Finally, after a long wait, National Hunt action returns in Britain with Southwell hosting a nine-race card which features runners from BetVictor Ambassador Jamie Snowden.
Elsewhere, we have more jumping in Ireland at Tipperary, Flat action on turf at Leopardstown and Musselburgh, and finally an all-weather card at Kempton.
Russian Diamond
Tipperary (13.30)
This two-mile, four-furlong contest looks pretty decent for the time of year and I suspect a few will have Galway in their sites for the end of next month. Glancing at this race, I think it is fair to award Diamond Kut’s connections with the award for most patient owners in the race. Their five-year-old has been off the track over a year and a half; he was last seen finishing fourth in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown.
Russian Diamond, however, is where our eyes are drawn to and could just be a cut above the rest of the field. Emmet Mullins has had winners over both codes since the resumption and is a trainer plenty expect to progress in time. His horse won a nice bumper at Galway and has already won over hurdles at a shorter trip. The form of his second last time out to a decent Willie Mullins horse, who ran at the Festival, looks fair too. Today, he can carry top weight in the field and win this warm-looking race.
