Dry conditions at Beverley, so the ground should be good.  I thought Good Birthday could win the 2.05.  He likes to race behind the pace, so if Ben Curtis can get him switched off he can be hard to beat, the main rival is Desert Icon as I see it.  At Sandown in the fillies Listed at 3.00 has some useful fillies lining up.  Jubiloso was unlucky not to win on her last run, to be brutally honest she was given a very average ride.  In my opinion she should of won, if she has a clear run, she is the best horse in the race.  Some strong fields at the Esher track, the 3.35 has a small field of two year olds.  Positive has the best form on offer, he was second to probably the best two year old colt in Europe on his last run, whose stable mate Al Suhail is the second in the betting.  He won cosily at Yarmouth 16 days ago, and is talented.  His biggest issue is probably himself, I have heard he is not straightforward at home, it is probably an issue with the family, as his half brother Telecaster has lots of ability, but is quirky.

More later.

A good winner for my subscribers yesterday. Wise Ruler 6.45 Newcastle was advised at 7/4, travelled well all the way and won nicely.  A decent end to the month is always helpful.

With a fair amount of rain having fallen in the north yesterday, especially Hamilton which turned the going to heavy, it will be advisable to double check going reports.  I am actually in Scotland at the moment, it has been dry overnight, and looks clear at the moment.

I will update at lunchtime.

I have had a couple of days with internet issues, so pleased to get back online !

Todays race meetings left are Newcastle, Hamilton, Wolverhampton and one race left at Thirsk. I thought Flylikeaneagle could win again at Hamilton, but it is raining so I will halve my bet if he is a fair price.  At Newcastle 6.15 should go the way of the favourite, although Belisa is one to watch in the betting, she is useful if fit after her break.

I fancy a few tomorrow, as long as too much rain does not fall overnight!

Leading owners Paul and Clare Rooney are set to reduce their number of horses in training, revealing they want to focus on “quality over quantity”.  The Rooney’s have a large string of horses, both flat and national hunt, with grade 1 winners over jumps and a group 1 winner with My Dream Boat, who claimed the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2016.  Racing manager Jason Maguire has said that around 25 horses will be going to the sales, which indicates about a third of their string.

On to today’s runners.  At Ripon in the last race, Clearence looks to have a good chance of following up from his recent win at Ayr.  He won easily that day, quicker ground today, but this versatile gelding should not be inconvenienced by it.

At Bath, with quick underfoot conditions, it usually pays to follow horses that have course form on fast ground.  Lucky Number 5.50 is a course winner, similar conditions as to today’s, he is progressive, likely other course and distance winner Conspiritor is the danger, my selection looked as though he finally got the “message” last time, that he is a racehorse ! Some horses, are just like children, it takes them a while to get mentally switched on, I think this gelding could have a bit more to come, especially now he has got his head in front.

Good to get a winner for my subscribers today.  Southern Rock 3.20 Ripon was advised at 11/10 this morning.  He was well backed into a shade of odds on,  given a strong ride by Danny Tudhope, he got up on the line to win by a short head.  Hopefully I can finish August off well.  One horse that was a good winner at Ripon was Platinum Star 3.55, he showed his class to beat a decent field of useful juveniles.

Looking at the racing for the next few days.  Fields at Bath tomorrow are small.  Probably the only track in the UK that does not water,  it always has a good covering of grass, but usually rides on the fast side in the summer months.

Hopefully Champion Jockey Sylvestre De Sousa will not be out of action too long.  He broke his collar bone in a fall at Chelmsford last week.  Reading in the paper today, Tom Garner broke his collar bone in America, strapped it up and rode three days later.  Winning a grade 1 hurdle race on Winston C , formerly trained in the UK by Harry Fry.  He said he did not want to miss out on the ride, as he thought it would win !

More tomorrow.

With the final day of the York meeting today.  The main race is the stayers handicap over 14 Furlongs at 3.40 , the Ebor Handicap looks really tough to win this year.  With great prize money on offer, it has attracted some group race performers.  Finding the winner looks tough, Raheen House has each way claims. Having been previously trained by Brian Meehan, he has come under the care of William Haggas this season.  Ridden today by James Doyle, who replaces his usual rider Jamie Spencer , ( he rides Raymond Tusk).  Raheen House will get a guaranteed pace to aim at, he usually finishes his race off well, with a bit of luck in running, I think he has a decent chance each way, he is around 5/1. Baghdad is another with a decent chance, he is around 10/1.  Plenty of other good races throughout the day.  At Newmarket Cardano 4.30 has a good chance of winning again, he is ultra consistent, and likes Newmarket.

Hopefully the weather forecast is correct, and the Bank Holiday weekend will be dry and plenty of sunshine for racing on Monday.

With a number of good races already ran today.  Good to see Stradivarius lift the million pound bonus for the second year running ! I would expect the sponsors may make it a bit more difficult next year, although he may not be in training.  One of the races today at York is not far away, the 4.15 is a really good race for two year olds.  A few that are at the front end of the betting market, with a run or two already.  Dulas is around 20/1, he ran well on debut at Newmarket, and with improvement, he could be worth a small each way bet.

Tough to find winners at York today.  So if I was having a bet, it would be looking for a bet with some decent value. Sword Beach at 22/1 is a bit of value each way in the 2.25.  Consistent form, and a really good effort last time, the race is very open and I would rather back an outsider than one of the shorter priced ones.  Run Rux is a 28/1 shot in the 4.50, that is for 5 places with Bet365, so each way for small stakes is worth an interest.  Still on the upgrade, and a game winner last time at Mussleburgh, this will be much tougher, but the race is wide open.

At Fontwell  Gateway To Europe 5.50 has been running well, he looks honest enough, just lacks a top gear.  I thought today was a good opportunity to get his head in front under regular rider Bryony Frost.

Whip issues

A lot has been written in the press regarding the whip lately.  It was even on a bus in London recently, with a question of why are jockeys allowed to use them in a race.  One trainer Charlie Fellows, who had a winner at the Royal meeting in June, even suggested that his horse should of been disqualified, because its jockey Hayley Turner had gone over the allowed number of times she can hit the horse.  She picked up a ban, as the stewards deemed her use as excessive.  The whip is an essential part of a jockeys equipment as far as I see it,  I would say that no jockey has the urge to use the whip, unless he feels he or she has to, but the biggest problem a rider would face if the whip is banned, is horses would start to stop, refuse and run out,  or off the track during a race, with the worst case scenario happening, that is a rider gets seriously hurt or even worse.  I believe the majority of people who have the opinion that the whip should be banned, have never ridden in a race, so have very little idea of what goes on.  So hopefully common sense will prevail and the whip will always be allowed to be carried by a jockey when riding in a race.

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A couple of races already at the main meeting of York.  Looking at the next couple of races I would not ignore the favourite’s.  Logician 3.00 has done little wrong in three starts.  He has to put in a personal best today, as his opponents are classy.  But this improving three year old looks the one to beat.  Of rivals, Constantinople has lots of talent, but is far from straightforward, he has as much talent as the favourite, but definitely saves a bit for himself, he is however a threat, if he is in the right mood, he will be hard to beat.  A bit later in the card is the  Juddmonte International Group 1.  I thought it was a good opportunity for Crystal Ocean to win, he probably prefers a bit further, the same applies to  Japan, he does, stablemate Circus Maximus could well be a bit of value each way at around 9/1.  He has solid form, and has won from 8f to today’s distance, I would not think that there will be much between the two Ballydoyle three year olds, over the 10f.

One horse that I was surprised to see get beat earlier today was Delta Dawn in the first race at Killarney.  I did not see the race, but as there was some support in the betting for Camorra this morning, it looks as though the winner has been showing plenty at home for the Ger Lyons yard.  He really has some useful horses this year, with leading juvenile Siskin being amongst them.

Hopefully some of my followers backed Sea The Sea at Bangor yesterday.  She was a clear winner by 9 lengths, as I mentioned yesterday, the tight track suits horses ridden forward, good jockeys can steal a length or two from the front, and the Mcain trained mare really wants to win.

Looking at today’s cards, at Yarmouth the maiden for 2 year old fillies at 5.25 looks like a decent  standard.  The front two in the betting market,  Amber Island and Festive Star ran really good debuts, that was at Newmarket in the same race.  Having finished so close together that day, looking at how they figure in the betting today, I think I would rather play the odds against on Festive Star than her rival, although she has to reverse previous form.

The ground at the Norfolk track should be almost perfect again  today.  It seems to have missed a lot of the rain, which has hit many parts of the UK over the last few days.

Good racing over the rest of the week, with the York meeting starting tomorrow.  The Ebor Handicap on Saturday is very competitive, with fantastic prize money on offer, it will take a horse with Listed/group class form to win.  Raheen House from the William Haggas yard has been running well this year, he is a horse with a bit of class, and has run well at the track previously.  He could have a decent each way chance.  He will need a bit of luck in running, as he tends to like to come from off the pace.