Hopefully some of my followers may of had a bet on San Carlos and Aircraft Carrier last night, I mentioned both had good chances yesterday. I was pleased to see San Carlos win well for Shaun Keightley, he is a decent guy, works hard, and can certainly do the training side of the job, he just needs the horses.

Today has some decent racing at Ascot.  The first race at 12:45 has a few promising types, Gallahers Cross has been well backed, he was useful last term in bumpers, if he jumps well on debut, he looks the one to beat.  Probably the most interesting hurdle race is the 1:55, If I have a bet in it, Thomas Darby would be my choice, I do like Danny Kirwan, but I think he will not be at his best on the soft ground, I think he wants good ground to show his very best form.  At Uttoxeter, the ground is very soft/heavy.  Blakerigg has top weight in the 1:45, but he will handle the ground and may well land another win today in the hands of Brian Hughes.

Late post today.  Looking at the racing at Meydan (Dubai) at the moment, I miss the sun of Dubai ! It looks pretty quiet with Spectators, the only really busy days , with good crowds are the main days racing when it is the Dubai World Cup, the last day of the trial races about 3 weeks before the main race is also pretty busy, the rest of the meetings it is very quiet, it probably does not help that the stands and the whole racecourse is so big, and takes a huge crowd to fill it.

Looking at the evening meeting at Chelmsford, some interesting two year old races.  San Carlos 6:30 has been well supported in the betting, 2/1 from 13/2, his trainer may have found an average race, I hope he can win for my old weighing room colleague Shaun Keightley, who trains him, this horse ran well on debut, of others that have raced before,  they look nothing out of the ordinary.

The 8:00 is the main race, decent prize money of £32,000 for the winner.  It looks competitive, Lucky Deal probably has the best form on offer, although he has top weight, Aircraft Carrier won easily recently and runs with a 6lb penalty, he could well be a horse that is going the right way, and I think it’s between these two.

Nice to get a WINNER for my subscribers today, Woodside Wonder 1:10 Lingfield got the job done at a nice 13/8.  Looking at the rest of today’s cards, at Newcastle 5:05 I have backed Rich Approach , he was 11/4 and is currently around 2/1, I would probably leave him if he was shorter than 2/1, as you have to try and get a bit of value ! He came from a long way back last time, that was at Wolverhampton.  Over today’s stiffer 6f, it should be more to his liking.

At Newbury the 2:45 looks a really good  Novice hurdle, Tidal Flow could be a solid each way bet, the current favourite Downtown Getaway has been backed, he may well be useful, he cost £350,000 after his bumper win at Fairyhouse.

I backed Gates Pass 7:45 at Wolverhampton yesterday each way, he was 5/1 at the time, he did drift to 10/1 at one stage in the morning, backed last night, ending up at 7/2.  Well if anybody saw the race, he was given a ‘very strange’  ride by Nicola Currie, taken back when leaving the stalls, she restrained her horse at the back of the field, I knew after 2 furlongs he had no chance of winning, ( Enable would of made hard work of winning from where she had him) he was too far back, and behind a couple of no hopers. The winner and second were more or less first and second throughout the race,and being ridden to win,  suddenly,about 3f out  Nicola decided she had to make a bit of ground, the horse was steered out, came very wide, and ran on he did really well to be 3rd.  Only Nicola knows why she rode the horse like that, it was surprising to me, as she  does not make many mistakes- normally, but this ride was a major one !

Anyway today is another day.  Hopefully I can find a winner somewhere. I have read that Jason Watson is going to be stable jockey to Roger Charlton next season.  Good news for Jason, a talented rider, who is very confident in his own ability, and looks dedicated.  Roger Charlton must feel let down by Kieren Shoemark , who is facing a ban for testing positive for cocaine, to be honest I have not got a lot of sympathy for Shoemark, some jockeys who ride as well as him, and are totally ‘clean’ just never get the chance he has had, Kieren he will be regretting his senseless behaviour now !

I will do an update later if I can find something worth an interest for my followers.

Looking at the Plumpton card, where the ground is soft.  In the 2:00, The Tin Miner was a course winner recently, he has ran at the track on his last three runs, so knows it well, stays well, acts on the soft and his jockey won on him last time.  A lot of positives, he may not get a soft lead like last time, as Little Windmill likes to make the running, and has won at the tight Sussex track before, but I think The Tin Miner can defy his 9lb rise in the weights and win again.

Pleased to get a WINNER for my subscribers yesterday.  Umbrigado 1:10 Southwell was a comfortable winner, he returned at Evens favourite, i actually advised backing him when he was 10/11, as l thought he was value then, surprised he drifted out slightly, but on best odds guaranteed, happy with the evens.

I did gave followers a selection at Carlisle, Luckofthedraw, whom I backed EW at 5/1, was a good second, he was not beaten far.

Todays meetings have a few runners I’m quite keen on.  Hopefully I can find a winner. I will do an update later with a possible horse worth a look.

Two jump meetings in U.K. today.  I just watched the 12:20 Carlisle, where the 2/5 favourite scrambled home.  Earlofthecotswolds whom I advised to back last time, did pretty much the same again today, jumping very high and not fluent.  He was fortunate that the stiff Carlisle finish helped, as he was 3 lengths down at the last, he has a good engine though, if he gets his jumping sorted out, he will be useful.

I thought Luckofthedraw had solid EW claims when I saw him at 5/1 last night, he runs in the 1:55 Carlisle, he has been backed, I did have a small interest EW , so hopefully he can run a good race, he has won at the track, he ran no sort of race last time at Aintree, this is a bit easier today, but he has to put his poor effort behind him to win this.

I was dissapointed with Rather Be yesterday, he never really got into the race, which was won by Frodon, who was well ridden by Bryony Frost.  One jockey who has not really had the luck this new jump season is James Bowen.  He is only young, had a fantastic year last year, and although he rides still for Nicky Henderson, he is only about 3rd or 4th choice, I think he is better than all the jockeys ahead of him, but I guess you have to be a bit loyal to jockeys who have been with you for a number of years, I respect Nicky Henderson for that,not too many trainers adopt the same policy.  I think James Bowen needs a couple of Saturday wins, and he may get some big race rides.

Update:

If Tiger Eye is any good, winning the 8:15 at Wolverhampton will not be the most difficult.  It is an average race.  I think Juanito Chico has a decent chance 7:45, I have backed him EW, he did drift to 9/2 earlier, so I had a bet.

Hopefully some followers managed to back Tamerlane last night, I didn’t get the message on until around 6 minutes before the off, and this improving horse was a good winner, returned at 11/8.

Today I think Higher Power has a good chance in the 12:55’Newcastle, I actually backed him EW at 5/1 this morning, sorry he has come into around 7/2 now.  I do think this course and distance winner can be competitive, he was a strong closer when second last time, Watersmeet who beat him that day, is a rival today, my selection is 3lb better off today, and should improve from his recent run.

At Cheltenham , where caution is advised, because it has had some rain I thought Rather Be had solid claims 1:55, it a competitive Chase, my only concern is I’m not the biggest fan of his jockey, but the horse has loads of talent.

Saturday is always the hardest day, I am always playing with small stakes, as the races are so competitive, today is no different.

I may update later, as a couple of horses running later that have good claims, I am just going to keep a close eye on the weather.

Waiting until the last race at Kempton this evening.  I think Tamerlane can win the last race, currently around 2/1,  apologies for a late post.  I will try and give followers a horse tomorrow that has a decent chance , hopefully it will be an ok price !