A late post today.  Couple of good winners yesterday for my followers.  Both won well at Exeter.   Darcy Ward 7.20, jumped well and likes quick ground, he could win again.  Story Of Friends 8.20 was a good winner of the bumper, it’s hard to know what he beat, and it is always hard trying to follow up under a penalty, if his trainer decides to try and win another one.

A fair amount of rain around throughout today.  I backed one at Chester, who ran ok, no excuses on the ground, I just think the winner is a very good horse. Sir Dragonet looked a more than useful horse, he only had his first run 13 days ago, the O’Brian horses look very strong this year so far.  Japan is another horse I really like, he is pencilled in to run at the weekend in a Derby trial , possibly in Ireland.  A great ride by Shane Kelly today on Gossiping, he galvanised his mount to get up on the line in the 5.05 to win by a nose.  Tomorrow has some good races at Chester, hopefully I can find a winner.  It is a really difficult track, some horses just do not handle the sharp bends, you really want a horse that is a strong traveller, as it is difficult to make ground on a lazy type, you get pushed wide if your horse loses its place, and it makes it very difficult to get back into the contest. Franny Norton is a jockey who rides the track very well, he usually has an excellent strike rate, winners to rides.

More later.

A good days racing yesterday at Guernsey races (L’Ancresse).  Three winners for David Evans and two for Mick Appleby, only 5 races on the day so it was a clean sweep for UK trained horses. The track is very sharp, right handed over about 7f, you need a strong traveller, who likes fast ground !

Hopefully followers may of had the forecast yesterday at Kempton 2.55 , it paid just over 5/1 so that was good. I hope my other selection Tommy Silver is going to be ok, he jumped the fourth last with a good lead, but was pulled up quickly soon after.  He looked as though he may of injured himself behind, fingers crossed it is a “knock” or muscle injury only.

Todays jump meeting at Exeter has small fields, the ground is on the quick side.  If Story Of Friends acts ok on it, he could well win the last race at 8.20.  Of rivals, Mario De Pail, was well backed on his first run when 3rd at Plumpton, he should progress from that run.  A lot of unraced horses in the line up, who may be useful, so it is interest betting only.  Darcy Ward jumped well on his first run over fences over course and distance last time, he should be ok on the ground, and will be hard to beat again in the 7.20.  His threat is Triple Chief, who has no weight on his back, but will not like the ground as much as Darcy Ward.

Lots of meetings today.  I am going racing, Guernsey has one meeting a year, so going to the races here.  I learned last night that at one time 3 meetings a year took place, but over the last 5 years or more it has been reduced to only 1.  The fields are small, but it’s dry here and the sun is out, so should be a bit of fun !

Todays card’s in the UK are competitive. The first race at Beverley at 1.55 is a two year old maiden.   Short odds backers could be tempted by Dylan De Vega, he was second on his first run, it was a good effort, but I don’t think this horse is totally straightforward, so I would rather back Azteca each way at 5/1.  She was in front a stride past the line at this track last time, after missing the break, she is well drawn, and has experience.

At Kempton the ground will be on the quick side.  The 2.55 is between the first two in the betting.  Both will like the quick underfoot conditions, I have a slight preference for No Hidden Charges over Fontley House,  a safe option is a reverse forecast.  Tommy Silver 3.30 will like the ground, a course winner and is genuine, he should win again.

A good winner yesterday for my subscribers.  Now Look At Me was advised at 6/5 yesterday morning, he was an easy winner of the 2.45 Uttoxeter.

I also gave followers my idea on who they all had to beat in the 2000 Guineas, Magna Grecia was a good winner, some each way return for Madhmoon,  as I backed him each way at 20/1, a few firms paid out on first 4, he was running on well when meeting the rising ground, a solid run to finish fourth, having been drawn the worst of the field in stall 1. The interview by Aiden O’Brian after his winner Magna Grecia, was that he will likely miss the Derby, and stay at 1 Mile for the moment.  The Ballydoyle camp have current favourite for the Derby in “Japan”, who looked very useful last year, he could well be their number one choice.  Broome is another possible runner for them. I expect both horses to run in a trial over the next week or two, and then connections will decide.

Todays main race at Newmarket is the fillies classic the 1,000 Guineas at 3.35.  I was really impressed with Qabala when she won her trial at Newmarket, the Nell Gwyn Stakes. She was strong at the line that day, and looked very useful.  If her young jockey David Egan keeps a cool head, I think she can win, Egan rides very well, this is his first ride in a 1,000 Guineas, so a lot of pressure on his young shoulders.

At Hamilton where hopefully the showers of rain stay away.  Semoum runs for a new trainer today at 2.05, he was transferred to Roger Varian when George Peckham retired from training at the start of the year, due to his employer “pulling the plug” and deciding to sell his stables in Newmarket.  The step back to 5f, from mainly racing over 6f as a two year old, should not be a major issue.  I think he has a good chance of giving odds on favourite Deputise a race.

More later.

A cracking days racing today.  At Newmarket the big race is the 2000 Guineas at 3.05, it is one of the most open classics for many years.  I have mentioned that I am unsure of current favourite Ten Sovereigns staying the 1 Mile, his dam did win over 10f, so she did have a bit of stamina, maybe that is why Ryan Moore has decided that he has a chance of getting the trip.  He just looked like a sprinter to me last year, his Sire was a very fast horse, speed to burn.  Top class horses have speed, it doesn’t matter what trip they run over 5f-2 miles, they all have a speed, it is finding their optimum trip, this is the trainers job, a lot has to do with pedigree.

When I worked for Godolphin, the best horse I had anything to do with was Dubai Millenium, he was an absolute machine, he only got beat once, over 12f in the Derby at Epsom, he just did not stay, he would of won a group 1 from 6f – 10f, he had so much speed, so if Ten Sovereigns is as good as him, he will win !

I have a few pounds each way on Madhmoon at 20/1, hopefully he can run a big race.  It will be a really good race to watch, I think Magna Grecia is probably the horse that they all have to beat, I have already backed him each way at 14/1 for the Epsom Derby, so hopefully he can run a good race, as this race will give a lot of clues to the next colts three year old classic in June.  Looking at he rest of the race meetings today,  at Goodwood – Awesometank returns to the track, she improved all year in 2018.  She is the one to beat in the 3.45, of rivals, Anna Nerium never went at any stage in her recent run on the all weather surface at Kempton, she is much better than that run, I expect her to run a much better race, although she may be better over 7f, than today’s 1 Mile.

I really like the look of today’s cards, a lot of horses I am probably going to back !

A late post today.  I had a couple small bets, I actually backed Buvuer D”Air in running 5.30 Punchestown, delighted to see him win another Champion Hurdle under the excellent Davy Russell, who rode as Mark Walsh must of been injured.  I thought City Island could win the 6.05 Punchestown, he is short odds, but looked a very good horse at Cheltenham when he won.  At Newcastle the first race should go the way of Shareef Star, just about to load the stalls for the 5.50

More tomorrow.

S Update: 4.05pm

Looking at the remaining races, I have had a few bets at Chelmsford tonight, hopefully I have found a winner or two. I thought the 7.25 was a really strong Listed race for fillies.  Royal Intervention is well drawn and appeals as a small bet, I think Red Impression could well be the best horse in the race, but 14 stall has made it very tough for her.

It is interesting to see Ryan Moore has chose Ten Sovereigns over Magna Grecia in the first colts classic at Newmarket on Saturday, I think he might have picked the wrong one, but he should know more than me !

It was a good way to go out yesterday for Ruby Walsh, he gave Kemboy a good ride to win at Punchestown, and then announced he was retiring.  Lots of racing rumours were that he was going to retire if he won the Aintree Grand National,  he had a good ride at Liverpool but his horse was not good enough.   Ruby has been a very good jockey, but age and injuries catch up with you, it’s one of the unfortunate hazards of being a jump jockey, riders go on longer when they are riding good horses, and Ruby has been riding the best for a lot of years.

It was mentioned yesterday that he was the best their has been for many years, I think Tony McCoy would have something  to say about that!

Both were very different types of rider, Ruby was always quiet and still on his horses, especially over an obstacle, Tony McCoy was the opposite, so both styles work !

The best jockey I had the privilege of riding against was John Francome, he was similar to Ruby, but in my opinion he was a few pounds better. Some really top riders around in the 80s and 90s, Richard Dunwoody, Hywel  Davies, Graham McCourt,Graham Bradley, Norman Williamson and my great friend Declan Murphy, I must not forget Peter Scudamore either.  I could name another half dozen top class riders at the time.  I would struggle to mention as many at the moment, we have a few decent National Hunt jockeys currently riding , but I don’t think current Champion Richard Johnson was as good as any of the ones I have mentioned.

Any way on to today’s racing.  Good cards on the flat and jumping.  At Mussleburgh it looks pretty tough, the first race has only three lining up, you could make a case for all of them.  Alright Sunshine has useful bumper form, he has to give a fair amount of weight away, through weight for age, it is an interesting race. The final race at 5.15  has Cosmic Ray trying to follow up for his recent win, I think he is the best horse in the race, stall 9 of 9 looks his biggest danger !

I may update later with something.

Hopefully followers backed the two short priced horses I advised yesterday.  Both won well.  Today has some good racing at Ascot, Barney Roy returns to the track at 4.25, he has not ran since 2017.  He has proved in fertile, so has returned to the track after an injury back in 2017.  A new trainer in Charlie Appleby, and new jockey today, he will need to be on his game for this race, I hear he is well forward and working well.  With an 8lb “well in” on ratings, he should win, but Waldisafa and Canvassed are both improving horses, Waldisafa has proven form on turf, he progressed through 2018, winning at Listed level on his last run at Sandown.  Canvassed has won 2-2, at much lower level, both on the all weather surface.  He is well regarded, so this will not be an easy introduction for Barney Roy, he will have to be very close to his rating.  The first race looks like Lady Pauline’s introduction to Ascot, with the Royal meeting as her target in June, she looked very good in her win in Keenland, and her time was exceptional.

I have had a few small bets today, I could not see a stand out priced selection, so fun bets for me today.