Some really good racing today.  Lots of nice young horses running today at Sandown.  The 2.20 is a Novice Stakes race for two year olds over 1 mile.  Heaven Forfend has the best form on those who have been to the races.  He was a good second on debut, and then ran behind the best two year old in Europe at Ascot, running respectively that day, finishing 6th was no disgrace.  With Byzantine Empire also in the line up, and Never Alone another promising type, it will be a good race.  The 2.55 is a penalty kick for Palace Pier, he looked very useful when winning on his debut, jockey Frankie Dettori and trainer John Gosden could well win the 3.25 as well with Turgenev.  At Yarmouth Majaalis 4.50 has some headgear on today, in a race that looks winnable, he would be my choice.

At Worcester on Monday there was an incident in the final race, jockey Tom Bellamy received a suspension for deliberately pushing the horse Leighton Aspell was riding against the rail after jumping the third last hurdle.  The unwritten rule between jockeys is you don’t try and sneak through on the inside, if you do try and get through, you need to do it quickly and have a horse that is weakening immediately in front of you, a shout to the jockey, and they no they are going backwards, so will normally let you through.  I have looked at the footage, and think Bellamy was leaving a gap which was too inviting for Aspell, who had been on the inside for all of the race, Bellamy did not adopt the inside route up to the point where he decided to make his manoeuvre that caused Aspell to snatch his horse up. He had been about two horses off the rail, for lots of the race.  I think Bellamy deserved to get a ban, I’m sure the boys had a few words inside the weighing room after the race.