Aintree is a very tricky place to back winners but the one horse I am hoping will take his chance this week is Peacock, who looks ripe for one of the staying handicap hurdles there.
Fancied for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, he was hampered early and didn't have a hard race to finish a highly encouraging eighth.
Sound judges at Nigel Twiston-Davies's (right) yard think Peacock is mentally more robust than early in the season and I am convinced he has a good prize in him.
Sadly, this is my last hurrah for the Sunday Mirror as I am off to pastures new, ending a 27-year spell of employment with the Mirror stable of papers.
It remains for me to express my gratitude to the large number of you who have taken the time and trouble to buttonhole me at the races and make enthusiastic noises - it has been genuinely appreciated in this quarter.
Thanks and the very best of luck.
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Jonathan Pearce
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE