If your Friday involved more “neigh” than “yay,” don’t fret. We’ve been tracking the action from the scenic highlands of Perth to the posh suburban lawns of Sandown Park, and it’s been a day of Skeltons, mud-splattered silks, and a few “well, I didn’t see that coming” moments.
Perth Festival: The Skelton Show Rolls On
Up at Perth, Dan and Harry Skelton decided to treat the track like their own personal playground. They kicked things off with Misterdoc (30/100fav) doing exactly what it said on the tin, winning.
The highlight of the day, the Highland National, saw El Granjero (10/3fav) staying on like a Highland stag to take the spoils for Clive Boultbee-Brooks. If you backed the favorites at Perth today, you’re likely sipping a nice single malt tonight; if you didn’t, well, there’s always the gin.
Sandown Park: Flat Friday, Jumps Tomorrow
While the jumpers were busy in Scotland, Sandown hosted a classy Flat card today. Opera Ballo (4/1) for Charlie Appleby and William Buick proved that even on “Classic Trial Day,” the Godolphin blue is a hard color to beat. Meanwhile, Saddadd (2/1) showed plenty of grit to take the 14:25 for Roger Varian.
The Inside Scoop: Jonbon’s Grand Finale
Tomorrow is the big one: the Jump Season Finale. All eyes are on the flamboyant Jonbon in the Celebration Chase (14:55 PM).
Insider Whispers: Word from the Seven Barrows yard is that Jonbon has been “jumping like an aeroplane.” After a slightly frustrating second in the Ryanair at Cheltenham, he’s back over his preferred 2-mile trip. The ground is drying out, which is music to his hooves.
However, don’t sleep on Thistle Ask. The Skeltons are chasing that £5 million prize-money milestone, and they won’t let Jonbon have a walkover. Expect a tactical battle where Jonbon’s speed meets Thistle Ask’s tenacity.
Tomorrow’s Cheat Sheet: Best Rated Horses 🐎
If you’re looking to end the season with a bang (and a full wallet), here are the ones the “men in the know” are eyeing for Saturday, April 25th:
The Nap: Jonbon (14:55) He is the class act of the day. Despite a small field, his master rating of 170+ makes him the one to beat in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase.
The Each-Way Value: Montregard (15:30) In a wide-open Gold Cup, Timeform notes his steady progression. He looks well-handicapped and likely to relish the stamina test.
The Dark Horses: Thistle Ask (14:55) Showing a strong “p” (for projected improvement) in Timeform’s ratings, currently priced around 2/1 in the early markets. (13:45) – Ambiente FriendlyBoasts a high Timeform rating (89) relative to the rest of the field in the Novices’ Championship Final, marking him as a high-probability contender.
15:30 – Havaila. A front-runner on the weight-adjusted ratings for the Bet365 Gold Cup. Coming off strong recent performances, this horse sits right at the top of the Timeform hierarchy for the day’s feature handicap.
The Daily Nap: Blow Your Wad (14:20 Sandown). Gary Moore’s runner is the clear “weight-adjusted” master of this field. He’s got the gears, the rating, and the attitude to sign off the season in style.
Will add more tomorrow morning 🌅
Good morning 🌅Haydock
The standout horse by rating is Strength Of Spirit, who carries a smart weight-adjusted rating into the 15:45. Here are the top-rated selections and Timeform’s “Verdict” horses for the meeting:
Key Runners to Watch
Jenny Jerome (16:20): Rated as the main danger to Paranjape. She was a close second just 20 days ago and is expected to be competitive off her current mark of 65.
Mr Seagull (15:45): Though returning from a 210-day break, he remains of interest for the Hugo Palmer yard, having shown flashes of high ability last season.
Quick Tips for Haydock Today
Best Bet: Strength Of Spirit (15:45 – The “p” attached to his rating indicates he is likely to improve further.
EW Value: Full Gas (16:20) often overlooked in the market but has data suggesting he is better than his last run.
16:20 – Paranjape Rated highly following a very solid second-place finish in his last outing. Jockey Tom Marquand takes the ride for the S. Woods stable, which is a strong signal of intent.
16:55 – Andalprofit Top Rated. A key feature in the Timeform Premium Ratings for this handicap. His recent All-Weather form (finishing 2nd at Newcastle) suggests he is primed to strike now that he’s back on turf.
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Silks and Shenanigans 