Tuesday 28th April

Wincanton
2.20
Lady Friend 0.25pt E/W - brought down (2nd)

Bath
2.45
Magnitude 1pt win - unpl
Aypeeyes 0.5pt win - WON 11/4

5.40
Volito 0.5pt E/W - 7th

Lingfield
4.50
Azharia 0.5pt E/W - unpl

Nottingham
7.05
Hunting Country 1pt win - unpl
Red Jade 0.5pt win - 2nd
Stone Of Scone 0.5pt win - WON 12/1 (best odds g'td adv)

Back to winning ways (+2.38pts) thanks to a higher than expected SP on the final selection. The day didn't start well however when Lady Friend was brought down at the 2nd flight in the Wincanton opener.

Next up for me was the Bath seller at 2.45. Magnitude drifted alarmingly beforehand and ran no sort of race, my saver Aypeeyes, who looked the form choice on best form, stayed on well to save the day.

Volito was a rare 3yo flat runner for Jonjo O'Neil but this handicap debutant was up against after getting outpaced after some early scrimmaging. He could be capable of better over further.

Bahamian Bliss was well backed for the 4.15 at Lingfield and her finishing position of 4th does not do her performance justice. Despite a slow start she got herself into contention at the furlong marker and her challenged only petered out because she was positioned up the dreaded inside. She can find a similar event.

Jamie Spencer reported that Azharia (4.50) did not face the kick back, that may be the case but she faced the heavier kick back of Southwell on debut. Personally I feel she may fare better when not steadied to race 3l off the 2nd last horse. She showed a consistent level of form on her previous three starts when ridden by Callan and Golam and this run can be ignored.

The 7.05 at Nottingham was the race of the day for and I felt by backing Hunting Country, Stone Of Scone and Red Jade I was certain to have the winner. I believe the trio are well handicapped and set for decent seasons. Stone Of Scone has always been highly thought of and his maiden win last May at Great Leighs could not have worked out any better. The 2nd - 8th that day went on to win 15 races between them and many are rated in the 80s or 90s, so a mark of 90 looked well within his capabilities provising all was well after a year off the course. Although well backed this morning he was a massive drifter on course, after opening 9/2 he drifted to an SP of 12/1! The on-course market got it badly wrong as he came from pretty much last to first to land the spoils, despite idling slightly when hitting the front. He deserves plenty of credit for this win and has unlimited potential.

Red Jade was the horse he touched off into 2nd place and Karl Burke's colt lost nothing in defeat. The 70,000gns purchase out of John Gosden's yard was another who looked well handicapped on last season's maiden form. He travelled much the best throughout and looked the likely winner until the powerful run of Stone Of Scone. Even though the handicapper will probably have his say, compensation looks a formality - keep him on your side.

Hunting Country was one of the first beat, perhaps finding the rain softened ground against him.

Will keep records of N.H. and A/W bets since the blog started, alongside the full Flat (turf) record...

Combined
Bets 97
Winners 35
P/L +29.36pts
ROI 25%

All-Weather
Bets 25
Winners 9
P/L +11.72pts
ROI 42%

National Hunt
Bets 9
Winners 5
P/L +9.01pts
ROI 90%

Flat (turf) 2009
Bets 63
Winners 21
P/L +8.63pts
ROI 11%

All bets proofed to Racing Post