At Taunton yesterday, I fancied Birds Of Prey in the second race, he ran well to be second after an early error and being given a bit much too do by his rider, only beaten a neck at the line, he is one to follow.  Sometimes you hear horses have schooled well at home , and they go to the races and jump a bit ‘Novicy ‘, it is the race day buzz that can be the cause, and horses can fluff their lines !

I did manage to get some cash back last night, I backed Divine Image 6/5 at Chelmsford, she won easily by 6 lengths.

Today has some decent racing, I will do an update later, hopefully I can find something with a good chance.  Cheltenham card looks pretty tough !

Today’s meetings have a few nice horses lining up.  At Chelmsford this evening, Divine Image 5:45 is highly regarded, she has been heavily backed into 8/11, and is expected to win this fillies event.  At Taunton the fields are quite large, with decent ground to race on.  Southfield Stone looked very useful when winning over course and distance last time, he should defy a penalty and win again 12:35.

Newcastle has soft ground forecast.  I am tempted to back Highland Hunter 1:15, he won well last time, likes the soft, and should have no issues with the step up in trip.  At Warwick the meeting gets started at 12:15, Wax And Wane was useful on the level, he may have found a weak maiden hurdle, and could well get back a small amount of the £55,000 connections spent on him recently, on his first run for his new yard.

More later.

Nice to get a WINNER yesterday for my subscribers.  Antunes (advised 11/10) was a very easy winner at Uttoxeter 1:00pm, he came to the last still on the bridle, and when given a squeeze by his jockey, he shot 5 lengths clear, it was a moderate race, so I hope he does not get crucified by the handicapper!

Todays meeting at Kempton has a few races left.  Looking at the runners, More Than More would have a decent chance of getting off the mark 5:45.  At the post for the 5:15, Khuzaam is short priced fav, he should have a good chance of a win, if he can overcome a poor draw.

More later.

Late post today.  Nice to get a winner today for my subscribers,  Wolfcatcher 1:15 Mussleburgh was advised this morning when 11/10, he was an easy winner, backed into 10/11.  Making all the running, and jumping pretty well, he stayed on well when asked to put the race to bed going to the third last fence, his only rival  left standing never got in a blow up the short straight.

I was quite impressed with She’s Got You 5:00 Wolverhampton, who was a ready winner.  She will be one to keep following, although she will likely be put away for the winter now she has won.  Clerisy 5:30 was short odds to win on her first run, she ran very green, and was in a pocket for most of the early part of the 7f event, she ran on well, finishing a closing third at the line, she is one to follow, as she will be winning if turned out again on the all weather this winter.

Tomorrows cards look pretty tough, Southwell on the flat and Fontwell and Uttoxeter jumping, the ground at the latter track will ride soft/heavy so caution if having a bet advised !

Reflecting on the racing yesterday.  It was a very good display by Altior to win at Sandown, he will be very hard to beat again this winter, he handled the bad ground well, and showed his class to win.  A bit of a surprise to see One For Arthur make a bad mistake very early on in his comeback race at Aintree, jockey Tom Scudamore had no chance of staying on top, hopefully he is ok, and we will see the horse out again soon.  I managed to watch a race at Wolverhampton last night, the winner New King drifted out from 1/1-11/4, but the drift did not stop this son of Frankel, he missed the break and was given a fair bit to do, but managed to win. He is clearly a useful horse.

Today has only the two meetings in the U.K. , at Huntingdon their is a few nice types running.  Bags Groove 12:50 jumped really well when winning last time, he will be tough to beat again, despite a winners penalty. Silver Forever was impressive when winning last time, she runs in a listed mares bumper 3:00.  It looks a decent race , as expected with over £11,000 for first place.

Just watched the 11:55 at Aintree.  It was incident packed, The Grand Visir tried to almost refuse at the first hurdle, badly hampering the favourite Eldorado Allen, both riders came off, with the race eventually won by a 40/1 outsider.  To be honest I was very surprised by the jockey who rode the odds on favourite, why he was anywhere near a horse having its first run going to a hurdle is always a bad move, when riding a short odds favourite you don’t get anywhere near something that has never ran before.

Looking ahead to the rest of today’s racing.  Some good horses running at Aintree and also at Sandown.  Altior is short odds to win at Sandown, he should get the job done, although the ground is very soft.  It will be good to see One For Arthur run again today at Aintree, he is having his first run since winning the Gran National in 2017.

I try and give followers a horse to back on a Saturday.  Blaklion 1:30 Aintree must have a good chance of winning, he has experience at the track and has run well fresh before, he is my selection today.

Some interesting races today at the turf jump meetings.  Ekayburg who I thought could win the 12:35 Leicester, came to win and found very little when asked to win the race, he is either ungenuine or has a problem when put under pressure, he also may be a non stayer. Tonight’s racing at Chelmsford has only three in the first race, it looks as though it could be a good race between Top Breeze and Deep Intrigue, the former has been heavily backed all day, he should win. The main race of the evening card is the 7:30, Salateen is at his best over 7f, he could be the one to beat.

Breden is another with strong claims in the 7:00, although his best form is at Kempton.  Able Jack is at home on the Essex track, he is a big price, and may run well of his break.

A late post today.  Plenty of rain made the ground soft today at both Haydock and Ludlow jump meetings.  A bit of caution over the next few days if having a bet, as you need to be sure that your horse will handle the conditions.  One horse that handled the soft ground today at Haydock was The Big Bite, he was impressive, not too sure what he beat, but he is worth following.

Looking ahead, tomorrow has some good racing.  I will hopefully try and find a winner !

More tomorrow.

Late post today.  Pleased to get a winner yesterday for my subscribers, with my selection at Wolverhampton 7:15.  Captain Dan was an easy winner under John Egan , he was advised at his starting price of evens in the morning, he probably did not beat much in winning, but still a winner.

I did fancy Bold Plan today 2:30 Southwell, he ran ok to be 3rd, the winner won pretty cosily, I think Bold Plan probably will be better over a bit further, and on a more galloping track.  I was quite impressed by the win of Skandiburg at Fakenham 1:40, he looks a big horse who could well improve and win again.  Well ridden by Fergus Gregory, a young jockey who continues to look good value for his claim.

Todays meeting at Plumpton will be very soft/heavy ground.  Favourite backers should get off to a good start with Acey Milan in the 12:30, and Kalashnikov looks as though a clear round will be more than enough for him to win the 1:00, 1/4 in a Novice chase is not my idea of a bet though !

Plumpton winter ground is hard work for horses, the clay based turf is like glue, tacky tiring ground.  I was fortunate to ride a good few winners at Plumpton, but always remember that when it rode very soft, it was a slog !

At Mussleburgh the ground should not be too bad.  It drains well,  and Good/good to soft ground in December is pretty fair.  I was at the July Sales when Constancio was sold for 40,000.  He was a nice type of horse, if he takes to hurdling he could well win the 12:15, although Tor was decent on the level