Today's Selections

1:30 Kempton - Silver Gypsy (12/1) - 1pt e/w - I'm not sure this is the most sensible selection but something about this horses profile leads me to believe that she may just step up on her recent form today. Although she is yet to race beyond 2m 5f I'm pretty certain that she should relish the step up in trip together with the conditions. She is out of a dam who was a winning PTP runner over 3miles and the Gypsy's best run in recent months came over 22f at Cheltenham on soft ground. Since that race she has been campaigned over distances between 17-20f and despite featuring prominently in the betting she has looked one paced and sluggish at her jumps and has been well beaten on all three occasions. As well as the step up in trip and the ground, SG also has the TP combination on for the second time and that should help her settle into a nice jumping routine. At a current price of 12/1 I believe the horse represents a good e/w and although I wouldn't be surprised if she finished outside of the places, I think she may be the dark horse in the race. (2nd - SP 16/1)

2:05 Kempton - French Opera (9/2) - 3pt win - Make no mistake this horse is going to be extremely difficult to place this season and with that in mind Henderson may well have found this horse the perfect opportunity on his reappearance. Although you have to take his fitness on trust, horses from this yard are usually wound up first time out and with distance and conditions to suit he should run well. He also gets a significant weight allowance from all of his competitors and this could well be a case of perfect product placement. (UP)

2:20 Wetherby - Drumshambo (11/8) - 3pt win - Despite carrying a 7lb penalty for his recent win I still believe this horse has more room for improvement than his competitors. Obviously course specialist Lease Lend is a danger but he's had his problems and was a well beaten favourite last time out. The Ellison horse could prove to be the biggest danger carrying a featherweight but the booking of Kyle James is a major negative for me and with that in mind, Drumshambo is fancied to complete his hatrick. (1st)

2:55 Wetherby - United Park (7/4) - 3pt win - When I was looking through the card last night this horse immediately caught my eye and it wasn't just because his trainer has brought him over from France for the race. The real reason for my interest stems from a conversation I had with a French NH owner earlier this year regard United Park's ex stablemate Unioniste. Unioniste was sold out of the Macaire yard in October this year and immediately made his mark for the Champion trainer when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I had heard good things about the horse in France but I had been told by a connected party that United Park was every bit as good at home on the Gallops in Les Mathes. The horse has already amassed £76,000 in prize money and if he has half the talent of Unioniste then he has to be considered a real contender in today's race. He has form on heavy ground, a great pedigree and the assistance of Mr Reveley in the saddle who has a solid strike rate over fences at the track. (1st)