RACELINE: TIP OF THE DAY 16th January

No excuses from our resident tipster, Scoop Racing (Richard Silverwood), for yesterday’s disappointing selection. Here’s hoping he can get back on track at Newbury today.

Wednesday 16th January

COLOUR SQUADRON

Newbury 1.20 WIN

As if he didn’t suffer enough misfortune during an incredibly unlucky novice hurdling campaign last season, along came more, and in spades, on the chasing debut of Philip Hobbs’s seven-year-old son of Old Vic here at Newbury just after Christmas. He hit the first fence so hard that the saddle slipped, forcing Tony McCoy to work miracles to stay on board, never mind ride a proper race. Somehow, he still finished second in a warm contest and is chasing compensation this afternoon. I am under no illusions that he faces two potentially high-class rivals in Paul Nicholls’s French import, Fago, and The Queen’s Open Hearted. But this is a horse who finished second in a couple of Grade Ones last term and posted form of such calibre that it persuaded JP MvManus to buy him just before the Cheltenham Festival. He has the talent to start turning round his bad luck.

TUESDAY: LORD TOMNODDY 3RD (last)

MONDAY: VALDEZ WON

SUNDAY: CORRIN WOOD 3RD

SATURDAY: DURSEY SOUND PULLED UP

FRIDAY: COUNSEL WON

THURSDAY: ONLY ORSENFOOLSIES WON (11/2)

WEDNESDAY; ELEVEN FIFTY NINE WON

TUESDAY: SHANGANI 3RD

MONDAY: SOUND INVESTMENT WON

TIP OF THE DAY SUPPLIED BY SCOOP RACING (RICHARD SILVERWOOD).