High hopes for Mr Aitch

Mr Aitch (3.10 Wetherby) has plenty in his favour and looks banker material at a much bigger than expected 3-1 with totesport this morning.

He showed useful form on the Flat last year and looked to have transferred all of that ability to hurdles when runner-up to Manadam over an extra half-mile here last month, when he just failed to last home after looking sure to win.  This drop back to two miles will suit and he should be far too good for five modest rivals.

David Simcock has had a relatively slow start to the season, but his runners are in decent form now and all three of his runners today have lively chances.  The pick of them is Any Given Day (7.40 Salisbury).  A winner on his first try over ten furlongs at Kempton last October, he failed to handle soft ground on his reappearance at Warwick before bouncing back to form under faster conditions last time when a staying-on third to Excape at Windsor.  That form is working out well and, with this extra two furlongs in his favour, he looks a fair bet at 9-2 with William Hill to see off the lightly-raced Iron Cross.

The other Simcock-trained runners are Classic Encounter (3.25 Goodwood), who has not had his ideal conditions on his past two starts and could well make all the running back now that he is back over the minimum trip on fast ground, and Top Ticket (4.00 Goodwood), who is improving and should make a bold bid to follow up his recent Bath success despite top weight.

Comments

[Harrytheactor]

Cracking double, Rob. I got 11-4 and 9-2 and helped myself. Keep it up! Where are the naysayers now, eh?

[Robin Hood]

Had the same double as you Harry. See Rob had 16-1 and 14-1 winners as well yesterday but wasnt on them - cant back em all, can you. Form settling down on the flat - reckon we could be in for a good run

[Yorkshire Panda]

One swallow does not a summer make Harry the tractor! The main tip has won on 2 occasions in the last 2-3 weeks and both were favourites. My 6 year old could have picked 'em!