Todays ground at Doncaster has been riding on the soft side. Plenty of prize money on offer, and some really nice horses running at the meeting.
Just finished watching the 3.15 at Doncaster, the final Group 1 of the british flat season. Luxembourg stayed on well to win under Ryan Moore, he looks a really decent colt, already favourite for next years Derby at Epsom.

I did think Bayside Boy was a little unlucky in his run, he had to switch twice, and was staying on well to be third, only a nose behind the second Sissoko. I would think David Egan, rider of Bayside Boy will watch the replay a few times, as it was not his finest hour. A talented rider, who still has a fair bit to learn, as I thought he gave Mishriff a very average ride recently at Ascot.

I was really taken with Spirit Catcher on his debut, he won very well. He reverts to the all weather today 4.59 Chelmsford. He will be short odds, but I think he will be hard to beat.

Reflecting on the racing yesterday, particularly Ascot. The main race, won by Sealiway, very well ridden by Mickael Barzalona- he just managed to sit still for about half a furlong between the 3 furlong and 2 furlong pole, which enabled his mount to fill his lungs up with air, which proved vital at the business end of the race. I was surprised by the rides of William Buick and Tom Marquand on Adayar and Addeybb. They both went too quick in the early part of the race, and gave both horses very little chance of being able to finish.

Nevertheless it was good to see a french horse win, with Dubai Honour running a solid race to be second. Baaeed 2.35 was a game winner, he remains unbeaten and improving. Palace Pier lost nothing in defeat, he was a game second under Frankie Dettori.

At Longchamp today, the 4.00 is a really difficult race trying to work out the winner, three or four with really strong claims of victory. At Kempton 4.25, Gala de Corton is of interest. He was below par on his last two runs in bumpers last season, after a good first run, when a staying on third, that was in a bumper. Its his first run over hurdles today, having had a wind operation, he could be a bit of value at around 7/2.

More soon.

Plenty of racing left today. A typical Saturday, trying to find a winner or two is always hard, but on Saturday it is very difficult!

Not much time until the big Group 1 at Ascot at 3.50. A great line up with Mishriff, Adayar, Addeybb and a few more with a strong chance of winning. I do think Adayar has a lot too prove, a recent hard race 13 days ago, 7lb worse off with Mishriff and 2f less today, so for me Mishriff and Addeybb could be the ones to fight out the finish. Sunray Major 4.30 Ascot could still be ahead of the handicapper, he could be a winner for Frankie Dettori in the last race.

More soon.

Looking at the racing today, the meeting at Wolverhampton has a couple of potentially decent types in the 5.10. Toromona has been off the track for over a year, after a couple of decent efforts as a two year old, when second on both his runs. If he can overcome his draw, which is not ideal over todays trip of just over 1 mile, he should have enough in his locker to win. Nationwide has been supported in the betting markets, so he has shown he has talent, which you would hope, having cost connections £525,000 as a breeze up two year old last year, the biggest concern with him would be he has had a wind operation, wears a tongue tie for his debut and has stall 11 !

At Marseille-borely 11.20, Solid Spirit has shown enough to warrant favouritism, with the excellent Christophe Soumillon on top, he would be my idea of the winner, currently around 6/4, Dux looks the one too beat.

More soon.

Reflecting on the big race yesterday in France, the Prix d’l Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. A surprise winner in German raider Torquator Tasso, who stayed on strongly in the last furlong, enabling him to get the better of Tarnawa in second, a nose ahead of Hurricane Lane. I advised my subscribers Hurricane Lane as an each way bet about 12 days ago. He ran a very good race, slightly losing his good position as the field made the turn into the straight, but he had enough time when he saw daylight, around 2 furlongs out, to win- he was just not good enough on the day.

Adayar ran too free, and paid for his over exuberance in the latter stages of the race, a respectable fourth at the line, considering his preparation for the race did not run smooth, he ran a very good race.

Looking at todays racing. At Stratford 2.52, Galata Bridge has a decent chance of winning again, if a deluge of rain does not arrive. I thought he was given a pretty average ride on his hurdles debut, when a staying on second to London Eye. He won his next start at Plumpton easily, which was not a strong event, but you can only beat what is put in front of you.

If Sam Twiston Davies makes plenty of use of him today, i think he will be too strong for his opponents, ground permitting.

More soon.

After a good deal of rain falling overnight and this morning, at most racecourses. Finding winners will be even more difficult today. At Longchamp 12:23 Manobo lines up in a group 2 over 2 miles. He was a good winner last time over 12f, if he stays the extra 4f , which i believe he will- he should be hard to beat.

Looking at the track conditions today at Longchamp- should give a bit of guidance to the racing tomorrow, although the forecast is a good bit of rain arriving over Paris this afternoon or later today.

More later.