the same track last time. If he runs to that level of form here then he should be very competitive in a race he won back in 2017. The more rain the better for him.
