The Novice Tipster

Johns Spirit 13 th March 1.30     JLT Novices' Steeple Chase (2m 5f) Wonderful Charm - Wonderful Charm is favourite for the two mile four JLT Novices' Chase on the Thursday. He's just had a bit of puss in his foot over the last few days and it's one of those trainers nightmares, I wanted to do a bit with him this morning and he decided it was a bit sore. The idea with this lad after he did really well in the spring was to gain experience over fences and he did that before Christmas, his last run getting beat a neck by Oscar Whisky giving him 8lb which was an excellent run. He won at Wincanton and Newbury and the key to this horse is good ground, I'd love to see it drying up and hopefully the New Course on the Thursday will suit him. He doesn't want it really soft, which is why we campaigned him in the autumn and now in the spring again. He'll go to Cheltenham, Aintree and maybe even Sandown. He jumps well, goes well fresh and I just hope the

Annie Power v's Big Bucks System 1:30 1st Oscar Whisky 6/1 - 80 2nd Taquin Du Seuil 8/1 - 70 3rd Wonderful Charm 11/2 - 45 4th Felix Yonger 7/2 - 40 4th Mozoltov 20/1 - 40 Every who follows me will know that Taquin Du Seuil is the horse i follow. And i am not going to change here. Yes he beat Oscar Whisky on OW's first time over fences, but then OW has beaten him 2 times since. However for me they have been pretty falsely run races and TDS needs a strong pace. Also the first time he got beat by OW, OW stole 10Lengths at the start, hardly fair. Beaten fair and square in the next race. He has very strong E/W claims along with Oscar Whisky and i think they will be able to beat Felix Yonger. Mozlotov is a great e/w price and one not to discount 2:40 1st Boston Bob 10/1 - 85 2nd Hunt Ball 25/1 - 55 2nd Menorah 8/1 - 55 3rd Dynaste 7/2 - 50 3rd Al Ferof 11/2 - 50 3rd Benefficient 4/1 - 50 This race couldn't really be much closer for the places. B

The Queen Of Cheltenham - Quevega 12 th March 1.30     Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (2m 5f) Faugheen - At the moment, I would be possibly looking at the Neptune. He could run in all three [novice hurdles at the Festival] with the sort of ability he has. Fingers crossed we can keep him right for Cheltenham. He's had three runs this season and I didn't think there was any necessity to do any more. He's a horse that's very hard on himself. I'm a little disappointed with how he's been doing since. I thought that, doing as little as I am with him, he's just so hard on himself . . . We changed his feed routine last night and I think it's going to work out better because, looking at him just now, he's fit and ready to run and he's not going to need a lot of work. WM Sure Reef - He looked that he could stay all day, so the Neptune or the [Albert Bartlett]. It was some performance to do what he did [at Leopardst

Sire Du Grugy 1:30 1 st Red Sherlock 4/1 – 65 2 nd Killala Quay 33/1 – 50 3 rd Knock House 50/1 – 45 3 rd Creepy 50/1 – 45 4 th Royal Boy 13/2 – 40 Red Sherlock has scored very highly on this and as i backed him myself at double those odds, i feel quite happy. However Faugheen looks the horse to beat and i am really shocked not to see him on this. Creepy could be interesting though, scored highly and tried a hood for the first time. Might be worth a small e/w 2:05 1 st Le Bec 14/1 – 85 2 nd Don Cossack 12/1 – 60 2 nd Sam Winner 12/1 – 60 3 rd Black Thunder 20/1 – 50 3 rd Just A Par 22/1 – 50 3 rd O’Faolains Boy 16/1 – 50 4 th Ballycasey 5/1 – 45 4 th Garvey Chambertin 33/1 – 45 Le Bec looks to have a good solid chance here, everything seems to suit. I would worry about O’Faolains, i think he is better than what the system suggests . But another very tight race here. 2:40 1 st Dunguib 10/1 – 60 2 nd   Far West   16/1 – 55