Thursday 8th April:

#NAP – CLAN DES OBEAUX (2.50 Aintree) – Dual King George winner who has been kept fresh for this race having swerved Cheltenham last month (was held in last year’s Gold Cup). He hasn’t won in three starts this season but has ran to a good level of form, beaten by Bristol De Mai in that horses main target at Haydock by two-lengths in bottomless ground having travelled all over him before not seeing out his race. He was a held third in a hat-trick bid in the King George before almost conceding 6lb to Secret Investor in the Denman Chase at Newbury when beaten only a neck. If showing his best form here in his favoured conditions I think he’ll take a lot of beating and hopefully can continue Paul Nicholls’ good recent form (34% strike-rate in the past fortnight). (10/3) – Betfair – 1pt – WON (+4.3)

#IWAC – BUZZ (3.25 Aintree) – This race looks very tough to call so I’m looking at this horse for a bit of value now stepping up to 2m4f for the first time, having shaped as though he’d appreciate this test. He’s ran some really nice races this season despite only gaining one success from four outings. (at even money in a class 2 handicap at Ascot). That win came after going close in the Welsh Champion Hurdle behind Sceau Royal and Ballyandy having made a shuddering error at the last, losing all momentum. He’s stepped up on his last two runs having carried top-weight in a couple of competitive handicaps, beaten just under two-lengths by Not So Sleepy, conceding 6lb to that rival, before a staying-on fifth in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. He’s got a few pounds to find with most of these on official ratings but he’s still very unexposed especially over this new trip, the ground will be perfect for him and at double-figure odds with four places on offer he could be of some value. (22/1) – Betfair – 0.5pt ew (4 places) – 2nd (+2.7)

#NB – SULLY D’OC AA (4.40 Aintree) – I tipped this horse at Cheltenham last month when running over a longer trip, he ran a good race and looked to be creeping into contention before making a mistake two out. The handicapper has eased him a pound since then which puts him only a pound higher than when beaten just over two-lengths at Newbury behind Clondaw Castle (who contests the Aintree Bowl earlier on the card). He drops back down in trip to 2m which he’s only ran over once here in the UK, when second to the now 155-rated Fanion D’Estruval. There looks plenty of pace on offer here so hopefully he can get a nice toe into the race, the ground should be fine and I do think he should be winning races off this mark of 136, whether it’s today or not is another matter but he’s worth an each-way bet with five/six places on offer. (12/1) – Betfair – 0.5pt ew (5 places) – 2nd (+1.7)

Stake: 3pts

April P/L: +2.5pts

Overall P/L (Sept ’17-present): +586.48pts