DOUBLE HANDFUL

IT’S the week before the greatest race on earth, so brace yourself for expressions like, “the calm before the storm” to describe this weekend’s racing. But if the Grand National is the best race in the world (and it is) then any race in which you back the winner is merely a damn good one.

I’ve a feeling that we could have another damn good one in the second race of the day at Kempton, a five-furlong sprint handicap.

I’m more than a little surprised to see A Momentofmadness priced up as the favourite.

Charlie Hills’ fiveyear-old hasn’t won in almost a year. He’s been out nine times since his victory at Kempton last April and failed each and every time. That’s not the sort of horse you want to be taking a short price about.

Moreover, he was soundly beaten when third to one of today’s rivals

in his last outing at Lingfield, when he had every chance to win.

Tomily has tasted victory again since

TOMILY

over today’s course under a brilliant ride by Hollie Doyle.

Former jockey John Reid was moved to take to Twitter to acknowledge his former pupil saying: “It was one of the best rides you will see anywhere — where the jockey made all the difference.” Tomily is seeking a hat-trick this afternoon and I think he’ll achieve it — at a tasty price.

A Momentofmadness is 5lb better off than Tomily on today’s terms but I don’t think that will be enough. I’ve watched the Lingfield race back a dozen times. Tomily was outpaced early on and was last of the six runners two furlongs out. Richard Hannon’s four-year-old showed tremendous tenacity to draw level with A Momentofmadness, look him in the eye and pull away, collaring Encore D’OR on the line.

It was a gutsy display by a little horse. When the going got tough, he toughed it out.

He must have a great chance of landing three in a row.