JACOBS’ Crackers

THREE winners at Galway at 11-8, 11-2 and 2-1 hit the mark for us last week.

SUNDAY SERVICE This time last year ROCKY CREEK ran the subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Don Cossack to eight lengths at Down Royal and, down in grade, he looks the best bet of the day in the Veterans’ Chase at Sandown Park (3.25).

His performances since then have not been anywhere near that level but he has plummeted in the handicap from a mark of 160 to 146, less Jack Sherwood’s 5lb claim, and the 10-year-old should be up to beating his four rivals.

PADDY’S RUNNER was a juvenile I always liked last season and the four-year-old, trained by Alan King (above), should be spot on for the 2.50 following a run at Market Rasen. He can give the weight away to Poker School.

I was hugely impressed by the success of SOUTHPORT last time out and he can defy his penalty (12.50) at Ffos Las.

But a better value bet at the Welsh track could come in the form of CITY SUPREME in the staying handicap hurdle at 3.05. His revised mark of 115 looks very workable. KEEPER HILL is highly regarded by Warren Greatrex and can see off a host of young horses from some top yards in the 1.55

THE WEEK AHEAD The Cheltenham Open meeting takes pride of place next week with the BetVictor Gold Cup the Saturday highlight.

The forecast looks slightly better this week with steady rain expected from Wednesday onwards and that should suit BUYWISE. Second in the 2015 renewal, he was a blatant non-stayer in the Grand National. A nice blow out over hurdles at Aintree should have put him straight and he gets the each-way vote over the likes of the Double Shuffle and More Of That.

HOT TO TROT MODUS travelled like the best horse in the race at Ascot last time without getting the breaks.

If he travels with the same conviction then granted good ground he should land a nice prize.

ANTE-POST GOLDEN DOYEN was impressive in victory at Cheltenham and is now to be aimed at the Pertemps Final in March.

Put him in your little black betting book for when the market comes out. It is a race his partner Richard Johnson has a pretty good record in.