Delface may cheer Pipe

I was very pleased with A Momentofmadness last week. As expected, William Buick bounced him out and opened up a handy lead. Runner-up Jumirah Bridge did very well after a six-months’ absence and should win a good sprint handicap on turf but A Momentofmadness was well in control and the 11/4 SP was a bonus.I wish I fancied something strongly in the Randox Health Grand National but I don’t. Now that the ground has become soft again I doubt that half of the field will complete, so there is some scope in the novelty bets put up by bookmakers. I also think the topweights have plenty on their plate and I’d look lower down the handicap for some value.

Milansbar should be there for much of the way under Bryony Frost and it’s important to check out how many places your bookmaker is offering. Looking at the first six can pay dividends and I would not be at all surprised if old Double Ross is still thereabouts turning for home. He is the type of old sweat who might easily drop away in a routine affair but find this a more interesting experience, a

s in the past. If you’re looking for one that’s clearly been laid out for it I’d suggest Seeyouatmidnight, who has had only one run over the past year and has a touch of class about him. You might be surprised if you go back through his record and see how much he now has in hand of Blaklion, who is one of the market leaders. It’s a tall order with so little activity for a year but Brian Hughes will be in the plate and maybe the prize will go back to Scotland for a second year via Sandy Thomson. Anyway, they would be my three, all each-way, but only to s

mall stakes.It has not been a good campaign for David Pipe and I’m not sure there is much ammunition left at Pond House. He has a very ordinary handicap hurdler in DELFACE, who will handle very soft ground at Chepstow on Saturday and has a chance on his second to Georgieshore at Leicester several weeks ago. That was a modest heat and so is this.

I’d have been a sucker for the old rascal The Warrior in the seven-furlong handicap at Lingfield but Amanda Perrett prefers to run Lightning Charlie. Not only that, but she’s booked Buick. Lightning Charlie goes long spells without winning but he is fit and well and stays seven, even though most of his runs are over six. Like Delface, he is worth a very small investment.