14:05 Wetherby
This is a nice looking handicap chase over two miles and the field is so tightly grouped that only three points cover all six runners, there favourite is 3/1 and the outsider of six is 6/1.
Upsilon Bleu has come down the weights a little, however he is still one pound higher than his last winning mark and I think the ground may be a bit too heavy for him to show his best form. He did win around this course which was his last victory and course form at Wetherby is not to be sniffed at, I don't think he may find one or two too good for him today though at the weights.
Sir Valentino won three on the spin before being completely outclassed in December in the Desert Orchid Chase that was taken by the rejuvenated Sprinter Sacre. He is 19 pounds higher than he was in November due to those hat trick of wins and I think that will be enough to stop him in the conditions today.
Mwaleshi fell last time out in a good race at Ascot and has fallen down the weights to a really attractive mark. He saves a lot of his best form on this kind of ground and has a 50% win record at the course. He has raced predominantly further than this over the past year but some of his best form is over this distance so I think he has everything in his favour today to take this wide open race at a value price.
Premier League
Hot on the heels of the full midweek fixture list we have some really entertaining looking matches this weekend in the Premier League, with the highlight being Liverpool v Man Utd at Anfield.
Both teams played out really entertaining 3-3 draws in the week but it is Liverpool who most impressed as they really took the game to league leaders Arsenal, and for some improved concentration should have taken the three points.
Utd were pegged back from 2-0 and 3-2 and will be massively disappointed not to have taken the win. It will be fascinating to see how this game develops as under Louis Van Gaal Utd like to have plenty of possession, but will Liverpool's intense pressing game that Jurgen Klopp has introduced that could easily backfire and I can see Liverpool creating plenty of scoring opportunities.
For me, Utd's league position is a bit false given their form as they have looked truly dreadful a lot of the time and it appears they are there for the taking if Liverpool are able to convert their chances (something they haven't done very well this season). I am confident that if Liverpool get an early goal and make Utd come at them, they can win this by a few goals.
Today's Selections
Wetherby 14:05 - Mwaleshi - 2 points @ 13/2 (Bet365, William Hill, Betvictor)
Liverpool v Man Utd - Liverpool minus one - 2 points @ 4/1 (Coral)
Liverpool minus two - 1 point @ 12/1 (Coral)
Acca - four draws - Bournemouth v Norwich, Chelsea v Everton, Newcastle v West Ham & Aston Villa v Leicester - 1 point @ 133.09