Having just watched the first race at Newton Abbot, where the eventual winner Stepney Causeway was left at the start by over 25 Lengths, yet managed to get up on the run-in and win by about a head. It was a good ride by Harry Reed as he did not rush his horse in the early part of the race and just crept into a slowly run affair. The ride on the runner-up Valentino Dancer who was odds on to win was less inspiring. As far as I know, Paddy Brennan is qualified as a jockey coach. He is one of the most untidy riders in the weighing room and does plenty wrong himself, especially in a finish. He is decent over an obstacle and presenting his horses at a jump but I am baffled as to why someone as ‘messy’ in a finish can teach young riders. He has no contact with the horse’s mouth, his reigns are dangling, and he is a complete shambles at the business end of a race as I see it. One thing I was taught and it is vital in a finish, if you have the horse balanced and collected, they will run in as straight a line as possible to the winning post. If you have no contact with the horse’s mouth and are riding like Paddy does, they wander off a straight line, and lose momentum and give ground away- it’s that simple. I think Paddy needs coaching himself.

On to the rest of today. At Dax this evening in France 5.52, I like Messina who is around 9/4 with most firms. She won in Madrid on debut and then ran second. Her latest effort was in Listed company where she was fifth, and was not beaten very far. This is much calmer waters and the favourite Sparkling Light looked too keen last time and did not finish her race off. I think Messina is a bit of value and can get the job done.