Picks From The Paddock Best Bet – Monday 28th January

17:55 Wolverhampton 

William Haggas has had an excellent twelve months at Wolves, posting fifteen wins from thirty-six for a 42% winning strike rate, and has just one runner on the card today. Cloudlam ran well when third over a longer trip here at Wolves on penultimate run and was a convincing four-length winner over today’s trip at Newcastle earlier in the month. This doesn’t look the strongest of races and an opening handicap mark of 70 could underestimate her ability so she should be capable of victory today.

Perfect Refuge has gone up 3lbs for a battling course and distance victory last time out but the form hasn’t worked out well and she has struggled off similar marks in the past so the bigger danger could be Ruby Gates who has two prior wins at the course and steps down in class following a close second last time out.

Cloudlam (WIN) – NAP 

14:55 Ludlow

The Nicky Henderson stable continues in fine form and they look to have a decent chance of another victory here with Lough Derg Spirit. He won well on his first run over fences and wasn’t disgraced on second run over the larger obstacles when fifth of twenty-three in a competitive race at Kempton on Boxing Day (the second and fourth have won since). Today sees a change of jockey as James Bowen takes over in the saddle, seen as a positive move as James has four wins and three placed efforts from seven over fences at Ludlow in the last three years.

Stamp Your Feet put in a couple of sketchy jumps and was hard ridden from some way out on chase debut, but stayed on strongly after the final flight to take second. He should have learnt a lot from that run and as a result looks to be the main danger, although based on last run could need further to be seen to best effect.

Lough Derg Spirit (WIN)

Kempton:

13:00 – Precious Cargo (E/W)

13:30 – White Moon (WIN)

14:05 – Northern Bound (E/W)

14:40 – King Cnut (WIN)

15:10 – Tudors Treasure (E/W)

15:45 – Sisania (WIN)

16:15 – Empreinte Roconce (WIN)

Ludlow:

13:45 – Scaramanga (WIN)

14:20 – Cara’s Way (WIN)

14:55 – Lough Derg Spirit (WIN)

15:25 – Genius (E/W)

16:00 – Mistress Massini (WIN)

16:30 – Todd (WIN)

Wolverhampton:

16:50 – Diamonds A Dancing (WIN)

17:25 – Slowmo (WIN)

17:55 – Cloudlam (WIN)

18:25 – Castle Hill Cassie (WIN)

18:55 – Smoki Smoka (E/W)

19:25 – Mossy’s Lodge (WIN)

19:55 – Grey Destiny (WIN)

20:25 – Tiger Eye (WIN)