Advised SATURDAY MORNING 18th JANUARY

Song For Someone looks overpriced considering how well he ran giving lumps of weight away to the winner and runner up at Sandown in a listed hurdle handicap before Christmas. The runner up Protektorat won nicely at Cheltenham on January 1^st when upped in trip boosting the form. Sone For Someone has run two good races this season already winning once at Fontwell on soft ground. He galloped on well up the Sandown hill carrying top weight looking like a horse who will stay this extra three furlongs well. James Nixon rides again and claims off a valuable 5lbs. Thomas Darby is interesting switching back to hurdles but might not enjoy the heavy going as much as others.

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Sam’s Adventure has a great chance of landing this valuable handicap chase so long as his jumping stands the test. He remains lightly raced for an eight year old having only thirteen career runs and three over fences. At these revised weights he should reverse placings with last time out Newcastle conqueror Domaine De L’Isle who is priced up shorted. Trainer Brian Ellison has booked good 7lb claimer Jack Tudor effectively leaving Sam’s Adventure with only 9-9 to carry on heavy ground. This horse loves heavy going and is unexposed over fences unlike many of the more experienced rivals.

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Sue Smith has trained the winner of this race twice in the past four years and relies on Vintage Clouds today. We backed him in the Tommy Whittle chase over course and distance last month where he galloped on dourly to grab third place having been outpaced turning for home. The winner was different class that day and went in again subsequently shooting up the ratings from 127 to 149! Vintage Clouds carried top weight in the Tommy Whittle but with Definitly Red lining up today he gets to race off 10-11 which is ideal. In hindsight his last run was good as he had a bad experience over the national fences in the Becher chase just not taking to big fences. A good confidence boosting clear round last time out will have set him up nicely with a winning chance today.

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Willie Mullins trained runners get through the heavy ground well such is their fitness levels. I thought Dolciano Dici ran a nice race on his first run of the season when fourth behind Alfa Mix over course and distance. This is a similar Grade B handicap hurdle with Alfa Mix 9lbs worse off on ratings this time round. The progeny of Assessor who is the sire of our selection have a great record on heavy ground (12 wins from 24 runs) so that bodes well for our selection handling heavy ground. Danny Mullins rides with Paul Townend on duty at Ascot.

**Next Selections due Date & Time:

Thursday Afternoon 23rd January ~13:00