I watched the horses going to post earlier for the 5:40 Kempton.  Buffalo River the short priced favourite went freely to the start, his jockey was out of control for at least 3 furlongs, anyway he pulled up and went to the start.  After a Vet had taken a look he was allowed to take his chance, a bit surprised to see him line up, but he jumped out, made the running and won well ! Some trainers would of withdrawn, but this horse did something similar on debut, he was second that day, so obviously that was probably the reason he ran, it was the same jockey on each occasion.

Looking at the next few days weather forecast, rain is supposed to be around tomorrow, it is needed at some tracks, as the ground has dried again.  Hopefully not too much, as decent ground always sees better racing.

Looking at the Tattersalls yearling sales results yesterday.  A Galileo colt made 3.4 million , crazy money when you are uncertain what is under the bonnet ! No worry of what brexit will bring for his new owner, who I believe is Coolmore.  Another colt was bought as a foal for 135,000 in December, the son of Kingman went through yesterday and made 1 million, what a great bit of business for the Kilminfoyle House Stud who sold him, he is also heading back to Ireland to the Coolmore team.

Looking at today’s racing, some lively fields on the level, the main card today is at Ludlow over jumps, small fields as the ground is given as good to firm.  An 3 year old  Novice hurdle starts the day, all unraced over jumps, the best flat form of the field belongs to Shuhood, who is very short odds to make a winning start to his hurdling career. At Nottingham the fields are quite big, making it difficult to find a winner, Swindler looks to make it third time lucky in the 1:30, he has done little wrong in his two runs so far and must have a good chance.  In the 3:30 Tempus, who has been backed, is a very well related colt to numerous winners, hopefully he can make a winning debut.  At Kempton this evening racing gets underway at 5:40 pm, Buffalo River is odds on, I am not sure I would be tempted on backing him, he has been a bit disappointing for me, although it’s hard to pick his main threat.

Some competitive fields at the London track, the best race could be the last at 9:10, it looks hard when looking for the winner as the majority of the field have a chance of winning.

Late post today.  Fair bit of today’s racing has taken place.  A few surprise results, October is always a month to be cautious when betting, as I have mentioned many times.  Horses on the flat, can put in a poor run, it is just the time of year when weather change and a lot of racing takes its toll.  At Newcastle tonight it looks quite tricky.  Two nicely bred horses in the 5:45, Forest View and Marechal Ney, who are both lightly raced and look unexposed, both are potentially decent, Forewarning is another that has had only two runs on the level, although has ran in bumpers under National Hunt rules, he can be a threat at big odds.

The rest of the races look tough, I do like a horse in a later race, although it’s a very open handicap.

At least the ground on grass is still holding up, not sure how much rain is forecast for the rest of the week, big Newmarket meeting on Saturday, with the 2 miles 2f Cesarawich handicap, which looks as wide open as ever.

Todays racing on the level turf tracks at Windsor and Pontefract has ground that looks like being quite soft, a few tricky maiden races at both tracks,  some potentially nice horses running.  Fitness is key on soft ground, plus experience.  Some will be trying that sort of ground for the first time, a lot of horses training at home, are on the all weather surfaces.  I always find October one of the hardest, as I mentioned yesterday, lots of horses put in a moderate run at this time of year, that is horses that have had plenty of runs and are in need of a break.  So I try to look towards the two year old races more when trying to find one worth a bet.  I also like Kempton on the all weather for the two year olds, as a lot of good types start at the track.

Finding a winner today looks like the favs at Pontefract will be worth looking at, especially in the first race.  Gravistas has been running well and will handle the ground ok, he has also got De Sousa on top, who rides Pontefract well, as a rule.

Looking at the results in France yesterday.  Enable was a game winner of the Arc, she was reported to be not quite at her best after the race, but still won ! Waldgeist who I had a bit each way, just missed the frame in 4th, he ran a good race, just not good enough. Great for winning jockey Frankie Dettori to ride his 6th winner in the race, he really is a jockey for the big occasion.

Rain at most tracks yesterday and horses coming to the final few weeks of the flat season, saw a few unexpected results, having been racing since May, can take its toll.  Horses need a holiday or break from training, they go past their peak.  It is not until they race can you see that. A few did just that, they put in a below par performance.

I did think First Eleven (2:25) would be more than good enough at Ascot, but he never travelled well, and ran like a horse that was having one race too many.

Today is the big Arc De Triomphe meeting in France.  Enable has had a very light campaign, she comes here very fresh, she was injured in the early part of the season, her only race this season was a cosy win at Kempton.  She beat a very useful horse that day.  Her even money current price is a bit skinny for me, but she is the very likely winner.  Waldgeist is what I have had a small each way bet on, he has won his trial, rain would help, but hopefully he can be in the mix if it does not arrive.

Anodor ( 1.55 ) looked like a very good horse when winning last time.  He will take a lot of beating in the Group 1 for two year olds.  I think he can win for French trainer Freddy Head. Royal Marine looked useful at Newmarket, when he won his maiden.  Hopefully he can run well for Saeed Bin Suroor, as he is in need of a decent horse or two.

A lot of rain around at most tracks.  Looking at the big handicap races and large field races, trying to find one for an each way bet looks as tricky as ever.  I am going to put an each way tip at Newmarket in the 2:40 , Light and Dark is well regarded and will hopefully run well.

more later.

Late post today.  I did not get involved at Ascot today, it looked really tough trying to find one that stood out, to be honest I was tempted to back Mekong, he was a good second.  The winner Ghostwatch has done everything right on the track since being gelded, he really battles when under pressure.

A few interesting races tonight at Wolverhampton and Dundalk. A lot of market support for Great Beyond 7:45 at Wolverhampton, he bolted up on his only all weather previous run, if I was having a bet in it, Grooveman at 11/2 is more appealing each way.  I will try to put an each way bet on tomorrow, something with value.  Some great racing, the big race on Sunday the Arc in which Enable is a short priced favourite, looks set for decent ground.  She must be hard to beat, at evens I am watching, Waldgeist needs a drop of rain, he is 13/2 now, he was 10/1 earlier in the week when I mentioned him as my each way interest bet.

A few withdrawn at Warwick today, with the 3:15 now a walk over for Desirable Court.  A bit of compensation for the owner Craig Buckingham , who had the inconvenience of travelling to Nottingham yesterday, and find his horse withdrawn by the starter, who made a mistake when another runner caused problems in the stalls, both were non starters , as the stewards did not allow Magic Pulse to run, the starter apparently informed the weighing room the wrong horse number,and was still not allowed to run when authorities realised the administrative error !

Todays other race meetings have a lot of competitive racing, although depleted fields at Warwick.  A couple of interesting races at Chelmsford City tonight.  The 6:15 is for fillies over 7f,  Quasar ran well on her first run, she could be the one to beat.

At this time of year the 3 year old and upwards maidens are sometimes pretty weak. The 2:20 and 2:55 look average, unless one of the unraced ones are decent, they will be not be hard to win.

Good luck with having a bet.

The last meeting of the season for Salisbury today.  Good conditions for racing,  finding winners is not easy , but notebooks are a must, as lots of maiden races that will throw up future winners.  Bangor has some okay fields,  Lovato carries top weight in the handicap hurdle at 4:30pm.  He ran a really good race last time at Stratford, it will not take much improvement to go one better today, he has a favourites chance.

At Nottingham the card starts at 1:30.  A few nice types over the minimum trip of 5f, it looks a race where experience may be of use, a fair amount of cash around for the unraced Exalted Angel, he has a good pedigree.

Weekend racing:

The dry forecast over the next few days including in France for the weekend big meeting may be more advantageous to filly Enable who is currently 5/4 for the Arc De Triopmhe on Sunday, she will be trying to win it for the second time.  I will not be backing against her, if any rain does arrive, it would help the chances of Waldgeist, he is around 10/1, but he is a horse who does like a bit of juice underfoot.

Another good Winner yesterday for my subscribers.  I advised Qaroun 7.45 Kempton at 11/2 yesterday, he was heavily backed into 7/2 before winning under a good ride from Andrea Atzeni.  I have been watching a bit of todays racing.  Not had a bet as yet, one I quite like at Southwell, the card at Kempton looks very difficult tonight.

I see that Donacha O’Brian has more or less given up on breaking older brother Joseph’s win record of 126 when he was champion jockey in Ireland.  He has just got to a 100, some feat for a rider who struggles with his weight, as did Joseph.  Not sure that he will ride on the flat much longer, and he has no desire to ride over jumps, so it won’t last for many years.

More later.