I'm really looking forward to seeing Monksland make his seasonal debut for Noel Meade at Galway this afternoon. The 9-year-old has not been seen on the track since finishing runner up in a Grade 1 Novice Chase at Leopardstown back in February and has an excellent record fresh.
That said his jumping wasn't foot perfect as a novice and he is fitted with a hood for his seasonal reappearance and he must give 4lbs to Marinero (4.00) who looked as if he was getting his act together over fences when scoring at Downpatrick last time for the inform Henry De Bromhead. A son of Presenting he jumped for fun out in front last time and I hope David Mullins makes plenty of use on the 7-year-old who looks to be improving over fences.
Diamond King (4.30) did us a favour at Cheltenham back in the spring and his chase debut is eagerly awaited; jockey Davy Russell has won on five of his last 12 mounts and connections will be hoping he might make up into a JLT horse next spring.
Cavite Beta (5.00) would not have been in love with the soft ground at Killarney last time but the handicapper has dropped him 3lbs as a result and this C&D winner is beginning to look well-handicapped for Jim Dreaper.
At Huntingdon if Definite Future (3.35) is in the same mood as when winning over C&D nine days ago he will take some stopping such was the manner of his victory in a fast time. He has his quirks but he has now won three out of his last four and looks to have been very well placed by the Lee family.
A market move for Hannibal The Great would be worth noting but the danger looks likely to come from Adam Du Breteau (3.35) who should certainly appreciate going right-handed having jumped out to the right at Worcester last time; the hope is that the selection might have too much pace for him over this trip just shy of two-and-a-half miles.
Makethedifference (2.00) is 7lbs higher than when coming home clear at Kelso last time and a 7lbs penalty is unlikely to stop him if he is in the same mood, despite the steadier of 12st 2lbs. Neil Mulholland's The Way You Dance is on a hat-trick and is only 3lbs higher than when scoring at Worcester last time.
Innocent Girl is impossible to oppose carrying only a 7lbs penalty for her two recent wins including at Southwell over fences when she looked well ahead of the handicapper. The 4-y-old Mister Dick is 7lbs higher than when scoring at Stratford over fences back in August and he is obviously going to make a better chaser than hurdler but he faces a tough task giving the Harry Fry mare over a stone.
A cracking flat card from Leicester and I'm looking forward to seeing the racecourse debut of Godolphin's First Nation (2.10) who is the half-brother to a number of winners including the Leger winner Mastery. The selection holds a Derby entry and can make a winning start although the once-raced Azam showed plenty of promise when fourth at Newmarket and is one of only two mounts on the card for Frankie Dettori.
Al Nasser Alwashik (5.50) looked ready for a step back up in trip having finished third at Pontefract last time and the lightly-raced 3-year-old has the assistance of Silvestre de Souza again. Note BetVictor paid out on Jim Crowley on Sunday as champion flat jockey for 2016 and his has been a magnificent achievement.
For all your sporting odds check out BetVictor.com.
