Blue Surf in good heart for this

Friday saw a near miss with Amanda Perrett’s The Warrior, who has been gelded and was fit enough for his first appearance for several months when running in the seven-furlong handicap at Lingfield. He became very disappointing last term after starting well for the stable but there was always the chance he would rediscover some of his best form first time up. He came with his chance but went under in a tight three-way finish. Unfortunately he is not necessarily the type to come on for the outing.

I want to try to make the fitness of Mrs Perrett’s horses count while they are value at this early stage. Therefore, I feel Zhui Feng is worth a very small win and place investment in the Group 3 Betway Winter Derby, again at Lingfield, and BLUE SURF justifies a more solid bet in the mile and a half handicap later on. A tough individual, Blue Surf stays this trip with something to spare and went in at a big price in the race following the Derby at Epsom two years ago. The trainer has booked champion jockey Jim Crowley and that looks significant.Tea Fir two deserves his place in what now looks a fairly weak Cheltenham Gold Cup but it surprises me he does not contest the valuable Betbright Handicap Chase at Kempton. He enjoys three miles around here, as his fourth in

Tea Fir two deserves his place in what now looks a fairly weak Cheltenham Gold Cup but it surprises me he does not contest the valuable Betbright Handicap Chase at Kempton. He enjoys three miles around here, as his fourth in the King George demonstrates, and I believe he would have gone very close under top weight.His absence takes the wind out of my sails and I am left with the filly EVENING HUSH in the Adonis Hurdle, though the presence of red-hot favourite Charli Parcs means she can be only an each-way proposition.

His absence takes the wind out of my sails and I am left with the filly EVENING HUSH in the Adonis Hurdle, though the presence of red-hot favourite Charli Parcs means she can be only an each-way proposition.

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