Back from a well deserved break. I always think from the end of August until the end of the turf season on the flat, it’s even more difficult than ever when trying to find a winner. So I took a bit of time away.
But some really top class races at todays meeting at Newmarket, where they had a good amount of rain on Friday morning before racing, making the ground on the slower side of good. Both tracks at Newmarket drain very well, as it is chalk based.
Mystic Pearl 4.50 Newmarket won by a small margin last time at Thirsk, she beat a horse I had backed that day, who was a tad unlucky not to win, but with a good bit of improvement likely for this filly, I think she has a good each way chance, in what looks a competitive fillies nursery, she is around 5/1 with most firms.
Flying Honours 1.50 at Newmarket should get favourite backers off to a good start, he is improving with racing, and should win.
The Juddmonte Midle Park Stakes (Group 1) over 6 furlongs is always a good guide to possibly next years top flight sprinters, and possibly the top class races over a mile. This year It looks a very open race, Blackbeard has been ultra consistent, and keeps winning. He tends to get quite on edge at the start, so if he looks ‘wired’ at the start, do not be too worried, it’s just how he is. He is one I do not expect to be racing beyond 6-7f next year, as he has lots of early speed, and looks a mature two year old, he is also a real smart horse. I am unlikely to have a bet in the race as it’s very hard to pick one that is a stand out.
Marshman, Mischief Magic, Persian Force and the least experienced Zoology are all in it with a chance of winning, a good race to watch. At Haydock, where showers are forecast, Onslow Gardens 3.50 looks the best horse on form, he will be hard to beat, although a lot of these are unraced, and could be useful.
More soon.

Reflecting on the racing yesterday. It was a very good day for William Buick, he rode 5 winners at Goodwood. I thought his rides on Fairy Cross and Jadoomi showed him at his best. He stole the race on Fairy Cross in the 1.50- setting calm fractions in the early part of the 7 furlong event, and kicking at the right time inside the latter stages of the race, to seal victory.
I thought Bright Diamond, who was third, was one to take out of the race as an unlucky loser, she was slowly away, and trapped out wide for most of the race, and ran on well in the last two furlongs, to be under two lengths behind the winner, who was value for a bit more, as Buick eased her the last couple of strides.
The Jadoomi ride, in the 3.35 was a really good one. He stumbled leaving the stalls, and was trapped a little bit wider than ideal, but Buick did not panic, and having been always in the first two, he took on his stable mate Finest Sound from inside the final 3 furlongs. Both horses dug deep, and tried hard to win, for me it was when Buick switched his whip, from his left to his right hand, that his mount found that bit extra, to get up close home, and win by a neck. It was Buick at his best.
At Windsor last night, I thought one of the unluckiest losers of the night was Grocer Jack in the 6.35. Tom Marquand needs to have a good look at his ride on him, as I thought it was poor at best. I like Marquand as a rider, but currently he is making a number of mistakes. Hopefully he will learn from them, as he went far too fast with the other front runner Majestic Dawn over the first 3 furlongs,and his horse Grocer Jack did really well to finish second. Three furlongs from the winning post, Majestic Dawn folded, leaving Grocer Jack in front- to my surprise Marquand went for home, if he had sat still for about 100 yards, I think his horse would of won, in the end he was only beaten a neck, by Regal Reality, who was given a good ride by Richard Kigscote.
More later.

After a nice break. Hopefully I can find a winner or two before the end of the month. I did like one in the 1.00 at Chelmsford today. But a below par effort for her, Peace Of Mine finished 5th, having set the early pace, she did not finish her race off as expected, and faded into 5th in the last furlong.
I do like a horse in France at Deauville. Cognac has drifted to 9/2 from around 3/1, he runs in the 3.40 race. He was a closing second at Saint Cloud over the extended 7f on his last run, he can out run his price, as the two at the head of the market, have promise, but I do not think either of them looked especially great on debuts.
More later.

Two good winners advised yesterday. Good Guess looks a useful prospect and Shimmering Sands who bolted up by 6 lengths at Beverley 5.10, will likely get a steep rise in the weights, so I would not be surprised to see him out again under a penalty very soon.

Today I do think Noya 7.50 Yarmouth will be more suited to the 6f than her two rivals, Spangled Mac is around 8/11 currently, with my choice a 2/1 shot. Value is essential when having a bet, and I think she has a shade of value at 2/1. Later at the seaside venue, Love Trophy Power tries handicap company for the first time at 8.50. She was a game winner over 6f at Windsor 17 days ago, and although she has top weight, she will be hard to beat. The drop back to 5f does not over concern me, as she has plenty of speed, and could have more improvement to come, which does not apply to a few of her rivals. I think River Of Stars 6.30 Lingfield, might be too good for her main threat Dignified, who is ridden by Frankie Dettori.

More soon.

A couple of horses worth a bet today.

Good Guess 12:48 Chantilly, should defy his penalty for his win, he could well make all the running.

At Beverley 5:10 the unlucky Shimmering Sands could get his head in front, he probably would of won last time if he got a better split when making his run, staying on well to get second that day, he is far from exposed.

More soon.

With drying ground, the evening meeting at Windsor should have quick ground. Tarlo 5.35 was a good second last time to Kinta, who has won again since, so the form is good. At 8/1 he is over priced, I have backed him each way, as he ran first time out on grass, and ran ok, a few unexposed rivals, the favourite looked far from straightforward on debut, so I think my selection is value.

At Wolverhampton 7.25 is a trappy race, the one I prefer is Maktoob, who is around 100/30, he is a winner at the track, having ran well last time, behind a useful horse-who is rated 94. So if he runs to his rating of 88, I think he might well be good enough to win.

More soon.

It was a good couple of days for jockey Rob Hornby. He rode two Group 1 winners at Newmarket, the second one yesterday for his former boss Andrew Balding, the mare Alcohol Free winning the July Cup over 6f. Hornby has conducted himself well, after losing the winning ride on Westover in the Irish Derby.

Today has good racing in France, the Deauville card starts at 12:23 with a 5f listed race for two year olds. Malrescia who is trained in England , looks the one to beat, she should have no problem with the drop to 5f , having won over the trip previously.

I like Hooper at Stratford, he has been running well over fences, and todays event over hurdles looks a good race for him to get back to winning ways, he runs at 3.46.

More soon.

Watching some of the racing from Ayr on the round course today. It has been a trait that being close to the pace, on the decent ground is the best place to be. Yaaser ridden by Paul Mulrennan who was favourite 4.45 was ridden from way off the pace, he did well to be a close fourth at the line. I then watched the 5.15 and it baffles me how some jockeys do the same thing, as Mulrennan did the exact same in the early part of the race, sitting last under restraint !

I really rate Paul as a jockey, but I am not sure what was going through his brain from 4.45- 5.15, as he gave his mounts basically no chance of winning.

At Ripon tonight 8.15 Glam De Vega looks a penalty kick, i did back this horse at 6/4 last night, but with a withdrawal of Wilkins, a 25p deduction in the pound, if he manages to win.

More soon.

A really good race yesterday at Sandown at 3.00 in the Coral-Eclipse. Vadeni getting the better of Mishriff by a neck, with Native Trail a head away in third. It was a really top class ride from Christophe Soumillon. The ride of David Egan on Mishriff was very poor, he got trapped behind the closing Native Trail at a vital stage, and possibly cost him the win. It was a day to forget for Egan, as he gave Mitbaahy a poor ride in the 1.50, getting beat a neck, and getting a three day ban for hampering his rivals inside the final furlong. A talented jockey, but he needs to iron out his far too many mistakes, as he is prone to them.

Today at Chelmsford 1.35 Alexa’s Princess could well improve a good bit for her first try at 7f. She was closing last time over 5f, and in her first run over the extended trip, she is my pick.

In France today, Hurricane Lane 3.00 will be hard to beat, Third Realm at 5/2 without the favourite could be a good option, as he has good form, and bolted up last time, he did beat Alaydar last year in the Derby trial, before running a good race at Epsom, he seems to like soft ground as well.

I like Last Of A Legend 2.25 Market Rasen, she ran well just over a month ago, and will like the forecast good ground, as the track is very well maintained by the ground staff at the Lincolnshire venue.

More soon.

At Sandown today, the main race at 3.35 is a group 1 over 10 furlongs. Vadeni the French Derby winner ships in to take on some strong opposition from the UK. Native Trail won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on his latest run. He tries the trip of 10f for the first time. I think he has a good chance and I have backed him at 15/8 without Vadeni. I do think it will be a good race, and will be between the two three year olds at the finish.

In France, 5.00 Chantilly. Factuer Cheval steps up in grade, he is unbeaten in three races, twice I have backed him, so I took the 11/10 on offer last night, as he will be hard to beat.

Some good races at Haydock – on rain softened ground. Gaasee 3.15 will like the ground, he is my idea of the winner, in what is a strong race. Brentford Hope at 12/1 could be worth a bet each way in it, he has a decent claimer on top, who takes off a valuable 7lb , and his trainer would not give him the chance, if he did not think he can overcome his lack of riding experience, to be an asset with his claim.

More soon.