Looking at today’s Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot , lots of really good jockeys riding from all over the world.  Joao Moreira who is from Brazil and now based in Japan, he has some good rides, this guy is known as the ‘Magic Man’, having been Champion Jockey in Hong Kong and Singapore, some people say he is up there with the best in the world, I agree with them.  Just watching him interviewed on the ITV Opening Show this morning, it was really interesting to hear his comments about his thoughts on the horse being 95% of winning a race, the other 5% he believes is  from the jockey.   I have to agree with most of that, not sure on the percentage split !

UK based riders with experience of riding at Ascot, probably have a slight advantage today.  Ascot is a stiff track, a lot of races can be won and lost by a rider who ‘kicks’ for home too soon.  So walking the track is very important, even if you have ridden at Ascot or not- you should always ‘walk’ the course, the norm for any jockey when he arrives at the racecourse.   It is really important to see the how the ground may ride, and look at the contours of the track.

I think today’s racing is a good spectacle, but regards having a bet, fun only !

A fair amount of rain has fallen at Newmarket. Gerald Mosse (who won the 6:25) was interviewed last night at the track, he described the ground as ‘soft’, but knowing if it has been dry overnight, and dry up to race time, Newmarket is chalk based and drys very well- so I will see what the weather does over the next few hours.   I do like a few at the track today, it’s just a case of waiting to see if it stays dry over the next few hours.

I will try and put an each way bet on later, hopefully at a decent price !