DOUBLE HANDFUL

THERE’S good news and bad news for readers of today’s column. I’m confident today’s bet of the day will win and even if it fails to oblige we should take a leaf out of Donald Trump’s book and insist on getting paid out ut if it was leading at any stage.

A win today would be much needed.

I haven’t looked at my bank balance recently. However, when your home has wheels and your car doesn’t, you know finances are tight.

From what I hear from my spies ( carefully selected characters strategically placed in and around the top stables in the land), I’m confident of a visit to the payout counter this afternoon.

In November 2016, SCEAU ROYAL won the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton and three days later Donald Trump was elected as president of the United States.

I expect history to be repeated again — or at least the first half of that account — with Sceau Royal winning the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle.

Donald Trump will no doubt take the legal route to extend his stay in the White House. I’ve heard his lawyer is so good he didn’t pass his law exams, he settled out of class. Gos Goshen, last seen over hur hurdles when falling at the la last flight with the Triumph Hurdle at his mercy, has been pulled out of the race.

His absence means that Sceau Royal, who won the Welsh Champion Hurdle at

Ffos Las three weeks ago, will be tough to beat here. And the more I look at the race the more I fancy Alan King’s eightyear- old.

Having finished last in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, King has sensibly switched Sceau Royal back to hurdles.

Paul Nicholls’s Solo looks the sole danger and our selection receives 3lb from his main market rival,

Sceau Royal has had a recent wind op, will get the ground he likes, and, best of all, is odds against.