Nice winner yesterday, Volturnus was heavily backed from 2/1 into 11/8, winning by 12 lengths!  Everything I thought would happen, did, why the other jockeys allowed Jamie Spencer to dictate matters as easily as he did was baffling, I was delighted after 2 furlongs, that I then had another in play bet on him, so a nice win.

I will do an update at around 1pm today. Just noticed a bet I think is attractive odds currently.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Seaston Spirit

Current Odds: 5/4 without fav

Time: 3:25 Towcester

I think this horse has a good chance of over turning the odds on fav Tommy Rapper, he has a good claimer riding, won nicely last time, and should have no problem with the extra 2f, also the ground is ok.  I think he is value at 5/4 without the fav, I’ve also had a small bit on to win at 4/1.  This is only his fourth race, he is progressing and honest.

Of rivals, Tommy Rapper is very talented, but quirky, he has been beaten on the track before and his regular jockey is not riding, two things that are negatives, so as I have mentioned,  the without fav bet is very attractive.  Coeur Pensif has shown he has a bit of talent, he needs to improve to beat the two I have mentioned.

Another day of abandoned turf race meetings, both Fakenham and Ludlow. Racing only on the all weather at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton in the UK.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Volturnus

Time: 3:30 Chelmsford

Current Odds: 2/1

In what looks a moderate race, Volturnus looks as though he has been found a good option here. He ran well last time, and this race will not take a lot of winning.  He has form on the surface, and hopefully he can get a soft lead, as he likes to make the running, and did so when winning at Kempton.

Of rivals, Go On Gal has been running ok, although that was on fibresand of late. Too Many Shots is still a maiden, with a useful claimer taking 5lb off , he could pose the biggest rival.

Snow has caused the cancellation of Sedgefield today.  Nothing at the other meetings is appealing, so no tip today.

Nice to have a winner at Wolverhampton last night.  Galactic Spirit obliging at 13/8 returned, he did touch 15/8 before late support.  He won ok, ran a bit green, slightly drifting right close home, he looks as though he has more to come, his stablemate Suprematism was an eyecatching third, he is one to follow now he qualifies for handicap’s, depending on what mark he gets !

Today looks quite difficult, a couple of horses of interest running at Sedgefield jump meeting today. Both should handle soft conditions ok. I am backing one at the moment, I will update later today 1-2pm , and hopefully the other horse will be worth a bet.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Cash Again

Time: 3:15 Sedgefield

Current Odds: 6/4 without fav

I am backing this horse without the favourite, who is a big danger.  It was hard for me to split the two of them, slight drift in price for Cash Again has made him the joint second fav, if this horse produces the form he did last week, he will be very tough to beat.  He was an easy winner, and races off a mark that is still a good few pounds below his hurdle mark.  He is ridden by the same jockey who won on him recently, and has won at the track, the extra 2f should not be a problem.

Of rivals, Instant Replay is the one to beat, but if we are second to it, we still win.  He has winning course form as well as Cash Again, and looked a much better prospect over fences, than he had looked when running over the smaller obstacles.   Kilronan Castle is strong in the betting, to me he looks as though he needs everything to be in his favour, to put his best foot forward, not sure he will get things his own way in front today, and he may well get out battled by a couple in this who like to be making the running, Cash Again will be a late closer , I think, hopefully he can finish his race off well to win.

Update: 2.10pm

I don’t think the ground is too bad at Southwell.  I do like Don Lami 3.00 , slight concern about if he will be as good as he has been on good ground, so I will back him, but cautiously! He is around 7/4.

Very soft ground at Southwell and  Newcastle jump meetings today, I am going for an all weather horse, there is a horse I follow running at the Southwell, he has not ran on ground like he will encounter today before, his wins are on good ground.  I am sure his trainer thinks he will cope with conditions, I may watch a race before deciding if he will be ok, so will update on him later, after the first race.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Gallactic Spirit

Time: 7:15 Wolverhampton

Current Odds: 13/8

A good second on debut, this horse can improve and go one better today.  He has a decent jockey and acts on the track. He is lightly raced, and has been given time to mature by his trainer.  Of rivals, Jackfinbar is a winner, he has won at the course and distance,  he is dangerous. The other with a chance being in the mix is Natch, he has shown fair form lately. The rest that have ran have not shown enough to beat my selection.

Updated Messages:

Apologies if the update I sent out today was late coming through online, Cloudy Bob was a winner at Taunton, supported late from 2/1 to 15/8 fav.  If I do an update from now,  it will be a fresh message.  Not sure why it was delayed, it probably wouldn’t of been if it was a loser !!

One winner with Authors Dream yesterday, my other two selections both finished second, both not quite good enough to win.  I did actually back one more horse in running last night, didn’t have time to blog it, but Sky Marshall (last race Kempton) had drifted to 9/4 from around 7/4, possibly because of not being well drawn in 14 of 14, but after 2 furlongs Luke Morris had got in a very good position, so I backed it, and he rode an excellent race to win.  It was a very clever piece of race riding.

Today is a day of short priced favourites looking good at Mussleburgh.  Trainer Nicky  Henderson could have 3 winners.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Mr Whipped

Time: 2:35 Mussleburgh

Current Odds: 8/11

Although very short odds, I think if this horse jumps round safely, he can win.  He has improved with every run this year, has won at Kempton (right handed track( something which is important when having a bet on a short priced favourite, as some horses do not act as well on right handed tracks, as the majority of tracks are left handed. His rider knows him well, and this horse can win here in his prep race for the Cheltenham festival in March.  Of rivals, Red River is possibly the main threat, he has had wind surgery since his last run, and that could well show an improvement from him, Present Man has been performing well over fences, his previous hurdles form is not quite good enough to beat Mr Whipped.

Update: 3.15

I am backing Cloudy Bob 3.25 Taunton around 2/1 , he is having his first run for a new yard, and can get back to form in this race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will do an update around 3:15 pm, couple of horses running in later races, just going concern with both of them, and rain is forecast at both tracks through the day.

Update: 3.35pm

Good winner with Author’sDream at Lingfield.  Victory Bond ran well to be second, just not good enough.

I am backing Rip Orf at Kempton 6.15 , currently around 6/4, he was a good second last time.  I think he can go one better and win this Novice race.

I was very disappointed with the ride of Derrynane today at Catterick, his jockey Lorcan Murtagh is a conditional rider, who is learning his craft, but he has ridden a few winners , so it’s not that he has no experience of race riding, having ridden winners before.  But Murtagh gave the horse a mountain to climb, it was simply a bad ride, the horse did well to be second ! Derrynane can win again, as he should not get raised by the handicapper.

I am putting two horses on tonight, as both are running at Lingfield on the all weather track, so no going change likely.

Saturday tips are as follows:

Horse: Author’s Dream

Time: 1.25 Lingfield

Current Odds: 11/4

This horse is a course winner, has the same jockey riding him again, and will be hard to beat.  He has been allowed to use himself the last two times he has won, and has showed a lot of improvement for it.  Of rivals, City Dreamer has been in good form over hurdles, and has Ryan Moore riding, but its a flat race, and he has broken a blood vessel in the past, so I am not with him, Ardamir is a horse with ability, but is not the most honest horse in training, I think my selection is good value to win again.

 

Horse: Victory Bond

Time: 3.05 Lingfield

Current Odds: 6/5

Joint top rated in this listed event, Victory Bond has the excellent Ryan Moore riding,  and comes here off a good win at Wolverhampton, he was second on his last visit to Lingfield, when he was unlucky, as  he didn’t get a clear run that day, although he finished the race off well.

Of rivals, Elbereth has some good form on grass, and has won on a synthetic surface before.  She is having her first run for a while, so will probably improve for the run, although she has ran well when coming off a break. Utmost is another who could well be a danger. Having shown fair form on an all weather surface before.