A moderate bunch in a Class 6 Handicap over 6 Furlongs on Good to Firm Going, although a few showers last night may have helped to just take the sting out of the ground. The draw bias here usually favours middle to high but can vary, but basically no excuses for anything off a good pace. I suspect Monarch Maid and Laydee Victoria will be amongst the early pace and MONARCH MAID will be a danger but could just set the race up for something. Old YPRES is well drawn and well handicapped but might just need this run still, he would be the definite reserve should the selection not turn up; but in SEMANA SANTA; I think we have a solid each way punt with odds to 4th place. It runs from a decent berth; off a nice mark and Trainer David Barron, whilst may be not quite the Northern powerhouse he was, has lost none of his ability, and the Yard are in pretty decent form.

The Skelton Yard is on fire and as such anything they send out at the moment will be backed off the boards, that distorts markets, so we have to try to challenge the more vulnerable ones. It is reminiscent of the old "Pipe/Scudamore" attack on summer jumping and fait play to the Yard, they have found a niche and are exploiting it, and will also have some excellent winter Jumpers, just about to come back in to be pre-trained for the winter.

So, what is value here?, I looked at the likes of Romeo Is Bleeding who has a good Course record over Fences and these portable Hurdles are not much different; also can't ignore LADIES DANCING but I feel that has to race prominently, if it jumps off may be a quick "back in running" option and RUARAIDH HUGH who we backed to win way back in 2016 is on a mark almost 20lbs lower now, and has to find a winning mark soon you'd think. However, the one we will side with; with odds to 4th is MILLEN DOLLAR MAN who won a race just a few months back off a mark of 76, runs off 81 here after 2 subsequent runs but knows how to win, optimum trip and conditions and most notable I think is the booking of Tom Scudamore in this race. Very few in the race have such recent form and the horse could have been well placed here, to pick up some place money at least, on a desperately quiet day.