GYTO Friday Notebook Double

I have been waiting for PIKAR to run again as that third at Cheltenham last month looks a strong piece of form. He looked a really promising horse beating Hullnback at Chepstow back in October and it was good to see him bounce back last time. He just looked a bit tapped for toe so moving up in trip here looks a good move and these are also calmer waters. I’m convinced the best is yet to come and I’d have him favourite over Henri The Second as that horse doesn’t look the most straightforward. The latter struggled in a good race at Cheltenham last time so has to be respected back down in grade but I do think the selection will have him covered. Pachacuti got his head in front in good style at Fakenham and if improving again back in novice company could also put up some resistance. The rest including Idealdes Villerets look up against it.

This looks a great chance for the consistent SPORTING ACE to get his head back in front. He looked a nice horse making all on hurdles debut at Warwick and hasn’t done a great deal wrong in defeat since. He bumped into Outlaw Peter here back in November before finding Docpickedme too strong at Southwell next time. That horse has since won impressively to frank the form and looks to have a bright future. He was then given too much to do when up in trip finishing third at Warwick and was very much back to form beaten just 2 lengths over track and trip last time. He is only 2lb higher and everything points towards another big run. His jumping has improved with experience and I’ll be surprised if there is anything good enough to beat him in here. Keable looks the danger given he is unexposed but he’ll need to improve on that Ffos Las form.