Quite good cards today in the UK.  Doncaster on the flat has had two races already.  Venedegar 4.55 is a horse I followed after he was second on his second start, he showed promise after, without winning.  If he is fit for his seasonal debut, he has a good chance.  It’s a competitive race, and a few are fancied.

At Ascot, my fancy in the first race was withdrawn, ground at most tracks are drying,  I guess it is the time of year, ideal good ground does not suit some of the big National Hunt horses, they are best on softer conditions.  Highway One O One 3.55 Ascot likes good ground, he has a good chance of winning.

It was a big day for  Godolphin in Dubai yesterday.  Charlie Appleby and Saeed Bin Suroor bagged four winners between them, with the excellent Thunder Snow winning the big Dubai World Cup again.  He is the first horse to win two of them, quite an achievement for all connections, it may be a long time before it happens again, he may well try again next year for number three.

My only selection for my subscribers yesterday was Denmead 2.20 Wetherby, he was 10/11 in the morning, I have no issue backing short priced horses when they win like he did, he never looked in danger.

Today is the start of the turf season in the UK.  Doncaster looks very good racing, with the big handicap at 3.35 the Unibet Lincoln Handicap, with 22 lining up it is a difficult race to work out, with good ground to race on i thought Humbert had a good chance each way at around 12/1, he has changed stables, and his trainer has a really good record in this race.  At Kempton the flat meeting is on the all weather, the first race is a decent Novice event, two have won, so have a penalty, Sawasdee had one run last year and could well improve a lot from that, he was a very expensive yearling and ran very green on debut. It’s a race to watch closely as Living Legend and Sucellus are really promising horses, even with the winners penalty.

In the UAE at Meydan, fantastic prize money and really good racing.  Old Persian did well to win last time, he got in a pocket and was value for a lot further than his short head win, he runs at 4.00.

More later.

Today has two meetings over jumps and two on the all weather surface on the level.  Fields are quite small at Fontwell and Wetherby, it is the time of year when a large number of National Hunt horses go for some spring grass, and the spring/ summer jumpers re-appear.  Flowery 3.55 Wetherby jumped well and won in good style at Sedgefield last time, his first try over the bigger obstacles, he has gone up in the weights, but if he acts at the change of track, he could well win again.  At Newcastle this evening, it has competitive racing, the 7.00 is a fillies Novice Stakes, Maid For Life ran a good second on  debut last year, its tough taking on older horses at this time of year, the elder Astonished is a winner,  and has a penalty for that, it will be hard to concede a lot of weight, she has 10.5 lbs to carry! Probably a race to watch, as Robotique Dancer is a well bred unraced filly, who could be smart.  The 2.00 Lingfield could give young Cieran Fallon a good chance of riding another winner on Golden Guest, bit of value each way at around 5/1.

More later.

Slightly later post today.  Looking at the remaining races,  the ground is decent today at Newcastle and Warwick.  I do think the last race at Newcastle could go the way of Glenduff, he ran with promise when second at Kelso in January, I don’t see it as a strong bumper, he is short enough in the market but is rightly to be ahead in the betting market. At Chelmsford on the all weather, White Coat 7.00, has cheek pieces on today to help him focus.  He is talented, if they have the desired effect, he may have an edge on Rux Power fitness wise.

It was nice to get a WINNER for my subscribers today.  Caplin was advised at 2/1, he was heavily backed in the 2.50 Wolverhampton, making all the running, the end result never looked in doubt.

A late post today.  I found the races very difficult to solve today, so I did t get involved.  A few races remaining at Kempton this evening, It is pretty average racing,  a fair bit of support in the betting in the 7.00 for Capofaro, he has had three runs and is un exposed.  He must have shown plenty at home of late, but it’s interest betting as they are moderate horses, trying to get a win.

More tomorrow.

Looking at the Clonmel race meeting today.  One horse that is making a comeback from a long break is Yorkhill in the 4.20, he had a very dissapointing season last year, not seen since a poor run in France last July.  If he is anywhere near his old self, they won’t live with him, but it is a big if ! It would be nice to see him comeback to something like he was, as he was a very good horse at one time.

Other cards from the UK are at Wolverhampton, Hereford and Hexham.  The dry weather has made the ground quicker, hopefully it stays dry for some racing on good ground.

At Hereford  Station Master 3.00 got his chasing career going with a win last time at Huntingdon, so he acts going right handed ok, I though he had a good chance of following up again today.

Good winner for my subscribers yesterday.  Piton Pete 2.55 Carlisle was returned at 15/8, running out a 23 Lengths victory, it was a bit easier when the odds on favourite fell five fences out, but if you don’t jump, you don’t win !

Also hopefully followers may have backed Captain Zebo 2.25 Carlisle, he absolutely bolted up, and is value for a bigger win, as he was carried out left by the pacemaker, I did think at one stage his amateur rider was going to make a complete Horlicks of his ride, I was wondering what he was doing, as he kept challenging on the left of the leader, when it kept taking him left, finally he got the message and switched to the inside of the wayward leader.

Today has a few races left of the day meetings, I’ve had a few doubles and a treble, the first one has won, so fingers crossed for the other two !

The Wincanton card is running about 15 minutes late, due to an injured horse in the first race.  Not So Sleepy and Miranda 4.15 Wincanton could have a real battle, it’s very hard to split them.

Some decent entries for tomorrow, couple of horses I like, hopefully I can find a winner.

Nice to get a winner for my subscribers yesterday.  Gala Ball 3.50 Newbury was advised at 9/4, backed into 13/8, he won gamely by a length.  I also hope some who follow will have had a bit each way on The Knot Is Tied in the 2.40 Newbury, he won at 11/2, which was good.

Today has the first day of flat turf racing in Ireland at Naas.  The ground will ride on the soft side, I tend to watch the flat for a week or two, as you want to know how the stable has wintered, so cautious betting is a must !

In the Uk we have Carlisle and Exeter today.  The ground will be soft/ heavy at Carlisle, a couple of races of interest, I thought Captain Zebo could get another win in the 2.25, he stays well and is a previous winner at the track.  At Exeter in the 3.45 Another Stowaway has had two good runs since  wind surgery, he has top weight , but has a solid chance of winning, the drop in trip is a little bit of a worry on drying ground.

I saw a bit of the Barney Curley interview this morning on Racing TV, it was quite interesting listening to his life, and how he had always bet on horses, even when he had no real connections, I will try and watch the rest later.

,Hopefully followers backed Alsvinder 7.30 Newcastle last night, he drifted to 5/4, but made no mistake in making all the running and staying on well.

Todays racing is as competitive as ever, for a Saturday.  It will be good if Noel Fehily can go out with a winner on his last day riding.  He is retiring after a great career.

At Kelso it is really good prize money.  The first race at 1.50 has on,y four runners.  I did think My Old Gold would be the one to beat, she has ran well at the track before. Worthy Farm 3.35 is very honest, he has a good chance of winning again under claimer Lorcan Williams.  At Newbury the races are open, The Knot Is Tied At 8/1 has decent each way claims in a very open handicap at 2.40.  Tigeralley was a good winner last time, she has a good chance of following up in the 2.15 Bangor-On-Dee.

More later.

Late post today.  Alsvinder should be good enough to win at Newcastle 7:30.  He is the top rated and has consistently ran well on the all weather, winning at the track over 5f.

More tomorrow.