Looking at today’s racing in France:

At Fontainebleau in the 2:05, DERAWAR is not ideally drawn in stall 12 but should improve on his debut fourth at Saint-Cloud on March 19th. He is around 5/2 and looks worth an interest.

At Le Lion d’Angers in the 3:32, GOOD BYE DAVIER has solid claims after finishing second on his latest start in what appears to be a weak event.

At Redcar in the UK, WORLINGTON (2:42) caught the eye when second at Wolverhampton in March on his handicap debut. He is likely to start favourite and could get off the mark at short odds, but with the value gone, he may be one to watch rather than back.

I also watched a claiming race at Fontainebleau (1:30), where the favourite BLEU NUIT was given a poor ride by his apprentice jockey. He finished second after being held up at the rear, staying on strongly to be beaten by around a length. He should have been ridden more prominently. This is something seen quite often in France, with horses held up too far back and left with too much to do.

Reflecting on the racing today at Newmarket, it was an impressive display by Damysus in the Group 3 race at 3.00pm. He won with plenty to spare and could be one to follow when he contests stronger races through the season.

I was also pleased to see Stuart Williams land a 50/1 winner with Azleet in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at 3.35pm. Azleet, who is owned in partnership by my old boss Mark Tompkins, was bred by him, and he has retained a share in her. She will be worth plenty of money now that she has secured a Group 3 success.

There was plenty of support for Havana Lightning in the 4.10pm race on her debut for local trainer George Boughey. She missed the break and was never really in the race; overall, it was a disappointing performance for a filly so well backed on debut.

Later today at Southwell, I thought it would be hard to stop the Hugo Palmer-trained Penny Time in the 7.00pm from following up on his win at the track when last seen in mid-March over one mile, where he scored with some authority. He is priced at around 11/10 with most firms.

More soon.

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Big day at Aintree with the Grand National at 4pm. It looks wide open this year. I have a small interest bet each-way on a couple at nice odds. Banbridge at 50/1 and Peceval Legallois at 28/1.

At Fontainebleau I like Must Bay 4.17, who ran on strongly when last seen at this track when third on his latest start. He will strip fitter from that run and should run a good race.

A Nous Amours is another I like in the 6.02 race. She ran well on the PSF at Chantilly last time out in late February and should have no issues on turf.

More tomorrow.

Looking at the racing in France today, in the 10.30 at Marseille Borely, I like the look of Lohengreen. He was a decent second last time out and the extra furlong today should be ideal.

Later in the card Australapis 11.30 is around 8/1 with most firms. She will improve from her recent debut when fifth, and looks solid each way.

At Aintree today I like the look of No Drama This End in the Grade 1 hurdle at 4.40. He got no run when fancied on his last start at Cheltenham in a Grade 1 novice hurdle and with a clear passage today he can play a leading role.

More soon.

With the weather picking up, the ground should be not too testing at Newcastle today over jumps. Silver Hill 3.05 will go off as favourite and looks like the one to beat under Gavin Sheehan. The majority of the field have been inconsistent, and the Jamie Snowden trained gelding won at Catterick over hurdles in November and has only had one race since when second in early January at the same track.

At Wolverhampton, the newcomer Westport 6.00 can score on debut. He has been showing plenty of encouraging signs at home and his main threat has been withdrawn.

Chantilly has some competitive races and finding something worth backing looks challenging.

More soon.

Looking at today’s racing in France, I like a couple at Cagnes-sur-Mer. The favourite in the opening race is very short in the betting and will likely take plenty of beating. In the 11:35, PURPLE BAY was a pleasing second over the course and distance last time in a maiden and can be a strong contender, with improvement likely from that latest start.

At Angers (10:42), VICTORY WIND can get his head in front after a series of solid recent efforts. In the 11:17, the likely favourite LE KARMA was possibly unlucky when unseating his rider on his most recent start over fences and can make amends here.

More soon.

Reflecting on today’s racing at Auteuil, it was a pleasing return from the classy SAINT D’ESPRIT in a Grade 3 hurdle. A former Grade 1 winner last season, he looks a horse to follow again this spring after scoring comfortably by over seven lengths.

There is some decent racing to look forward to over the next few days in France and the UK. I noticed that Billy Loughnane has opted not to ride at Wolverhampton tonight. Sky Sports Racing reported that he was not riding but provided very few details as to why. There has been talk that he has struggled with his weight at times this winter, which could be a concern going forward. He is still very young and, given his tall frame, is likely to face an ongoing battle to keep his weight in check.

More soon.

Looking at today’s racing in France, the sole meeting takes place at Cagnes-sur-Mer, with the first race off at 12:05. The filly I like there is AL RATEEL, who scored on the turf at this track on debut, beating her stablemate into second that day, a rival who has since won. She can follow up today switched to the PSF, and the slight step up in trip to one mile should pose no problem.

SAINT MARTIN, in the 12:40 race, is likely to start at short odds and could prove hard to beat. He ran well when second at this track in a Class 1 contest late in January, having won over the course a week earlier in a maiden.

More soon.

Looking at the racing at Kempton tonight, I like Blue Moon Warrior in the 6.10. He ran a solid race when third over seven furlongs at this track in early January, finishing strongly that day. He steps back up to a mile this evening, having been placed over the trip on debut. With that in mind, he can be expected to improve and could get the better of likely favourite Menzies.

In France, at Cagnes-sur-Mer, where racing begins at 10.55 this morning, Armano in the 11.25 looks interesting. He may improve from his debut, when he started favourite, and could go much better today under Cristian Demuro.

Looking at the racing today at Newcastle, the winner of the 5.15 was Sweet Princess, trained by Karl Burke. She was a cosy winner at very short odds but looks like one to follow. Making the running throughout, the result was never in doubt as she beat fellow newcomer Finally Escaped into second. That runner showed clear ability and is one to put into the tracker for the future.

There was not much else on the card of real interest, although I hope Francesi can win again in the 6.15 for my old friend Tony Carroll.

Tony has done really well in recent years, saddling over 100 winners last year. Hopefully, he can match that total—or better it—this year.