Great start to the month with Oldgrangewood winning very nicely at Newbury. I thought Harry Skelton gave him a superb ride. 

We also had Call Out Loud win at Chelmsford in a photo. Alistair gave him a superb ride and just managed to get it on the nod. Summer Icon also placed in 3rd for each way returns. He was left with a lot to do but again has run a cracker.

One to go later, fingers crossed it runs better than the drift indicates it will.

Tips for Saturday 2^nd December, 2017

1.50 Newbury – Jabulani 8-1 widely available
0.5pts E/W  Fin Unp -£10

Jabulani sneaks into this towards the bottom of the weights and looks nicely treated on a mark of 127. He bolted up in a maiden last time out and on one particular form line we can create quite a good case for this one. In a Warwick maiden he beat Molineaux by 26l’s off level weights. Molineaux finished 2^nd in a class 2 Ascot handicap hurdle last week of 122. 127 quite frankly suggests Jabulani is chucked in, factor that the ground is in his favour and he should run a big race.

2.25 Newbury – Mount Mews 4-1 widely available
0.5pts E/W Fin Unp -£10

I am going to give Mount Mews another chance. He travelled with his usual zest last time out but didn’t finish of his race as strongly as what looked likely. He had to shoulder a lot of weight that day on his comeback run and it was run on heavy ground. All those factors surely played a part in him being beaten and with that run under his belt I am prepared to give him one more chance. The yard really rates this horse and I just think it may be worth excusing that last run. Trip, ground and the conditions of this race should all suit.

3.00 Newbury – Whisper 8-1 widely available 5places
0.5pts E/W Fin 2nd returned £15

I can’t get away from Whisper in here. I just think he will have a race perfectly run to suit, this horse’s main asset is how strongly he travels and this big field should really play into his hands. I wouldn’t usually side with a horse so high in the handicap but the relationship Davy Russel has with this horse should easily see him finish in the picture if not more. On his hurdles form he is still fairly handicapped over fences and his performances in behind Might Bite really do look rock solid form.

7.45 Wolverhampton – Battle Of Marathon 6-1 widely available/Emenem 7-1 widely available
Both 0.5pts E/W Battle Of Marathon won 7/1 returned £52    Emenem fin unp -£10

Two in here catch the eye. Battle of Marathon ran a really good race over this C and D the other day. He travelled very strongly into it and would have won but for some trouble in running. He has been handed stall 1 tomorrow and the talented Jack Osborn who negates an extra 7lb has been booked for the ride. If breaking on turns and getting the luck needed in running then Battle of Marathon should go very close to breaking a long losing run. A somewhat less quirky horse is Emenem, this horse has a good strike rate on the AW and we need to upgrade his last run substantially. He was drawn wide, forced forward and then was caught three wide for the first few furlongs. The fact he kept on so gamely for 4^th was very impressive and from a much better draw tomorrow he surely has a huge chance. Stall 4 should allow him to take up a much better racing position and as a result allow him a much easier trip and a better finishing kick. All those factors should see him go very close. 

DG Tips.