Saturday 19th January 2019

Dickie Diver really should have won yesterday and won with a bit to spare. The Nicky Henderson trained horse was a little green and pulled hard in the early stages. Dickie Diver also didn’t jump the last two hurdles v well. Despite this, the difference between winning and losing was jumping three out when Lisnagar Oscar was allowed to steal a march.

Dickie Diver suddenly had five lengths to make up, he very nearly did and would have won in a further stride. The winner, Lisnager Oscar is rated 133 and certainly ran to that mark if not a bit more. The 3^rd place horse was 5 lengths away. I’m confident, Dickie Diver will improve 10lb for this run, he’s a mid-140 horse in the making at worst.

I very much hope connections go down the Albert Bartlett route. I backed Dickie Diver within seconds of the race finishing and snapped up the 25-1. Those odds shortened quickly, now 14-1 in places but a bit of 20-1 is still around. I wouldn’t put anybody off throwing a few quid on him EW for Cheltenham race. He's going to be a very good horse.

Good racing today up and down the country. The outstanding Altior runs in the Clarence House Chase at 3:35. It’s very disappointing just three horses run in such a race. Whoever comes last / 3^rd wins over £16,000.

Downtown Getaway should get his head in front in the 4:05, he’s a much shorter price than I expected though.