ANOTHER WINNER FOR DAWAL JACOB

Daryl Jacob had a glorious day at Sandown yesterday with three winners, two of which were for his new retainers Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. He could notch another winner up for them at Musselburgh today with DAWALAN, in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle race at 4:30, which comprises an eighth on their exciting Cheltenham trials day.

He's always looked a tricky customer and it appeared as though he'd struggle to get a 1 in his formbook this season. That was until his last run at Aintree, where he came from a mile back to win under a strong Jacob drive. On that evidence, the extra four furlongs he faces today should prove no problem. Hopefully, his latest win has provided the key for him to unlock many more wins.

Dawalan (green silks) in full flight

Another interesting horse in that race is EDEYMI. It's interesting that Tony Martin brings him over from Ireland for this and his seven pound claimer will aid his cause a lot. It's a speculative pick but you've always got to put Irish horses running in Britain outside of Festivals into consideration,

And here's my other fancies in racecard order...

1:00- This is advertised as a Supreme Novices' Trial but you would have to be extremely surprised if the victor in this went on to capture glory in the first race of the Cheltenham Festival. Of the quartet that line-up, slight preference at the prices is for THE GREY TAYLOR. He notched up a couple of wins at Wetherby this season before just falling short of the course and distance hat-trick when being narrowly beaten by A Boy Named Suzi. He had to carry nine pounds more than the winner that day and although he has a three pound penalty to contend with here, he may be good enough to beat El Namoose and Some Plan with Richard Johnson doing the steering.

1:30- A first time tongue-tie ignited SIR VALENTINO when winning at Ludlow last time out. A six pound rise for that seems fair and could be good enough to beat his opponents, plenty of which have question marks surrounding their current form. A horse who you could give a chance to is SWALEDALE LAD. He won a pair of novices' chases in May and whilst his latest runs haven't reaped as much success as those, they were against far superior opposition. Heavy beatings by the likes of The New One, Irving and Arctic Fire aren't the worst form on offer but he was clearly out of his depth. Today's task is a lot easier and therefore warrants respect.

2:30- Another Irish raider, TOYE NATIVE, could prove to be value in this novices' chase. Her mares allowance could prove vital in this; Seventh Sky and Yorkist may well be better horses but the burden of carrying seventeen pounds more than Colin McBratney's contender could prevent them from winning. She has some fairly decent bits of form on good ground too.

3:00- This Scottish County Hurdle is an exceedingly competitive handicap and, as a result, I could only whittle the field down to three. Six year old's have won four of the past five renewals of this so MEADOWCROFT BOY immediately catches the eye. His seasonal reappearance when beaten half the track by Dawalan can be written off whilst his New Years Day run here was far more promising and should be nicely wound up for this. SWEET DEAL should appreciate the return to better ground on which he looked a useful handicapping prospect and RETRIEVE, despite being John Ferguson's second string, can take advantage off his bottom weight. The 204 day layoff is a worry but he'll like the good ground too.

3:30- Brian Ellison could win the Albert Bartlett trial to go with his Supreme equivalent in the first race (fingers crossed) here, courtesy of RACING EUROPE. He's only had five runs to date but they have all been full of promise. Defeats behind the likes of El Namoose, Zeroeshadesofgrey and Warrantor aren't the worst form around and his latest win at Catterick over a furlong further than today's trip prove that there will be no qualms about the trip.

Punchestown also hold a quality card today with the Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase (3:40) being the highlight. The front two in the market are well worth opposing in this for me. Hidden Cyclone's most favourite position seems to be in the runners-up spot whilst Twinlight is a hugely inconsistent sort; it all depends which version of him turns up. Instead, BRIGHT NEW DAWN has hinted that a big race win is within him based on his two respectable runs this season and mudlark DAYS HOTEL, in his first time cheekpieces, look viable alternatives.

Another Pertemps Handicap Hurdle takes place at 3:10. This race has been dominated by nine year old's in recent renewals so my eye was instantly drawn to GOLDEN PLAN, the only horse of that important age in the field. WRATH OF TITANS has a chance too; his third place behind Shaneshill and his comfortable win last time out give him a great opportunity here. The application of cheekpieces for the first time definitely worked the oracle in his Thurles success so it makes sense that they're on again. Favourite Mydor has a big chance also off a low weight with Ruby Walsh in the saddle but 5/2 looks very short (and that's at the time of writing!)


Enjoy your Sunday!


Happy Punting!