We have plenty to look forward to this week

January 20

It’s amazing that we haven’t celebrated a winner since Rockola‘s somewhat fortuitous success at Huntingdon on January 2. Not that we have suffered too many disappointments in 2025 as almost everything we have run this year has been in the frame, and on occasions Lady Luck clearly had the hump with Barbury,

Never was that more evident than when Charisma Cat failed by a neck to stretch her unbeaten record to three in the bumper at Market Rasen last Friday, having been knocked all over Lincolnshire in some scrimmaging at the end of the back straight. Charisma Cat looks the ideal type for the Listed bumper at Sandown’s Imperial Cup meeting in March.

We have learned that we can set our clock by Edwardstone – our stable-star epitomises the meaning of consistency and yet again he ran another corker to finish third to arch-rival Jonbon and talented Irish challenger Energumene in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot last Saturday. All being well, we can expect him to make the short trip to Newbury next month to win the Game Spirit Chase for the second year running.

We have some exciting horses for the Flat this year, including Paradias, who was an impressive winner at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day – only his second attempt on the all-weather – and on only a 4lb higher mark he ought to be hard to beat under Tom Marquand at Kempton’s evening meeting on Wednesday.

On Thursday Nap Hand, three times a winner on the Flat, made a promising third on his jumping debut at Huntingdon on Boxing Day and will have learned plenty in readiness for the opening maiden hurdle at Huntingdon 24 hours later.

Some 40 minutes later Mystical Moon, who was a good third under his penalty at Exeter in early December, might well improve for going up in distance in the novice hurdle at Wetherby, though he is also entered in two-milers at Sandown and Doncaster the following day.

Alan returns this week from his holiday in sunnier climes, and victory for Helnwein in the Celebration Limited Handicap Chase at Sandown on Friday would be the perfect ‘welcome home’ present.

Helnwein, who won in great style over hurdles at Sandown’s final meeting last season, has run two promising races this winter since switching to fences. However, a slow pace at Windsor last time did not suit him, and returning to a stiffer track is expected to bring out the best in him. Alan has always rated Helnwein highly, and the best is yet to come.