Straightforward race, but one stands outThis is a weak three-year-old claimer with an average rating of just 42, so the race is unlikely to produce anything special. In races like this the key question is simple: which horse can reproduce the best piece of form already shown.On the figures, Apiary comes out top on the…

A five-runner Class 5 handicap chase at Leicester rarely produces a puzzle and the 4.30 on Friday looks no different. On the numbers, the race revolves around Falco Des Pins, and it is hard to make a serious case for anything else.The Venetia Williams-trained six-year-old finally got off the mark over fences at Ludlow 16…

This looks a fairly ordinary Class 5 staying handicap on the Newcastle all-weather and, with only seven runners declared, tactics could play a significant role. Timeform expect a very weak pace, which is always worth noting over this trip, but the numbers still point strongly in one direction.Market House Sets the StandardOn the HRB totals,…

The 4.20 at Ayr is a typical mid-grade staying handicap hurdle and the data points strongly towards one horse – Thank You Blue.He comes here in the form of his life after completing a hat-trick at Ludlow eight days ago and the handicapper has only nudged him up 2 lb. When you look at the…

Seven runners line up for the Stowells Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over 2m7½f at Exeter and, on the figures, one horse stands out.The HRB ratings are headed by On The Go, and there are solid reasons why.His latest win at Hereford was decisive. He travelled strongly, quickened clear and ended up 12 lengths ahead at the…

This small field mares’ handicap chase at Leicester looks a fairly straightforward affair on paper. Only five runners go to post and, when you combine the HRB ratings with the Timeform notes, one mare stands out clearly above the rest.That mare is Molto Bene.The Charlie Longsdon trained seven-year-old has had a very solid season and…

This looks a straightforward little handicap on paper with just seven runners, but the likely race shape is key. The pace forecast suggests a slowly-run contest, which usually turns these two-mile hurdles into tactical affairs where positioning matters more than raw stamina.In races like this at Ayr, the advantage often lies with the horses sitting…

The Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase at Exeter brings together a field of nine seasoned chasers over 2m3½f on good to soft ground. These races often come down to two simple factors: who still has the engine and who jumps cleanly under pressure.A few in this line-up have plenty of miles on the…

Small-field staying chases like this are often decided by position and jumping rather than raw ability, and the pace forecast suggests this could be a steadily-run affair. When that happens around Leicester, horses that race prominently and jump cleanly tend to control the race.Fay Ce Que Voudras sets the standardFay Ce Que Voudras arrives in…

Ten runners line up for this 0–120 handicap hurdle and the early signs suggest the race will be run at a strong tempo. That matters at Exeter. This track can quickly turn a steadily run race into a test of stamina once they turn for home, and horses that travel kindly and finish their race…