Southwell - December 4

Well, that was a long weekend I'll never get back. More of which, later. Morning rain at the Rolleston venue had turned the ground to soft in places and it looked quite tiring for some.

The opening mares handicap chase looked to be at the mercy of Hoo Bally Diva on her first foray out of novice events but she was almost being lapped in the paddock, so poorly was she striding out, that something appeared to be amiss.

Never travelling from the outset, the bandaged Buckler inmate was reported lame on finishing fourth although I put it to you she was lame on departing, for all that she seemed okay to post.

All that opened the door for the hitherto difficult Silent Steps, a quirky looking horse in first-time blinkers who probably went favourably for the tender handling of Dame Bryony. With Dawnieriver failing to pick up on the grotty terrain, this was all over with three to jump.

There came a big 'miss' in the feature of the day when Destrier 'jumped from fence to fence' (don't they all?) to land the late money for team Skelton.

The French-bred has been waiting to jump the big ones as was first noted here and looked a class above his six rivals prior to the 2m novice handicap.

I should have made him a short price to boss inferiors on this occasion although he only scraped home in the end and, with everything going his way, may be one to take on next time.

Another Crick hasn't been easy to handle and was very keen in his early days, still going powerfully under a hold-up ride here. However, it doesn't pay to get behind at Southwell and he never looked like getting there, although it may have been different had the winner not winged the last two.

Bred to stay well, it would be nice if they now gave the runner-up the benefit of the doubt and rode him as if though he will get home, which surely he now does, and may be the one to take out of it.

Doc Carver looked well treated on previous form with the front two but he is essentially becoming disappointing and now has plenty to prove, for all that a step up in trip is surely going to see him in better light.

Just like the later maiden, only three had a chance in the novice hurdle over 3m; make that one as Commodore Barry looked much more the finished article than Nearly Perfect and Notachance and a print of around 1.68 on the machine looked serious value if you like that sort of thing.

A nice big sort in good health, the K Bailey-trained winner should take higher rank as he jumps and travels beautifully. Nearly Perfect is big and weak but will make a fine chaser, while Notachance is even weaker at present and both these 4yros need time.

Gatacre Street is given credit just for getting round for fifth place in what became a slog and looks a likely sort once handicapped.

The staying handicap hurdle looked competitive but Crosspark was a potential blot back over the smaller ones and he needed all that leniency to get on top of Wotzizname, who looked in much better heart than at Aintree on his reappearance.

Smooth Stepper looked really fit on his first start for Alex Hales, and was noted running on nicely at the end - he does stay very well - but is on a very high mark over fences at present.

The maiden hurdle brought together a trio of likeable types, none more so than Rouge Vif and on the evidence of this display it's hard to believe he's been beaten twice already this term.

With the next two home likely to have run to their marks in the high-teens, this was an extremely taking effort and clearly the application of the hood played some part in the apparent improvement. He's a really good looking individual.

Bold Plan shaped like a stayer after trying to go with the winner and is an embryo chaser, while Oakley was again untidy at his obstacles and has much to learn, but has the make and shape of a decent sort in time.

Several caught the eye in behind with a second S England inmate on the day worthy of a mention in Gold Runner, who probably finished a bit close for comfort but will now get a mark and all eyes will be on his next outing.

A filthy 0-100 handicap hurdle came next where a sturdy looking one of T Vaughan's by the ironic name of Concealed Ambition went down as one to follow, once dropped further in the weights and sent up in trip.

The winner Oregon Gold caught a bit of a tartar in Stop Talking here last time out and probably went off too big a price under fast-improving claimer C Hammond, for what it's worth.

The bumper wasn't easy to work out with the experienced runners setting a quite decent standard, while those visiting the track for the first time looked pretty backward (I'm Wiser Now) or in the case of the winner Whitehotchillifili, immature physically and mentally.

They ran about all over the place and it's hard to value the form, with Ascot runner-up Ben Buie running poorly, possibly unsuited by the ever-deepening ground, but the victor clearly has an engine.

Trips to Doncaster and Leicester proved virtually pointless owing to the dry ground, although peering outside today it feels like it's finally 'on the turn'.

Doncaster - February 29

Regular followers will know I'm not likely to shirk the issue when it comes to battling the elements; they'll also be aware that I am no longer young, and so it was that I opted for the comfort of Norm Towers on Friday in light of the fiendish conditions outside. One can only apologise.

However, the sun was out on Saturday and despite a fierce headwind that could stop a train, racing went ahead, well, so did I.

The opener was a decent staying handicap in which strong chasing type Geordie B provided a potential class edge, only to turn in the first shocker of his career, sliding backwards through the field a mile out. He'd been off since November, and maybe he's not in a good place.

Market leader Blackjack Kentucky still looks quite unfurnished but should make into a decent handicap chaser next season, jumping notably boldly in the home straight.

However, Paddy Brennan, well known for exploiting any potential track advantage going, played a blinder by taking Cobden's slipstream all the way up the home straight, on both first and second circuits.

You'll be your own judge as to whether this made the difference between victory and defeat for Liosduin Bhearna, either was it was further evidence of the veteran's prowess. The horse is very much a chasing type, a thorough stayer who benefited greatly from the step up in trip.

Remastered caught the eye beforehand, a good tall sort, and it was nice to see him back to the form of earlier efforts; the right three came away from a form perspective, and they will all be worth following over fences.

Plunge horse Jerrysback was taken out of the open-ended handicap chase but it still had a wide open feel, another well-backed animal being Gino Trail who I thought was significantly persevered with by the owners, who had sent him on to Fergal O'Brien.

Why the horse didn't enter the parade ring I don't know, but I did catch a glimpse of him in the chute and he looked on terrific terms with himself, and with the likelihood of a solo lead he was the one to beat.

Again, Brennan was outstanding, they don't come from too far back at this turning track especially with that headwind - it was impossible to make up lost ground and Gino, game as they come, jumped and galloped to the line.

Katpoli held on for second but was similarly well positioned, while Nuts Well ran yet another blinder from a career high mark on ground that puts pressure on his jumping as he's not very big.

Destrier was given a curious ride, Skelton's early bid for the lead stifled by Brennan, and the horse ran no race. Better ground might suit but he has plenty to prove now, as does Joke Dancer who hasn't been campaigned intelligently and his jumping once again was a mess.

Cill Anna had the form to win a Listed mares novice hurdle and she scraped home from the enterprisingly ridden Ziggy Rose (Brennan), while leaving the impression she's better than the bare result. 

Aimee De Sivola has quite a bit of size and scope, so should jump a fence, and plugged on gamely in the straight as this was very hard work for the four that came clear. Easter Gold will be a stronger horse next season and shouldn't be judged harshly on her tame effort.

The Grimthorpe lived up to its name, not easy viewing in a last-man standing exhibition, Captain Chaos finding a good rhythm and he just kept going to beat Worthy Farm, both of whom should now be roughed off for the season. This was brutal.

I didn't much care for Firak in the paddock before a three runner novince hurdle but his chief rival Kepagge had jumped appallingly when landing a minor event at Leicester and had to concede the penalty.

Clearly well schooled during an 80-day sabbatical, the Pipe horse travelled and jumped like a decent recruit in the making and better ground should be no barrier to success. As for Firak, he might prove difficult to win with and I'm starting have reservations about the sire Fuisse, many of which look quirky.

A weak handicap hurdle went to Stonific, who was the chief beneficiary of the low sun with the last three flights being omitted, you couldn't have written a better scirpt if you fancied the horse. 

For Pleasure came in for late support but he proved very keen as before without the hood, however, he travelled quite deep into the race and this will bring him on a fair bit. On decent terrain, you could see him defying a mark of 110, for sure.

A tidy little bumper closed the show, and a 'surprise' result from the judge with the penalised Kearney Hill getting up right on the line to frustrate backers of the immature colt Nells Son, who travelled like a horse with a bit of class.

The Smith's North Parade once again shaped with a degree of promise but he's a chaser in the making and similar in size to the progressive sibling Billingsley, however Whitechurch had pretty weak form in Irish points and looks a little modest, weakening tamely away in the straight. 

Wetherby - Cape crusader

I'll try to keep this update brief as I'm struggling to shake off the lurgy, not helped by standing around in this cold weather, and we need to get into tomorrow's Haydock card.

It wasn't a very 'puntable' card but there were plenty for notebook fans and some very definite markers for next time.

We can skip straight past the opener seller for obvious reasons, and into the novices handicap hurdle where the top one Routine Procedure very much took the eye.

R Dickin's youngster is clearly a chaser in waiting but looked in very good order indeed. However, someone obviously knew better as no sooner as I had nibbled at the 10s it whizzed out to double those odds on the machine. I might as well have set fire to a load of notes.

But stick it in the notebook for the longer term - nice horse. Westend Theatre is another one for the future and probably softer ground. He needs to grow into his rear end and fences will bring out the best in him.

Madrasa has been punted many times this term and again they came for it and this time things fell into place. Aren't the Reveley's having a good season? Lowcarr Motion ran a funny old race and again shaped as though further would suit, but he may be just a 'closer'. I'm slightly wary at this stage.

The next was a horrid affair from a punting perspective but fair play to Cowslip who is not a looker but was able to follow up that Carlisle win off a much higher perch. The Moore yard is in a rare hot patch and could have one or two more before the spring is out.

Back By Midnight did not look fit after a short absence but Abricot De L'Oasis looked great even though the market was negative towards his chances. Readers with a good memory will know I was singing the praises of Jokers And Rogues earlier in the campaign and he looked the winner turning in.

I was ruing not having something on at big odds but once again he fell in a hole off the bridle and it's a shame there appears to be an issue as this horse has a fine cruising speed. I don't know if it needs further, where it can keep going at the same pace for longer, or shorter if it struggles for stamina. It will jump a fence and maybe that could be the key - I don't think the attitude is a problem.

I swerved the three-horse novice as Carole's Destrier looked different gravy while Wolf Shield ran to his mark for the Moore yard. Creepy looked very lean and hasn't stood his racing.

Arthurs Secret was all the rage ahead of the handicap hurdle but this novice is not over big to carry top weight and I wanted to get against it with Watt Broderick, who is a fabulous looking animal that looked in great heart.

Quite what the jockey was thinking I don't know as I was expecting it to be under lock and key early doors, but he had to send it on turning in as it was going so well. The result may not have been any different but he should have kicked in rather than just wait for the others to come to him. Personally this was a proof of a horse in good order and with a conservative ride we can retrieve losses.

The ride on Weapon Of Choice was another to perplex as this miler on the flat surely needs riding for a bit of toe - not going from the front pulling for its head. For it to be jumping the last upsides is testament to its ability and he too should win this spring with a hold-up ride.

As you can gather I felt Rock A Doodle Doo rather picked up the pieces here as it looked weighted up to its best, but fair play to connections who have seen it hit the bar a few times.

Cape York: Good looking animal, attractive odds

The handicap chase was right up my street and I took a view that at the odds Lord Brendy was worth taking on. Readers will remember the disdain with which I viewed the ride it got last time and sure enough similar waiting tactics were employed.

On this occasion they should have suited as the pace was somewhat frenetic with Pinerolo and Cape York taking each other on, but the jolly was still spotting them a fair distance.

Having backed Cape York in the morning I wasn't disappointed that Hughes took up a prominent role as this is a horse who looked capable of winning from this mark having not looked right at all when the trainer was out of form.

Moody last time, he is the sort to benefit from blinds and the in-form M Jefferson duly obliged and the beast was worth a dabble at double figures in a race where I couldn't have the likes Pinerolo, Allanard or Special Bar at any price.

It looked for all the world as if Brendy was going to do us out of it but the effort in making up the ground was wasted after the last, as Cape York under a sound ride from Hughes hit back to land the spoils. It's worth repeating if connections of the grey happen to reading (doubtful I know) - pop him out in front and he'll win 10 lengths.

The bumper was interesting in that Tom Lacey's Younevercall was backed all day, probably after the trainer had a 20/1 bumper winner last month. I was expecting to see a superstar but to be honest I was disappointed and to my eyes the thing needed the run.

Maybe the algos and bandwagon-hoppers got the move going I don't know, but the smart cash surely came for the eventual winner Welsh Shadow, who looked a nice handy sort who was fit to do the job.

Dueling Banjos set a very decent benchmark and is a nice strong sort who is sure to do well over timber, so the victory of the Skelton runner was all the more meritorious.

Fact Of The Matter looked like a nice horse although a work in progress, while John Dory didn't really walk very well behind but stayed on well under a tender enough ride.

Wetherby - Tuesday Jan 23

Desperate conditions awaited runners after the meeting passed an early inspection, jockeys took their time in most races but with the additional yardage it was generally a struggle to get home.

The opening juvenile event was tricky with a big drifting favourite in Solo Saxaphone coming up against previous winner Oxford Blu and a big rangy ex-French bumper winner called Empire De Maulde.

Backers of the latter named were no doubt alarmed by the late drift and he seemed to run accordingly, although this was a falsely run race even by the standard of the day and the jocks were nearly caught out by D England on Titan.

The pair stole a couple of lengths early in the straight and with nothing immediately taking up the chase, for a moment the 50/1 shot looked home, but H Skelton roused the drifter just in time to get up close home in the style of an okay sort. For all that Titan was over-priced on looks, it would be hard not to say he's flattered by this.

A toxic-looking 0-100 handicap followed where Age Of Glory came home best despite having plenty of stamina queries against his name. This was not a strong race, with Cafe Au Lait setting the mark in a staying-on second.

Indian Reel and Chase Me were the paddock picks but the former in particular got a queer ride, held up early before making his move five wide on the turn, eventually fading tamely away.

Dick Darsie was made favourite for the staying chase which was truly astounding on two counts - primarily on the basis of form - his win here last time ain't worth jack - and secondly in-running players were surely aware this recalcitrant and downright slow animal would trade at biggers odds as soon as the flag went down.

Lunar Flow looked a more worthy jolly with valid excuses for his latest effort in a big-field marathon, and he was asked to make all at a rapid pace which had most of them beaten off a long way out.

The early fractions started to tell at the top of the straight though and Bassarabad, fresh from a wind op and with tongue tie added, came home stronger with nothing else left able to go a trot.

I gave Purple Harry a right chance so it was disappointing, to say the least, that he jinked and ditched the rider going to the first. He hadn't been quirky before and without seeing the replay I wonder if the flagman was partly responsible for not getting his arse out the way fast enough.

The big grey galloped and jumped round with the first two, and I would have expected him to have been involved in the finish with the jockey still in the plate. His day may yet come again.

I had given up on Final Fling long ago after he let me down on some big days and I didn't think he was capable of following up his latest win from a three-figure mark, but he's suddenly found a jolt of improvement and he saw off quite a decent field in the staying hurdle.

They went no pace at all here and the lengthy, chase type Asking Questions hit a wall before rallying for third, suggesting a stronger pace would suit, while Sounds Of Italy has no weight and while he isn't very good, his jockey wasn't harsh on him and a small race may not be out of the question.

Mad For Action is nice looking, a bit backward, and may well be one to look out for on decent ground.

Four came together for the handicap chase and it looked trappy on paper, but the market was solid all day long for the quirky looking Catamaran Du Seuil and when your tissue is all over the place it's sometimes best to stand aside.

Caraline, Wolf Sword and Clan Legend all had their chances but the likelihood is that the winner was simply the best handicapped horse in the race..and all the right people knew it.

The closing novice hurdle was a match in the market but sometimes you have to retain belief in what you're doing and while I hadn't got the previous race right, I strongly felt the market was wrong with Destrier weak in the betting in the face of support for debutant Klare Castle.

The Skelton horse is a beast, very strong and good looking, and with the form in the book looked hard to beat providing he settled on his first start in nine weeks.

He was rather keen but as the paddock view suggested, far too good for the opposition, the light framed filly Miss Tynte chasing him home.

Klare Castle is a nice enough type but still on the weak side, and his jumping left plenty to be desired.