A few big priced winners yesterday at many meetings.  Franny Norton was the man to follow at Chester, he bagged a three timer.  He is a very good rider, nobody rides Chester as well as him, he has been tactically brilliant for a few seasons at the tight track.

Chester is so unique, a lot of horses find the turns very difficult, it helps if you have a horse that is a strong traveller.  I was lucky enough to ride a winner at Chester for Denys Smith as an apprentice, it was quite a few years ago.  My old guvnor Denys  was a very good man to ride for, he never put pressure on you, orders were usually similar- on whatever you rode, he liked his horses to be ridden fairly close to the pace.  He was a good trainer of Flat horses or Jumpers.

He was a good trainer of jockeys as well.  When I was apprenticed to him we had Alan Dickman, Chris Grant, Andrew Stringer all riding the jumpers, all very good riders, and Pat Kelleher as senior jockey on the flat, with Robert Sidebottom, Chris Olivier, Paul Sedgwick and myself, all apprentices trying to get rides on the flat, competition was strong !

Racing has changed so much, Richard Hughes wrote an excellent article in the Racing Post last Saturday.  He said how hard it was for trainers currently trying to manage staff, and also keep staff on a full time basis.

I recently visited Newmarket, I was on the Heath watching the horses training,  and was shocked by some of the staff riding out, a lot of good riders riding, but a lot of very poor riders as well.  I think something has to be done with the racing schools. I am not totally sure of how long school leavers attend the British racing school in Newmarket when they join, it used to be around six weeks.  But you don’t scratch the surface in that amount of time, the problem is youngsters do the six weeks, and start work in one of the racing stables, and think they can do the job.  I am not sure what the answer is to make a positive adjustment, but 6 months rather than 6 weeks may be a starting point !

Another Saturday that looks very difficult ! Racing is oso competitive today, as expected. I like to try and give a free selection on Saturday’s, something with a little bit of value in one of the handicaps.

Todays free selection is as follows:

Horse: Citron Major

Time: 3:35 York

Current Odds: 9/1 ew

Worth a few of the hard earned cash each way.  Track bias at York in sprints can be crucial.  It is always advantageous to come from where the pace is generous, when riding a horse that is a tad keen, especially over 6f, and likes to finish off its race strong, Citron Major fits the ‘finisher’ profile.  This is a strong race, numerous horses with chances, I just think my selection is improving, plus a good 3lb claimer riding.  Of rivals, Staxton has had a run, that was 59 days ago, his stable are flying now, so he can be in the mix, Bengali Boys has top weight, he is another with a good claimer on.  I feel old when I see the name Sebastian Woods, he is the son of Wendyl Woods, who was a good flat jockey, his uncle Sean was riding when I was, good guy who rode plenty of winners, and was a very successful trainer in the U.K. and Hong Kong.

Update:

I am just trying to watch a little bit of the Uruguay v Egypt match, the Uruguay team have some really strong players, Salah on the bench. Could be a tough day for Egypt.

Looking at the Sandown card, Ryan Moore has some good rides, he may well have a good day.  Strong mounts in the handicap races, Aclimatise and Eyecatcher may take some stopping today.  Eyecatcher could be hard to beat 5:25, he has some headgear today to help him focus.

A good double advised yesterday for my subscribers.  Zain City was an easy winner at Nottingham 2:10 in the hands of Sylvester De Sousa, and Linganno Felice just managed to get back up on the run in, after being headed going to the second last flight, but went on to win at Uttoxeter (7:15).   He did not seem to jump with his usual fluency, not sure why- maybe he prefers going right handed.   My wife was screaming the horse home in the living room, she did not go to the races last night, her dad was there, he was really pleased with the win.  He told me he got presented with the owners trophy by Andrew Thornton.

Trainer Iain Jardine had another winner last night in the last race.  With a nice bumper mare.  Iain is a really good man, and can certainly train a horse.  He is a real grafter, and his young jockey, who rode both winners last night- Ross Chapman is excellent value for his 3lb claim, he rides very well, and could go right to the top.

I will update later, hopefully I may be able to advise followers a horse that has a good chance of winning at one of today’s cards.

Another good winner yesterday.  Swiss Knight won at Haydock- he drifted from evens- 7/4 , But he didn’t know that ! He won well, really pleased with my new service.  Currently 9 WINNERS from 12! Had some nice messages from people who have joined, it’s always good when giving some stick to the bookies !

Hopefully Linganno Felice can win again at Uttoxeter 7:15.  My father in law is travelling to the track, he will go on good to firm, but as he is useful, with lots of potential- he will jump a fence, he will only run if the ground is safe.  My wife is not going to see him run today, she will be watching, nervously tonight ! It will be nice if he can win again for them both, but the main priority is both horse and jockey get round safe.

8 WINNERS from 11 bets advised to my subscribers ! Burgonet won yesterday at 6/4 at Salisbury.  Given a good ride by Franny Norton, who is like a good wine, he gets better as he gets older.  Today looks quite trappy, with the dry weather conditions forecast, a lot of racecourses are now watering to try and keep the ground safe, June-August if dry, can be tough on horses if the ground is too quick, horses can get jarred up ! (Usually in their shoulders) or sore shins, normally shin problems are common with the two year olds, as they are not fully mature.

On a different subject, I hope England can do well in the World Cup.  If they get to the last 16 it would be viewed as an ok tournament, with a bit of luck I think we could be quarter finalist”s !

More tomorrow.

Just watched the first race at Salisbury.  One of the biggest problems when horses are  in the starting stalls for a while, (over a minute) especially two year olds, they become tense and can get upset.  It is very claustrophobic when you are in the stalls, for both horse and jockey.  But I just saw two horses get upset in the 2:00 race,  both reared up, they were drawn next to each other, so highly likely they set each other off !

My view is that when this happens, horses should be withdrawn.   It’s unfair to connections and punters, you are beat before the race has even started.

More tomorrow.

Late blog today.  Good to see some sunshine in the UK.  Hopefully the rain stays away and we get some summer ground at most of the racecourses.

I see an incident at happened at Goodwood yesterday, in the weighing room.  Jim Crowley and Raul De Silva seem to have fallen out with each other, resulting in De Silva being banned for 21 days, for striking Crowley in the face !

To be very honest, it does happen a fair bit, heated arguments, usually after a race.  I have seen a few incidents that have ended up with two jockeys fighting.  I recall Jimmy Duggan and Gary Moore (trainer now) having a good go at each other, after something had happened in a race at Plumpton.  It was over in a flash, both of them were laughing and joking about it the next day.  I’m sure Crowley and De Silva will of shook hands and try to forget about yesterday.

Windsor card this evening looks very tricky, hard to find a winner as I see it.  Flying Sparkle 6:50 was a good winner last time out, she could probably win again, her biggest obstacle could be stall 9 ! The draw at Windsor is important over 6f, you want to be drawn low. So at short odds, I will be observing the race only.

7  WINNERS from last 10 bets  advised .  A good winner for my subscribers yesterday.  God Given , who I advised to back won at 9/4 , at Haydock.  I have to admit I am not the biggest fan of her rider Jamie Spencer.  No question about his riding ability, he is a good jockey.  I just think he rides the majority of horses the same way, although yesterday he rode an excellent race on God Given, he was very strong in the finish. I am waiting for two horses next week, both will win, if you follow and don’t subscribe to my advisory service you are MISSING making the bookies suffer !

I did not wait up last night, to watch Justify win at Belmont Park.  Great to see he completed the Triple Crown , with last nights cosy win in the Belmont Stakes. He is a very good horse, and still unbeaten.

My Free tip yesterday Byron Flyer was hampered by the fall of Addicted To You, as a consequence of the interference, Byron Flyer’s metal clip off his plate(racing shoes) became wedged in his foot, it was good to see Ryan Moore realise in the latter stages of the race that something was amiss with his horse, and eased him up-hopefully he will be ok.

On a more important issue, Harry Bentley who was down on the turf for quite a while after being dislodged by Addicted To You was ‘sore’ but should be ok.  He did not ride again again yesterday, after the fall.

Numerous meetings today all over the UK, plus the Curragh in Ireland.

It is always very difficult to try and find a winner on any Saturday, today is no different.  The handicap races offer good prize money at most Saturday cards-making it harder to win one, competition is very tough !

I try and give followers a free tip on a Saturday, that is reasonable odds.

Byron Flyer competes in a tough handicap- 3:40 Newmarket.  He has a good each way chance.  He has consistent form, and Ryan Moore riding-lots of positives !

The big race this evening in America is the Belmont Stakes.  Justify is trying to win and be a Triple Crown winner, hopefully he can do it.