Email Service winner (11/4)

There was a pulsating finish to the Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree yesterday with Smad Place and Cloudy Dream providing a thrilling spectacle. It was fitting that the finish was dominated by two greys with Alan King's ten year old getting the better of the argument by three parts of a length. However, the result may well have been different had the runner-up not been tightened up on the run to the final fence. In doing so, he lost momentum and got in close at the last. In contrast, Smad Place landed running and that proved the difference. Despite his narrow defeat, Cloudy Dream remains a highly promising young chaser who didn't look out of place in such company. There is a good prize to be won with him.

Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers have been in fantastic form with Slate House (5/4) scoring at Cheltenham on Friday and Gallahers Cross (7/4) obliging at Galway yesterday. On The Blind Side (2/1) was another winner for the feature when taking the opening two and a half miles novices' hurdle at Aintree. The race has been won by the likes of Cue Card, Wichita Lineman and Robin Roe in recent years. Always prominent, the gelded son of Stowaway took over between the final two flights and was always holding outsider Another Stowaway on the run-in to win a shade cosily. Nico De Boinville was suitably impressed and Nicky Henderson's £205,000 recruit looks an exciting prospect. It would be no surprise if the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle proves to be his long-term goal this term.

Steely Addition (6/1) was a good winner for the Top 40 Prospects at Wincanton. The former pointer had fallen at the second last on his first start for Philip Hobbs at Exeter earlier this month. However, he made no mistake here over a slightly longer trip. Benefiting from a more patient ride on this occasion, he looked set to win easily on the run to the final flight but lost momentum at the last and gave the runner-up Jennys Day another chance. However, he regained his momentum and was value for more than the winning margin of two lengths. His connections could turn him out again under a penalty before he is reassessed. I will be disappointed if he doesn't win more races.

The five year old was one of my Email Service selections when he hit the deck at Exeter and, just like Audacious Plan, he won next time. I hope subscribers stayed loyal to the pair. Thankfully, the Email Service enjoyed a good winner yesterday. Advised at 11/4, the selection ran out a ready winner. Thank you to those clients who have been in touch since, it is much appreciated. There is still time to subscribe for November and December. Please tick on the tab at the top of the page to do so or find out more details.