Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Friday 15th February

18:00 Dundalk

The Edward Lynam trained Masalai looks the one to be with here in a tricky contest. The 5yo’s only career win in twelve starts came over course and distance off of a similar mark to the one he now carries. He ran into a decent fourth place here over course and distance last time out 14 days ago and that was a decent performance on his first run since June. That outing should have him spot on for this one tonight and he gets the nod to land the spoils with the talented Oisin Orr taking off 3lb from the saddle. Jim Bolger’s runners always merit respect and it is no different here so his 5yo Latchet would rate as the main danger having won two starts back and had excuses for his last run.

MASALAI (WIN) – NAP

13:50 Sandown Park

This is a race that could have some serious implications on the Cheltenham festival with some fascinating contenders scheduled to clash here in the aptly named Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices Chase. Mick Channon’s Glen Forsa has been mightily impressive landing two wins from two starts and he accounted for the re-opposing Dell Oro from the Gary Moore stable when romping to the latest of those wins at Kempton on Boxing Day. Today’s race will determine his target for the festival, but it will be interesting to see how he fares as he now enters deeper waters and he may just find a difficult test in front of him. Amy Murphy’s classy stable star Kalashnikov will provide the aforementioned with that test. The 6yo passed his first two tests over the larger obstacles with flying colours before bumping into the very smart Dynamite Dollars at Kempton over the festive period. That form has worked out extremely well and he was only beaten a length and a quarter that day. The yard report him to be in fine fettle and he gets the confident nod to resume winning ways here on route to a crack at the Arkle at the Cheltenham festival. Of the remainder, Dalila Du Seuil is the unknown quantity and could be anything following his novice chasing debut success, but it is hard at this stage to gauge what exactly was achieved that day.

KALASHNIKOV (WIN) *NB

Dundalk (AW):

17:00 Hee Haw (E/W)

17:30 Cerberus (WIN)

18:00 Masalai (WIN) NAP

18:30 Three Majors (E/W)

19:00 Plough Boy (E/W)

19:30 Chess Grand Master (WIN)

20:00 Hazel Bay (WIN)

20:30 Stealth (E/W)

Fakenham:

13:40 Hurricane Minnie (WIN)

14:10 Delire D’Estruval (WIN)

14:45 Mill Green (WIN)

15:20 Un Prophete (E/W)

15:50 Volcano (E/W)

16:25 Risk A Fine (WIN)

16:55 Far Bihoue (WIN)

Lingfield (AW)

14:00 Seasearch (WIN)

14:35 Iconic Girl (E/W)

15:10 Songkran (WIN)

15:40 Kodiline (E/W)

16:15 Elysees Palace (WIN)

16:50 Tesorina (WIN)

Newcastle (AW)

16:45 Native Fighter (E/W)

17:15 Lion Hearted (WIN)

17:45 Orchid Star (WIN)

18:15 Helovaplan (WIN)

18:45 Dawn Delight (E/W)

19:15 Star Cracker (E/W)

19:45 Bahango (E/W)

Sandown Park:

12:50 Saintemilion (E/W)

13:20 Valhalla (E/W)

13:50 Kalashnikov (WIN) *NB

14:25 Danse Idol (WIN)

15:00 Carlos Du Fruitier (E/W)

15:30 Elusive Belle (WIN)

16:05 Darius Des Bois (E/W)

16:35 Putting Green (WIN)