Saturday 12th January

I won't be able to play during the day today, so have had to play early.

Warwick 1:25

Verasi 6/4

Old Benny 6/4

Interesting prices in this match, or rather re-match. Regulars will know I'm a Verasi fan and having been unlucky for us at Exeter he atoned at Lingfield. The ground is perfect. The money is all for Old Benny though and it is easy to see why. He has the weight turnaround for his debut chase, his trainer is unafraid to reoppose, and is 70% with novice chasers at the track. All of that doesn't mean to me Verasi should be a 2/1 shot and I think the market's over-reacting. I'm on.

Warwick 2:30

Trust Fund 11/2

Arnold Layne 11/2

High Chies 11/2

Not Left Yet 7/1

Kilbeggan Blade 9/1

Blue Splash 9/1

Sixo 11/1

Naunton Brook 20/1

Trust Fund amazingly weak this morning. He was very well backed at Newbury so that's interesting. Arnold Layne priced on McCoy as much as anything and there does look to be a lot of pace in the race, which has to be a worry for some of these in this ground. High Chimes looks the obvious one, as an unexposed stayer – and this plod through the mud should be ideal. Of the rest Kilbeggan Blade looked better than just a plodder at Sandown, has paid the price for that, this will suit but topweight a worry. Blue Splash's jumping went to pot at Cheletnham and maybe the class rise did for him – the fences here come thick and fast. Nauton Brook could get into a rhythm but remains badly weighted and won't be gifted a lead. Not Left Yet and Sixo are typical Pipe grit in the vaseline jar. All in all a tricky race.

Warwick 3:00

Souffleur Evens

Nenuphar Collonges 9/4

A match similar to the Verasi race. Nenuphar Collonges has already beaten Souffleur. However the latter won in good style last weekend and the trainer has called the Cheltenham race an aberration. That race was run on terrible ground, which suited Nenuphar Collonges much more. However, the same looks to be true today. This time we have Alan King on-side and he's being backed this morning.

What's the betting the wrong King horses win! Still, I'll play the treble and for the challenge:

£500 Challenge

Verasi £20 win at 2/1

Nenuphar Collonges £20 win at 3/1