Todays racing on the level turf tracks at Windsor and Pontefract has ground that looks like being quite soft, a few tricky maiden races at both tracks,  some potentially nice horses running.  Fitness is key on soft ground, plus experience.  Some will be trying that sort of ground for the first time, a lot of horses training at home, are on the all weather surfaces.  I always find October one of the hardest, as I mentioned yesterday, lots of horses put in a moderate run at this time of year, that is horses that have had plenty of runs and are in need of a break.  So I try to look towards the two year old races more when trying to find one worth a bet.  I also like Kempton on the all weather for the two year olds, as a lot of good types start at the track.

Finding a winner today looks like the favs at Pontefract will be worth looking at, especially in the first race.  Gravistas has been running well and will handle the ground ok, he has also got De Sousa on top, who rides Pontefract well, as a rule.

Looking at the results in France yesterday.  Enable was a game winner of the Arc, she was reported to be not quite at her best after the race, but still won ! Waldgeist who I had a bit each way, just missed the frame in 4th, he ran a good race, just not good enough. Great for winning jockey Frankie Dettori to ride his 6th winner in the race, he really is a jockey for the big occasion.

Rain at most tracks yesterday and horses coming to the final few weeks of the flat season, saw a few unexpected results, having been racing since May, can take its toll.  Horses need a holiday or break from training, they go past their peak.  It is not until they race can you see that. A few did just that, they put in a below par performance.

I did think First Eleven (2:25) would be more than good enough at Ascot, but he never travelled well, and ran like a horse that was having one race too many.

Today is the big Arc De Triomphe meeting in France.  Enable has had a very light campaign, she comes here very fresh, she was injured in the early part of the season, her only race this season was a cosy win at Kempton.  She beat a very useful horse that day.  Her even money current price is a bit skinny for me, but she is the very likely winner.  Waldgeist is what I have had a small each way bet on, he has won his trial, rain would help, but hopefully he can be in the mix if it does not arrive.

Anodor ( 1.55 ) looked like a very good horse when winning last time.  He will take a lot of beating in the Group 1 for two year olds.  I think he can win for French trainer Freddy Head. Royal Marine looked useful at Newmarket, when he won his maiden.  Hopefully he can run well for Saeed Bin Suroor, as he is in need of a decent horse or two.

A lot of rain around at most tracks.  Looking at the big handicap races and large field races, trying to find one for an each way bet looks as tricky as ever.  I am going to put an each way tip at Newmarket in the 2:40 , Light and Dark is well regarded and will hopefully run well.

more later.

Late post today.  I did not get involved at Ascot today, it looked really tough trying to find one that stood out, to be honest I was tempted to back Mekong, he was a good second.  The winner Ghostwatch has done everything right on the track since being gelded, he really battles when under pressure.

A few interesting races tonight at Wolverhampton and Dundalk. A lot of market support for Great Beyond 7:45 at Wolverhampton, he bolted up on his only all weather previous run, if I was having a bet in it, Grooveman at 11/2 is more appealing each way.  I will try to put an each way bet on tomorrow, something with value.  Some great racing, the big race on Sunday the Arc in which Enable is a short priced favourite, looks set for decent ground.  She must be hard to beat, at evens I am watching, Waldgeist needs a drop of rain, he is 13/2 now, he was 10/1 earlier in the week when I mentioned him as my each way interest bet.

A few withdrawn at Warwick today, with the 3:15 now a walk over for Desirable Court.  A bit of compensation for the owner Craig Buckingham , who had the inconvenience of travelling to Nottingham yesterday, and find his horse withdrawn by the starter, who made a mistake when another runner caused problems in the stalls, both were non starters , as the stewards did not allow Magic Pulse to run, the starter apparently informed the weighing room the wrong horse number,and was still not allowed to run when authorities realised the administrative error !

Todays other race meetings have a lot of competitive racing, although depleted fields at Warwick.  A couple of interesting races at Chelmsford City tonight.  The 6:15 is for fillies over 7f,  Quasar ran well on her first run, she could be the one to beat.

At this time of year the 3 year old and upwards maidens are sometimes pretty weak. The 2:20 and 2:55 look average, unless one of the unraced ones are decent, they will be not be hard to win.

Good luck with having a bet.

The last meeting of the season for Salisbury today.  Good conditions for racing,  finding winners is not easy , but notebooks are a must, as lots of maiden races that will throw up future winners.  Bangor has some okay fields,  Lovato carries top weight in the handicap hurdle at 4:30pm.  He ran a really good race last time at Stratford, it will not take much improvement to go one better today, he has a favourites chance.

At Nottingham the card starts at 1:30.  A few nice types over the minimum trip of 5f, it looks a race where experience may be of use, a fair amount of cash around for the unraced Exalted Angel, he has a good pedigree.

Weekend racing:

The dry forecast over the next few days including in France for the weekend big meeting may be more advantageous to filly Enable who is currently 5/4 for the Arc De Triopmhe on Sunday, she will be trying to win it for the second time.  I will not be backing against her, if any rain does arrive, it would help the chances of Waldgeist, he is around 10/1, but he is a horse who does like a bit of juice underfoot.

Another good Winner yesterday for my subscribers.  I advised Qaroun 7.45 Kempton at 11/2 yesterday, he was heavily backed into 7/2 before winning under a good ride from Andrea Atzeni.  I have been watching a bit of todays racing.  Not had a bet as yet, one I quite like at Southwell, the card at Kempton looks very difficult tonight.

I see that Donacha O’Brian has more or less given up on breaking older brother Joseph’s win record of 126 when he was champion jockey in Ireland.  He has just got to a 100, some feat for a rider who struggles with his weight, as did Joseph.  Not sure that he will ride on the flat much longer, and he has no desire to ride over jumps, so it won’t last for many years.

More later.

Late post today.  I have been travelling back to Guernsey,  so not seen any racing as yet.  Another good month during September, with an Overall profit of 15.7 points for the month.  Looking forward to trying to keep things going during October, a lot of horses do start to lose form when the weather changes, plus the ground does not get to firm with the Autumn dew in the morning. A couple of horses entered in the early part of the week I have been waiting for, so I hope the rain stays away !

Kempton Park has some difficult handicaps to work out tonight,  a couple that look of interest running in later races.

It was nice to catch up with a few old friends in Newmarket and at Market Rasen, over the last few days.   I did not have much time to spend  with a couple of old weighing room colleagues as they were working on Saturday, Colin Hawkins and Russ Garrity are now Starters, both of them were at the races on Saturday. It is a long time since I seen either of them, both were good jockeys, and said they were enjoying their new roles.

It is good that the BHA are employing former jockeys, a large number now work as stipendary stewards, Jockey coaches and Starters. A jockeys career is not that long, especially a jump riders, a large number retire in their thirties, a lot due to injury,  being retrained in some other profession takes time, although the injured jockeys fund do help a lot with course costs for ex riders.