It was sad to see the Queen’s horse Invictus Spirit fatally injured yesterday, after winning the 4.05 Chester.  The race he won was set up for him by Mayne and Two Bids, who took each other on in the first 4f of the race, both horses early fractions covering the first 5 and a half furlongs in 1 minute. 03.89, which is far too quick.  Paul Hanagan who rode Two Bids, seemed adamant that he was going to make the running, and chased his horse up to try and get the lead in the early stages of the race, David Probert was trying to get his horse Mayne to relax, but had no hope when hassled by Hanagan, who was riding a very strange race.   Invictus Spirit, ridden patiently, picked off the tiring Mayne in the latter stages to score by about 2 Lengths.  Shortly after passing the line, he took a “bad step” and was fatally injured.

Today has some really good races.  The main race is at Doncaster.  The William Hill St Leger Stakes, a Group 1 for 3 year old colts and fillies. Proven stamina is required for this race, ran over 14f and 115 yards.  Unbeaten Logician has everything in his favour as I see it, he will cope ok with the quick ground, stays well, and has the right man on top in Frankie Dettori.  He is short priced favourite, probably because of the ground, which will ride on the fast side, If the ground was on the easy side, Sir Dragonet would be a real threat, and would be closer in price.   He is coming of a disappointing effort, although that was over 10f, which is on the sharp side,  but prior to that his form was really good.  He ran well in the Derby, having looked like winning, until just getting ran out of it in the last furlong, finishing a close fifth, on what was only his third run.  That is good form.  Both him and the favourite Logician did not race at two.  So are still relatively unexposed, and likely improvers, Donacha O’Brian, who rides Sir Dragonet was very bullish about his horses chance when interviewed yesterday. So it should be a good race.

More later.

One race down at Chester, where the ground looks on slow side of good.  I thought Conundrum 3.00 had a decent chance, he drops back to 10f, having not quite getting home over 12f on his last two runs.  He has ran well at the track, which is always a plus having experienced the tight turns.  He likes to bowl along at the front end, and with only Torochina being the other confirmed front runner, who steps up 3f in trip, my selection way get his own way in front.  At Doncaster Saroog 2.40 looks to have found a decent opportunity, he is improving and comes here full of confidence, having won his last two. Sprinter,  A’Ali 3.45 looked very good over 5f, prior to his ok run over 6f.  The drop back in trip to 5f today should be ideal, his first try racing on a faster surface, he has raced with cut in the ground so far,  if he handles the fast ground ok, he is the one to beat.

It looks like being quick ground tomorrow for the final 3 year old ‘‘classic”,  ground that will very likely not be ideal for Sir Dragonet.

More tomorrow.

He Only two races left at Chelmsford this evening.  The last race just ran at 7.20  was won by Royal Birth, who was given a soft lead over the 5f race.  His young rider Marco Ghiani managed to ride an astute race to win, as it was virtually impossible for his rivals to win, as they gifted the race to the apprentice rider.  It’s hard to win from behind off slow fractions, as the horses ridden prominently, especially the horse making the running have a massive advantage, as was the case here. It amazes me how some jockeys on horses that like to come from behind, ride the same race, no matter what the pace of the race is being ran at.  The favourite Harry’s Bar was given a mountain to climb by his jockey George Wood, it hasn’t been George’s night, as he didn’t shine on Silver Samurai 5.50, as I think he should of won as well.

A lot of analysis about the St Leger on the Racing channels today.  The final classic for three year olds on Saturday at Doncaster looks between Logician and Sir Dragonet.  The unbeaten Logician heads the betting, and deserves to be at the head of the market, he has improved with every run so far, and I think he will be hard to beat.  If I was looking for something to back each way, Technician At 12/1 would be my choice.

More tomorrow.

Doncaster starts today at 1.50, with the opener for two year olds over 6f.  Lazuli has a good chance of getting another win in this 6f event.  I was going to oppose him with the withdrawn Lampang, but with him out, it should be pretty much straightforward.  The 3.00 sprint over the minimum trip, has only 7 runners, a Listed event that looks a good opportunity for Tis Marvellous.

The 3.35 is for former jockeys, flat and jump.  Some decent ex jockeys riding, with Kieran Fallon, Timmy Murphy and Noel Fehily probably being the most successful when race riding, Fallon is the only former Champion amongst them.  Victoria Smith rides Sands Chorus, formerly known as Vince Smith ! The first transgender to ride under rules I believe.  I know Victoria well, as we were both based in Newmarket when riding.  Good luck to him/her and the rest of them today, as I know the majority are riding for some sort of charity.  I may put an updated message on later today, with some information on a few at Kempton tonight.

A late post today.  I did not get involved having a bet.  Just been looking at the Kelso racing, the 6.40 just won by Winding Roe under Brian Hughes, making all the running and seeing off his only danger Charming Dream, who was ridden by amateur rider Mr A Anderson.  After about 4 flights I could see the end result, Hughes was dictating matters in front, and the rider in second was trying to get his horse relaxed in behind.  With Charming Dream not wanting to switch off, his rider should of let his mount try and relax in front, but I guess his rider has had little experience, hopefully Rebecca Menzies will sit down and go through his ride, with him tomorrow, as he made a fair few errors.

Looking ahead to the rest of the week, Doncaster main meeting of the year starts tomorrow.  With the St Leger the main Group 1 race on Saturday.  Some nice horses on show this week, hopefully I can find a few winners.

The big race in France yesterday ended with a photo finish, going the way of Circus Maximus.  My selection Romanised was a nose away in second.  But the biggest question was should Romanised of got the race, he was clearly impeded by the winner inside the last furlong, and with the winning margin being so close, I thought he was certain to get it.  Today has revealed that the connections of Romanised will lodge an appeal, so we shall see what happens.

Rain has fallen over many areas in the UK, watching Sky Sports racing just now, it looks as though Newton Abbot has missed it, and Brighton has missed it as well, although it is overcast and possible showers are forecast.  Perth is good to firm , Listowel is soft, and we have all weather racing at Wolverhampton tonight.  Finding something to back looks pretty tricky, I did think Sandy Steve 3.20 Brighton could defy short odds to win.  The 2.15 looks a good opportunity for Dontaskmeagain to win on debut, it doesn’t look a tough race.  Tony Carroll is the trainer to follow at the Sussex track, he has 8 runners, and could well saddle a winner or two.

A good winner for my subscribers yesterday.  Dramatic Sands 3.50 Kempton was advised to back (without the favourite)  at 13/8, and was an outright winner by a neck, it was a good result.  Despite tending to hang left, he was put right by rider Hollie Doyle, she is the best female rider on the flat riding in the UK for me, and gets plenty of winners for the Archie Watson yard.

Today has some decent racing in France.  A group 1 at 2.50 Longchamp, well contested by horses from Ireland, England and France.  Romanised is the likely favourite to win.  He did little wrong when winning a Group 1 on his last run. He is the one to beat.  Line Of Duty was third to him that day, running on well, he can run well again, and could be even more effective when he steps up in trip.

At York 4.30 The Night Watch could give young leading apprentice Cieran Fallon another winner, I hope that he rides this horse well forward, as I am not sure being ridden from off the pace suits this horse.

More Later.

Delighted to get a winner yesterday for my subscriber’s.  Kheros 5.40 Kempton, drifted in the betting market, from 11/8 in the morning, out to his staring price of 9/4.  The result never looked in doubt, making most of the running, he drew clear in the later stages of the race to win well, under his young apprentice rider.

This is a later post today.  With not long before the 3.55 Ascot, Baasem has a good chance of winning this, he has gone up a fair bit in the weights for a facile win last time.  But this well bred gelding could of been a bit of a slow burner, he has to improve to win, as this is a good race, Cirque Royal is another with a similar profile, and he could well be a smart horse.  He is coming from a long period away from the racecourse,I’m guessing he has had a slight setback,  and this is his first time on grass. On breeding he should have no issues with the switch to turf.

More later.

Soft ground at Haydock.  So looking for horses that like give in the ground is a must.  At Ascot the ground looks decent, Lord North 4.10 has been gelded since his last run. That was at Listed level, where he had no room in the latter stages of the race.  He is a bit tricky in the stalls, hence the reason why Rab Havlin rides, I think he will be very competitive, it is a decent race, but the three year old looks like he could have a good chance of winning this.  A couple of interest at Kempton tonight,  Land of Oz should get back in the winning groove again at 7.10.  He has been improving all season.

I will try and give a good each way bet tomorrow, hopefully at decent odds.

With only a few races left tonight at Chelmsford.  The last race at 8.45 is over two miles.  Kensington Art travels a long way from Malton in Yorshire.  A wide margin winner on his latest run at Catterick over 14f.  This gelding is improving, and I think he should not have too many problems with his first try on the all weather, he would be my idea of the one to beat.  His main rival is Barca, who won a shade cosy on his last visit to the track, he is American bred, and likes the surface, which makes him a serious rival.  I just thought the improving three year old, having got an easy win last time, will have improved for that just that bit more than Barca.  Hot favourite Dubai Warrior was a very short odds loser at 7.15, he was not overly impressive when he won at Kempton last month, a big horse who is lightly raced, he can only improve.  He must of been hard to train, as he has only had three runs, his main issue is possibly himself, he gets very sweaty before his races, I would not be backing him at very cramped odds myself.