MANSELL ALL SET TO TAKE THEM BY STORM

The Oxford University Hunt Club stage the first of 3 meetings at Kingston Blount on Saturday. The course as always looks in fantastic condition and the going should be near perfect if we can avoid the low temperatures which has decimated point-to-point racing recently. They have received 167 entries on a decent looking 7 race card. Although with 30 and 37 runners entered for the final two Open Maiden races their must be a high chance that both these races will be split on the day. The first race starts at 12.00 p.m.

The opening race of the day is a competitive looking Confined race. I would imagine Alan Hill will be keeping the progressive More Trouble for the Mens Open Race later in the afternoon. In his absence I like the look of Xila Fontenailles and the Hookie Bookie who showed a return to form finishing a decent second behind Unowhatimean at Horseheath. I think Xila Fontenailles looks the more progressive and I would take him to win this opening event. Sorbiediditmyway could also run well and should be a bit of value to pick up some place money at least.

A very decent entry for the Ladies Open race with plenty of runners holding very strong chances. Desert Tommy probably has the strongest form following 2 decent victories on his last 2 starts. Desert Tommy will not have it so easy here with the likes of Honest Endeavour, Duchamp, Home By Midnight, Nathos and Petit Lord. Angela Rucker will as usual have the choice between Honest Endeavour and Petit Lord and whichever horse she chooses looks the biggest danger to Desert Tommy. I would like to see a return to form for Duchamp before I think he will score again and Home By Midnight could well need this first run of the season after a year off the course, but has more than likely being laid out for this race for his local owners home track and a good run also looks instore. A good race on paper which should go to Desert Tommy but this race is likely to be well contested all the way to the wire.

Only 15 entries received for the Mens Open race and it would be no surprise to see More Trouble continue his winning sequence from last year. Although he could be up against it if former top class hurdler My Way De Solzen has managed to retain some of the ability he showed in national hunt races. This makes for a fascinating contest especially with 2 improving younger types in Maranach and Euro Bleu who will also be looking to stamp their authority in these types of races before the end of the season. I will stick with More Trouble as he has always been lucky for me and at his local track will be very difficult to beat. A really intriguing race looks on the cards.

A competitive entry for the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate race with Exceptionnel, Maranach and Sweden looking the best of them. Exceptionnel ran well at Whitfield earlier in the season and should go very well here. Maranach as mentioned above is improving and should be in the shake up at the finish. The highly regarded Sweden who never showed his true form in bad conditons at Whitfield and looks the one to be on here. I am sure we are likely to see a much better showing on Saturday from Sweden and I will take him to put that poor run behind him and get back to winning ways here. Exceptionnel is no mug though and will not need a second invitation to make the selection sweat if he is not fully on his game.

An Open Restricted race follows with Alan Hill holding a strong hand with Bynack Mhor and Mad Jack Duncan. Mad Jack Duncan's form is probably the stronger of the two following his decent victory at Higham. I will at my peril bypass him here though as other horses in this race look to have just as good a form and I feel with the Alan Hill factor at the course, Mad Jack Duncan will represent poor value. The luckless Frosty Spring who deserves to score a restricted success after running another honest race finishing second at Barbury Castle last month and it would be nice to see him get his head in front again soon. Unfortunately, Frosty Spring just finds 3m beyond him and I fear this track will not help him and looks as if he could face the same scenario again here. The horses I like is Dream Article who won nicely in a 2m4f race at Brampton Bryan last season and that form does look quite strong, especially after Uppertier who finished 3rd in that race won a Restricted race in good style at Chaddesley Corbett a fortnight ago. I think Dream Alliance should run well against the strong entry from the Hill stable. Echo India should also go well following his decent third at Whitfield and with that opening run under his belt should be fit and raring to go for another bold showing here . Although he does have a bit to find with Taken by Storm who ran a cracker in a much faster race at Whitfield and looked in need of that first run of the season. I think he looks the one to be on here and could be a horse to follow for the remainder of the season.

A very hard maiden race with 30 entries received that could well be split. The horse I really like here is Double Tangle who looked a bit unlucky when coming down at Whitfield and if able to stay on his feet should run a very good race. The other runners are much of a muchness although Supreme Henry could be one of the dangers following two 3rd's in maidens on his last 2 outings at Larkhill. Maiden races are usually well contested at that track so may represent some good each way value. Solana does look another danger following a decent 2nd behind Mid Div and Creep at Horseheath back in 2008. If that form is as good as it suggests and the horse is fit and well then he could be the one they all have to beat. Although it is a bit worrying why the horse has not been out for such a long time. Dan Maguire, Free From Magee and Boddington Lad are other horses that should run well in a very open race.

37 entered for the finale and again this looks like it could well be split for the shorter maiden over 2m and 5f. Plenty again in with chances but this should really go to Oujamaflip whose 3rd behind Horsham Lad reads extremely well Horsham Lad has already franked the form after making light work of taking a restricted race. I think he will win this race if turning up on the day. The other horse I like is Amatara who ran well at Barbury racecourse but was a bit headstrong, if he could settle better he may see the trip out here and looks a very lively danger to the selection. Court again could stay on past beaten rivals for a place. I really like the look of Oujamaflip and I hope he turns up on the day and sends us all home with plenty of reddies in our pockets for the Cheltenham festival next week.

Selections :

Race 1 - Xila Fontenailles (The Hookie Bookie)
Race 2 - Desert Tommy (Honest Endeavour)
Race 3 - More Trouble (My Way De Solzen)
Race 4 - Sweden (Exceptionel)
Race 5 - Taken By Storm (NAP) (Mad Jack Duncan)
Race 6 - Double Tangle(Solana)
Race 7 - Oujamaflip (N.B.) Amatara


Let’s hope the sun will be shining and it's not too cold and everybody can have a really enjoyable opening days racing .

Please email any comments to info@southmidlandp2p.co.uk