A few winners on my post yesterday.   Let’s Get At It and Aggy With It both at Market Rasen, and Scorpion Sid at Haydock, he was a game winner, as the ground had dried a bit, and he really relishes soft/ heavy ground.

Todays cards look pretty difficult.  At Chepstow in the 4.35, Treasure Dillon has a lot of weight to carry, but this is not a good race.  He has a decent claimer on top, who will take a valuable 5lb off his back, it should give him a solid chance.  Sedgefield has small fields, Dans Le Vent could give the short priced favourite something to think about in the 3.45.

At Ludlow, where the ground should be ok.  The 3.35 is a really competitive Novice hurdle.  He’s No Trouble was a good winner last time at Huntingdon, he is the one they all have to beat, although Good Man Jim at 9/1, could be a bit of value each way.

Looking at today’s cards, the ground will ride very soft at Haydock and Chepstow.  Market Rasen will not be quite as testing.  At this Lincolnshire track, I thought Dan Skelton could have a decent day, he should win the first 2.00 with Peppy Le Pugh, and the last race with Aggy With It in the 5.15.  Let’s Get At It runs in the 4.10,  he has the useful claimer Fergus Gregory riding, who takes off a valuable 5lb.  He could have most to fear from Scented Lily.

At Haydock, Scorpion Sid 3.15 has a good chance to win again, he has been well backed from 6/4 last night, currently a shade of odds on.  He will handle the ground fine.  It looks quite open at Chepstow, Mercy Mercy Me 4.00 has had wind surgery, if that has the desired effect he may be too good for Mcnamaras Band, who ran a good race last time when third at the track.

Looking ahead for the first colts classic of the flat season, the turf season starts on the 30th March, so not too far away.  The Qipco 2,000 Guineas on May 4th at Newmarket is always a good pointer for the rest of the season, as a rule it is the best trial for the Derby, which is in June.  Two horses I like at bigger odds each way are Persian King, he is around 14/1 with a few firms.  A winner on the track last year, when he beat Magna Grecia(won Group 1 next run). Trained by Andre Fabre, he has a live chance if he lines up.  The other  is Madhmoon currently around 20/1, he is unbeaten, trained in Ireland, he did little wrong last year.  I really liked the way he won his first two runs, he is unexposed, and his shrewd trainer, thinks he is a very good colt.  Obviously more will be revealed in the next few weeks.   I am assuming both of these may run in a trial, and then connections will decide if they will run in the big one, so a small ew now is not a bad bet.

As I mentioned yesterday, I backed Le Precieux at Plumpton.  He was disputing the lead when pulled up sharply by rider Jamie Moore, to what extent he was injured I am not too sure. But it didn’t look very promising.

Last week at the Cheltenham festival, the 4 mile amateur rider National Hunt chase had one horse who was fatally injured.  Horses get injured, sadly it happens.  The biggest issue in the race at Cheltenham,  was some of the riders received suspensions for being deemed as to have continued in the race, when the horse they were riding was very tired, two horses fell very late in the race.  The problem was they were in 3rd and 4th place at the time, so it is very difficult for the jockey to decide that the best form of action is to pull up.  The jockey who rode the eventual 3rd, did actually receive a suspension!

As I see it he did the correct thing, he saw the two fallers, realised he had a chance of being placed, and managed to jump the last fence and get his horse home in 3rd.  After jumping the last fence, he never picked his stick up and hit his horse, he knew it was very tired, and for that reason I think he will win his appeal, which I read yesterday he is doing.

On to today’s racing.  Wetherby, Taunton and Huntingdon in the UK.  At Wetherby in the last race, I thought the odds on favourite was a false price, Sheshoon Sonny is currently 4/6, I don’t like to lay horses but I’m tempted to lay this.

In the opening race at Taunton 2.20, Birds Of Prey has been second three times prior to this.  He looks to have an ideal opportunity to get his head in front in this.

More later.

Update: 5.10pm

Nothing too much of interest in 5.15 Exeter.  I backed a horse earlier today, who sadly looked as though he suffered a bad injury when disputing the lead jumping the third from home.  Not good when things like this happen, I just hope it is not too serious.

Today’s racing at Plumpton, Southwell and Exeter is on soft/ heavy ground.  Although it is dry looking at Plumpton, when the ground is soft it is very hard work.  Just watching the first race, Mattie Bachelor is certainly earning his riding fee on outsider Awesome Rock !

Small fields for the races.  The Cull Bank is short odds to win at 2.50, it looks a good opportunity to get a hat trick of wins.

I will try and update later today with a possible horse worth an interest in one of the later races at Exeter.

Looking at the very testing ground at the racecourses today.  I am always very cautious in backing something on deep ground.  At Carlisle the fields are very small, I’m not having a bet at the track.

At Saint Cloud in France the 4.35 is a Group 3.  It looks a good race, I have been watching a lot more of the French racing of late, with more coverage on Sky racing currently shown, it has given a lot of insight into French trainers, race analysis and the training centres.  Prize money is so much better in France, especially when you have a French bred winner, owners receive 60% of the win prize money on top of the win purse.  This can make a massive difference to owners, as it gives French owners the incentive to keep their home bred horses racing on home soil.

Andre Fabre is a very good trainer, he runs two horses in the 4.35 at Saint Cloud today.  Magny Cours has been supplemented for this race, which is why at 4/1 he could be worth an interest.  He ran ok on very soft ground last year, and would not be running if his astute trainer did not think he would be ok on it. I think he can be very competitive.

More later.

Hopefully followers had a bet each way on Pentland Hills yesterday in the 1.30 Cheltenham , he was advised at 20/1 , some people messaged me and said they got 25/1 ! Maybe in play , but delighted he won.  On a very sad  note, it was awful that Sir Erec was fatally injured during the race, he was a lovely horse, and did not deserve that, he lost a shoe before the race, watching him stand very quietly for the farrier, who replated him, showed his great temperament, he stood like an absolute gentleman,.

On to today’s cards.  Soft heavy ground at Uttoxeter, the Midlands National 3.35  will be a real test of stamina.  Ms Parfois has had wind surgery, this being her second race since this procedure.  She is a dour stayer, and has each way claims.

At Kempton which starts at 1.30, with a decent Novice hurdle.  I think it is between Heatstroke and Ferrabin.  Both winners last time, it’s hard to choose between them, the former has form with the ground being on the soft side, Ferrabin has been second on soft ground in a bumper, but looked well suited by good ground at Huntingdon last time, it is probably a race to watch !   My Way 2.40 could well be well handicapped off 121, his form is quite good, and I think he has a good chance of getting off the mark in his first try in a handicap, Burrows Edge is the one to beat.

More later.

I was pleased to get another WINNER for my subscribers yesterday.  Defi Du Seuil 1.30 Cheltenham was advised yesterday morning  at 3/1, he was trading around 11/4 for most of the day, before finishing at 3/1, he was given a good ride by Barry Geraghty, who produced him half way up the run in, to win by over 2 Lengths.

Todays start at Cheltenham is 1.30.  I backed Sir Erec a while ago for this race, when he was 11/4 , he is around even money this morning, which I would not get involved at !   I do think he can win, but I have also had a small each way bet on Pentland Hills at 20/1.  He won an average race at Plumpton, but is from a powerful stable, and I just don’t think he would be running if his trainer thought he had no chance of being in the mix.  In the main race of the day at 3.30 the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup, I like Clan Des Obeaux, he has improved this year, and can hopefully run well, the race is very open, with lots of horses with a chance of winning.

At Fakenham today, the 2.35 has only 4 lining up, it’s a maiden hurdle for conditional jockeys.  If Grand Inquisitor puts his best foot forward he will win this weak race, he is the most talented in the line up, but I am not totally convinced he is in love with racing, the visor and tight turning track may just motivate him enough to win.

More later.

Late update:

Key to power 6.30 Southwell is a bit of value at 11/4 , think she can run a big race and maybe upset the favourite.

Good to get another winner for my subscribers yesterday.  Shanghai Grace 1.55 Lingfield got up close to the line at 7/4 to win, ridden by Cieran Fallon, who is value for his 7lb allowance.  He is the son of former Champion jockey Kieran, so he has a lot to live up to, he seems a sensible lad when he is interviewed, hopefully he can keep riding winners and improving with more race riding.

Today the ground will probably ride testing again at Cheltenham, it will be a day where horses need to stay very well.  One horse I think has each way claims in the 4.10 is River Wylde, he fell last time, but he is talented, and at 12/1 is a little bit of value.  It’s a open handicap chase, but he should handle the ground ok, and the stables horses are in good form.

I may update later, as I think a horse in a later race has a good chance, I’m just looking to see if rain arrives.