Tuesday 14th January. 2025

Mostly Mozart ran a splendid third at Wolverhampton last night in his first race in a handicap.  Stepping up in trip, he travelled nicely behind the leaders before being baulked on the bend – then stayed on well up the straight to be beaten just over a length by the well-handicapped fancied winner.

Hopefully it won’t be long before he is winning for his patient owner Adam Jeavons and this four-year-old can only improve in time being by the excellent Nathaniel.

Delighted to see conditions thawing out and hopefully Smile Back is on schedule to run in the Listed bumper at Market Rasen on Friday.  A hot contest on paper, she deserves her chance of black type having won her only Irish point-to-point and showing both courage and stamina in her Carlislie bumper win.

Looking forward to more entries next week when hopefully the ground will not be too testing following the heavy frosts.

Tom Segal, Pricewise in the Racing Post, has tipped Gerri Colombe each-way for the Gold Cup this year.  Runner up to Galopin Des Champs last season I have been long time fan of Gordon Elliott’s top class chaser who does look each-way value at 14-1.

Hopefully this year’s Cheltenham Festival will be less one sided with many British challengers coming to the fore over the last month.  Saturday’s Clarence House Chase at Ascot looks potentially a fascinating clash between Jonbon and Energumene proving that you don’t have to have many runners to have a thrilling contest.