A good end to the year, Mobashr 1.15 Lingfield was advised to my subscribers at 100/30 yesterday afternoon. He was well supported in the betting, returning at 15/8 favourite. Another month of profit for this month, a few seconds narrowly beaten that could of made a lot of difference, but i cant complain.

Hopefully tomorrow’s cards go ahead, as a fair bit of rain around, and the ground looks pretty testing today at the turf meetings.

More soon.

A late post today. Good to get a winner for my subscription customers today. Galah 1.03 Doncaster was advised at 6/5 this morning. She returned at even money, and did well to win, as I thought she was given a lot too do by her jockey Mitch Bastiyan. He held her up at the back of the field, and after two flights jumped, I could see the leader and eventual second Pump It Up, had stolen a soft lead, and duly kept going when challenged by the winner going to the last flight, so it was a good effort to win.

Yesterday in Ireland at Leopardstown, the Grade 1 Chase at 2.20 was won by Galvin, who stayed on strongly under Davy Russell to win by a nose. I did think Rachel Blackmore was very loose in her “finish” on A Plus Tard, she had no contact with the horses mouth, as her reign’s flapped around, and for me it cost her the race. Horses do not go in a straight line, and wander, more so- when under maximum pressure, and it is the person on top, who has to do the best they can, to help their mount , they need to have them collected, and balanced in a race, at all times.

Recently former champion jockey, John Francome was interviewed about different aspects about racing, generally. When asked about the current crop of riders, he said a lot of them today were average, and not of the same standard as when he was riding, and he was right.
Not big fields tomorrow at Haydock, where the going will be very testing underfoot. At Taunton, where the ground will be good to soft, although showers are forecast. Brave Kingdom 1.15 looked a decent horse when winning at Chepstow on his first run for Paul Nicholls. If he can put his run at Sandown behind him 27 days ago, when a distant 3rd when short odds favourite, he will be tough to beat.
More soon.

Having just seen the 12.05 at Cheltenham, I think the majority of jockeys who rode in it, need to watch the race again. The winner Interne De Sivola was gifted the lead and the race !
He set very slow fractions under Chester Williams, who rode the other riders too sleep, possibly the best horse in it, but a lot of the horses behind him, where just ridden badly. A large number of todays jockeys seem to not ride the race to suit their horse, rather they ride the horse to suit the race ! Which is just bad judgement and poor race riding. I personally think we lack really top class jockeys these days, both flat and jumping. Too many ride ’one dimesional’ and I think Brian Hughes is way ahead of the rest, he is not afraid to change tactics, and will be champion jump rider again, barring accidents.

A typical Saturday, lots of difficult races to work out. Porticello was a good winner on his hurdles debut in the UK. He would be my choice in the 2.40 Doncaster, although King’s Salute will not make it easy for him.

I hope My Drogo 12.40 Cheltenham can get a win, he is by far the best horse in the race, and was really unfortunate to fall on his debut over fences, he looks a good thing.
More soon.

A good bit if rain around today. So it will be likely the ground at both jump meetings will be on the slower side. At Uttoxeter 3.30, Hidor de Bersey has a good chance of going one better than his decent second about a month ago at Carlisle. He was not able to match the strong finish of Nurse Susan that day when second. But she has won well since, and it was a credible run that day. Anyharminasking looks like the one to beat.

Southwell has a lot of runners, with a changed surface of Tapeta today, with the previous surface of fibresand being dispersed with. Yantari 7.00 has given ground away on his two runs so far, if he starts well he will take a bit of beating, as i thought James Doyle was at fault, when he got racing a bit too early on his latest run at Wolverhampton, when a decent third, considering he blew the start as well. It was a fair effort to be third, collared in the latter stages of that race. He would be my choice in the 7f race.

More soon.