Pleased to find a good winner for my subscribers yesterday. I advised backing Volkan Star for yesterday’s 3.15 Newmarket- ante post on Thursday, at 7/4, he returned at 5/6, so a nice bit of value found. I did think it was tough going today, so not had a bet yet, finding winners is never easy.

Looking ahead to next weekend, the Derby looks a real head scratcher this year. The 2,000 guineas winner Kameko is around 4/1, he has possible stamina concerns, he gets the mile very well, but an extra 4f is a big question. No doubt he has a lot of class, and if he gets the trip well, he is the one to beat. But English King is a strong stayer, lightly raced, has now the asset of Frankie Dettori on top, so he would be my slight preference, in a race where you can make a case for a few other, particularly Pyledriver and Russian Emporer.

More tomorrow.

With warm conditions the ground is drying out. Quite a few horses have been taken out today.

At Haydock the ground should be good – good to firm in places. I think Returnofthemac could well win again 2.45. He likes to get on with things, and I expect him to be ridden with the leaders, if not making the running, he could have most to fear from well handicapped Nat Love, who has Richard Kingscote on top, who rides this track really well.

The Thebian 5.25 Leicester has a solid chance of getting off the mark, he drops to 6f and ran ok last time over 7f, behind two fairly useful types.

More later.

A late post today. Royal Ascot was very tough trying to pick the correct horse to back. I am not a massive fan of odds on shots, especially when everything looks against them. Stradavarious was a very easy winner, on ground that was not considered ideal, yet it was his easiest of his three Gold cup wins.

I did back Wichita today, although he got beat it was a good run again. The winner Palace Pier was given a great ride by Frankie Dettori, who is worth 5lb at the track. He just seems to know exactly when to make his move, and in the St James Palace Stakes, he galvanized his horse to collar the Godolphin trained Pinatubo close to the finish.

One horse I have had an interest bet on in the 8.40 Ripon is Dark Heart. He ran way out of his league last time, in a Derby trial, won by the horse I think will win the Derby. So a big drop to a handicap, this horse ran in a maiden at Lingfield back in February, I was at the races that day. He veered right on passing the stands, and lost all chance of winning, but I did make a note of him that day as one to follow, as he is a big strong horse, who will improve. If he handles the undulations of Ripon, he has a live chance tonight, as his 10 stone will not inconvenience, this big unit.

It has been pretty tough week trying to back winners at Ascot. And today looks just as hard, the biggest issue is everything is trying for its life !

With the rain we had yesterday, the ground will ride on the softer side, and scattered showers are forecast. So looking for horses with form on easy ground is advisable. Art Power will handle the ground, and I backed this horse when he won at Newcastle over 6f, the drop in trip today is no issue, the biggest worry is his stable runners are running poorly, and for that reason I am avoiding him. Maystar at 12/1 each way is my choice, he has run over various trips, will handle the ground, and has the option of racing in the centre of the course, where it looked best yesterday, he is in stall 9, so options are up to his rider. Hopefully we don’t get a downpour and the ground does not get very soft. Eye Of Heaven looked very smart when winning on debut, he could well be a smart colt, and could get a result for favourite backers in the 2.25 over the minimum trip.

A winner yesterday advised to followers, Electric Mistress managed to get a dead heat in the 4.20 Thirsk.

Today’s Royal Ascot card is pretty much as was yesterday, difficult !

I do think Juan Elcano 1.50 is value in the betting, he is around 7/2 with a few firms, he comes here with a really good run last time. It was in a group 1, the biggest concern would be it was only 11 days ago, but if you look closely at the rest of the horses lining up, they all come here after a very recent run, the rain will not be an issue, and I believe the extra 2f will be of no issue, as he is out of a Daylami mare, and lots of stamina. Japan 3.00 is another I like, he looked like a really honest horse when winning over 10f at York last season, and although he comes here without a run, his master trainer will have him ready.

Hopefully we don’t get a downpour of rain that may change the current ground conditions, which are good ( good to soft in places).

Two races already at Royal Ascot, with the last race just going to Circus Maximus for the Ballydoyle team. I mentioned on my post yesterday that they are worth following all week.

In the 2.25 I have had a few quid each way at big odds on West End Girl, she is up against it, as Miss Yoda beat her last time, and so did Golden Lips, who both are up against her again. It is interesting to see Frankie Dettori has chose to ride Frankly Darling. At Thirsk 4.20 Electric Mistress was a good second on debut, she could step forward and be the one to beat, well drawn and her stable runners are in good form.

More later.

A good winner yesterday for my subscribers. Mare Australis 5.10 Chantilly was advised yesterday at 9/4, heavily supported in the betting into around 4/5, before getting up in the shadows of the finish line to win. His jockey Pierre Charles Boudot is riding as well as any jockey at the moment. I think he is the best jockey in France, he has so much confidence, although riding for Andre Fabre helps a lot, as every race you have a good chance of getting in the money.

Today’s cards in the UK look a typical “Monday puzzle” with a few I like, I’m just waiting on a few market moves, there is one race at Pontefract that could well be worth watching closely at 1.20. Meraas tries grass for the first time, this horse has the breeding to suggest he will be fine on it. What is clear is this event will be ran at real pace, which could possibly suit a horse ridden with a little bit of patience, so finding the winner is very difficult. If Meraas does get to dictate and is not hassled for the lead, he will be tough to pass, although Pontefract is a really stiff track, and you need to get every yard of the trip to get home.

More later.

A fair amount of the racing is already over today. Interesting to see a very well bred maiden filly running at Newmarket in the 5.00 race. Do You Love Me was 3.2 million Euros as a yearling, so connections will be hoping she can get off the mark today, to be honest, if she is any good-this is a moderate looking maiden, so it will not take a superstar to win it.

Royal Ascot next week, so I am looking forward to the week ahead, some really good horses racing all week, it is always hard finding winners, follow the Ballydoyle team is always advised!

A good winner for my subscribers yesterday at Yarmouth 7.30. I advised backing Man Of Promise, who drifted to 6/4 from very early odds of 4/6 yesterday morning, the drift was due to the rain, but it did not stop him getting the better of a close finish with Cold Front, who clearly likes ground with a bit of ease in it, the winner is not over big, but he has one thing, plenty of courage.

Lots of rain around, so a bit of caution in betting today, unless you know your horse likes ground with some ease in it. Plenty of racing to go at, with a fairly early start at 12.00 on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton, Hot Scoop will try to get punters off to a good start under Silvestre De Sousa. He ran well on debut last week, although no match for an easy winner that day, it was a run with promise, he is well drawn today, and should be good enough, although a few unraced newcomers could be useful, so watching the betting for clues is priority.

At Newbury this evening in the final race at 9.00, I thought Tuscan Gaze was a bit over priced at 9/2, as he won well last year on debut, and his breeding and size of him leads you to think that all he can do is improve for having just the one run last season, so he is interesting.

Big day in Ireland at the Curragh, with the Irish 2,000 Guineas at 6.40. Finding the one to back is tough, I am watching this race, as I believe it is wide open.

Good card at Newbury today, also Yarmouth, Lingfield, and Gowran Park in Ireland. Newbury going should be about perfect if the rain stays away.

At Newbury I do think Aweemaweh did win ok last season on the all weather. He finished his race off well that day, off a strong pace, so the straight 6f today should be ideal, as on a straight track, you need to get the trip well, especially at a track like Newbury. He is one I like.

At Lingfield Dromara King 6.45 has done little wrong, placed in all his starts, he could get a win for his decent claiming rider Finley Marsh, who deserves more chances, he is down to a 3lb claim now, and it is vital he starts to make outside contacts in what could be his last season with a claim, it is so tough when you lose your claim.

I may well update later.