-
One objective for talented Town
-
No Room for doubting Murphy's novice
-
Bet £10 get £10 every weekend up to Cheltenham
-
Click here for more racing tips
Racing... Only Bettor. Listen to the latest episode now.
Cheltenham, 12.40 - Back One Horse Town each-way @ 5/16.00
Purchased for a modest amount from Joseph O'Brien, One Horse Town has proved one of the bargains of the National Hunt season for his enthusiastic connections.
Well placed to mop up a couple of summer hurdles, Harry Derham's industrious son of Threat has made a good transition to the winter game, scoring at Kempton in a minor race before beating a subsequent Kempton winner in Precious Man on the Old Course back in November, giving his handler a first Graded win.
Punters made the then unbeaten juvenile odds-on favourite at the pre-Christmas meeting, but he was readily brushed aside by Minella Study in a faster speed figure than he achieved in his victory to incur his first hurdling reverse on his fifth start.
One Horse Town heads to Prestbury Park on a retrieval mission and many won't give him much of a chance conceding weight to a couple of well-touted rivals, however track experience could be a valuable asset and a repeat of his nimble hurdling, which was in evidence last November, could make him a tough rival to reel in.
Back One Horse Town, E/W, in 12:40 Cheltenham
Doncaster, 13.30 - Back That'll Do Moss each-way @ 9/25.50
The decision to send That'll Do Moss over three miles on a flat track could prove a shrewd one by trainer Fergal O'Brien judged on his mare's latest run at Sandown behind Nurse Susan.
On that occasion, the daughter of Black Sam Bellamy looked like she was going to be left behind jumping two out, especially as Jonathan Burke found himself in a pocket through no real fault of his own.
To her credit, the selection rallied gamely from that point to close down the leading protagonists, suggesting that stretching out in trip should suit, especially on a flat track like Town Moor.
That'll Do Moss has also proven that she copes with deep ground and her stable is in better form than when she ran at Sandown so she ought to be on the premises.
Back That'll Do Moss, E/W, in 13:30 Doncaster
Cheltenham, 16.10 - Back The Blue Room each-way @ 11/26.50
The finale on Trials Day looks a cracker with the talented duo Act Of Innocence and Taurus Bay dominating the market and understandably so given how promising they've looked in their season's efforts to date.
The former was/is a fancy of mine at a price for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle but because stablemate Old Park Star has excelled over the minimum trip, he looks like being rerouted to the Turners Novices Hurdle over today's trip.
By 4pm on Saturday, the ground could well be pretty testing and it will be fascinating to see how a horse that has blessed with plenty of speed copes with a stamina test and the grinding nature of the finale.
One horse it should suit is The Blue Room who coped with those conditions admirably in the Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown where he chased home No Drama This End.
I thought Olly Murphy's talented novice showed a lot of class on that occasion, as he had no right to finish within five lengths of the impressive winner following a bad error at the second last.
Trying to regain some momentum after a shuddering mistake on ground that deep is a big challenge for a young horse, yet The Blue Room displayed gears to pass some of his rivals and, given a clearer round here, he boasts the quality to trouble the market leaders.
Back The Blue Room, E/W, in 16:10 Cheltenham