David Ord had a 15/2 winner on Wednesday, while Ben Linfoot has the Thursday selections.
Thursday selections
INVINCIBLE MELODY – 19.00 Chelmsford (NAP)
Stuart Williams’ horses are in good form and his INVINCIBLE MELODY can enjoy the drop back to six furlongs at Chelmsford in the For The Love Of Horses Handicap on Thursday evening. He got away much better under Jack Dace, who rides again, over seven furlongs at Southwell last time and ran well in second, so if he can get away on terms here he looks well capable of going in off his current mark. The hat-trick seeking Lazzar is respected, but he is unproven on this track with his wins coming at Lingfield, while Invincible Melody is getting better every time he runs here.
HAUT FOLIN – 12.32 Ludlow
He’s been pulled up the last four times and Timeform have a question mark rather than a rating next to his name, but Venetia Williams might just have found a race for HAUT FOLIN to bounce back in at what should be tempting odds. The blinkers are back on and Murray Dodd gets the ride in this conditionals handicap chase, while he’s well handicapped off 95 after dropping 9lb in two runs. The time to catch him is amongst his first few runs of the season and there was a glimmer of hope on his return at Warwick where he went off too quick with the leader, for all that he pulled up again.
LEWISHAM GROVE – 13.25 Newcastle
This maiden hurdle at Newcastle looks a good opportunity for Jennie Candlish’s LEWISHAM GROVE to get his first win on the board. The son of Jet Away is a former pointer who has run in four hurdles and he’s getting better with experience, finishing second here last time out in mid-November when splitting two rivals who have run well subsequently.
VALADON – 14.27 Wincanton
Harry Fry’s VALADON can bounce back in the Bet Smarter With Oddschecker+ Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton. The six-year-old was pulled up as if something was amiss on his return but Fry has given him 53 days off and the combination of 2m4f, soft ground and a strong pace should bring his stamina into play here if he’s back on song.
Friday selections
FISCAL POLICY – 13:05 Newcastle (NAP)
FISCAL POLICY won all-weather handicaps at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford from marks of 74 and 77 in 2024 and 2025 respectively so is of major interest again having dropped to 73. He’s also got winning form on the Tapeta at Newcastle so we know this track holds no fears and he probably ran a bit better than the bare form suggests when fifth of eight at Southwell last time out. Held up early that day before staying on to be beaten under four lengths, it wasn’t a bad run in the circumstances and it’s worth noting the third (Em Four) has won since off the same mark. Fiscal Policy was dropped 2lb and could be about to capitalise. (MB)
ICARE COLOMBE – 15.10 Market Rasen
ICARE COLOMBE admittedly hasn’t shown an awful lot in two chases so far but he did look more promising in his early novice hurdles and a chance is taken on him dropped in trip to 2m1f in the Family Sportsday Raceday On Sale Now Novices' Handicap Chase at Market Rasen. He’s worth a go dropped in trip as he’s not been finishing well over 2m4f and this is a weak race, while Fergal O’Brien has an excellent record in Market Rasen novice handicap chases (eight wins from 25 at 32%). (BL)
GERICAULT ROQUE – 16.05 Windsor
David Pipe’s GERICAULT ROQUE comes with risks attached but a mark of 128 is too tempting to ignore in the closing MPM Flooring Handicap Chase at Windsor. The 10-year-old ran really well at this meeting last year in third behind Herakles Westwood after 783 days off before he ran down the field in the National Hunt Chase. Second in an Ultima off 138 in his pomp, it looks significant Pipe has pointed him here for this test and first time out off his reduced rating could be the time to catch him. (BL)
AUTUMN ANGEL – 18:30 Wolverhampton
Tony Carroll continues to fire in the winners and AUTUMN ANGEL is backed to add to the trainer’s tally. The five-time winning mare looked back to herself when almost taking full advantage of an easing mark with the blinkers back on at Wolverhampton earlier in the month. She’s back for another shot over the same course and distance and although nudged up 1lb or the head defeat, the third has won since to give the form a small boost and she’s still really nicely treated on best form anyway. (MB)
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2025-26 winners (Naps competition Oct 19 - Apr 25)
- Maximising 15/2
- Big Zouk 11/8 (NAP)
- Silver Thorn 3/1
- Merrimack 13/8 (NAP)
- My Champion 11/4
- Fasol 4/1
- Nebras 7/2
- Mapledurham 5/2
- Soldierofthestorm 9/4
- Lake Como 11/10
- Ballymackie 5/6 (NAP)
- Kruger Park 3/1
- Indeevar Blue 9/2
- Kitzbuhel 13/8
- Gazette Bourgeoise 7/2
- Supreme Malinas 7/2
- Heart Over Head 4/1
- Saint Cyr De Pail 7/2
- Westcombe 7/4
- Intervention 7/2
- One Big Bang 8/11
- Zryan 4/1
- David's Well 6/4 (NAP)
- Atreides 5/4
- Salver 6/4 (NAP)
- Castanea Breeze 3/1
- Ribble Vibe 6/4
- Medieval Gold 6/5
- Fierce Warrior 11/10
- Mambonumberfive 5/2 (NAP)
- Bibendum 85/40
- Seasmoke 10/3
- Teardrops 2/1
- Secret Vino 11/2
- Blenkinsop 7/4 (NAP)
- Roaring Conquest 6/4
- Molto Bene 7/4
- Nocte Volatus 11/4
- Sparkling Duke 9/2
- Chuggy 11/10
- Germanic 3/1
- Special John evens
- Fat Harry 5/4 (NAP)
- Formel Park 3/1 (NAP)
- Sixmilebridge 6/4 (NAP)
- On The Go 2/1 (NAP)
- Ikarak 13/8
- Clearpoint 3/1
- Bahadur 2/1 (NAP)
- L'Empire Vert 3/1 (NAP)
- Without Compromise 2/1
- Solarize 3/1
- Hartington 7/1
- Bloodsweatandtyres 9/2
- Pep Talking 13/2
- Tigers Moon 8/11
- Sea Poetry 2/1
- Fine Interview 7/2
- American Flight 7/1 (NAP)
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