Some hotly contested races today at Newmarket on the flat. Naval Crown 2.25 was a recent winner in Dubai over 1m. Today he drops back to 7f for a competitive handicap, but I think he is the one to beat. Later in the card at 4.45 Mohaafeth races on grass after his win on the all weather at Lingfield, he was quite impressive that day, and could well win again today.

With Harry Skelton bagging 3 winners yesterday at Southwell, he has gone 2 clear of rival Brian Hughes in the battle to be champion jump jockey 20/21. Skelton has some good rides today at Cheltenham, and starts with a favourite at 1.30, although I would not be surprised to see that one get beat. I do think Oakley 5.00 has solid each way claims, he has good form on ground when soft and also good, so he will be fine today. His run at Ascot in December was ok, off a break, he can give a good account of himself here.

More soon.

Really good to see the Grand National won by a lady jockey for the first time. Rachel Blackmore has been riding really well for many years, and after being the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival in March, winning on Minella Times just caps a great season for her, and also her boss Henry de Bromhead, who trained the winner and the second on Saturday.

On to todays cards. With drying ground conditions, the ground at Huntingdon should be good. Stylish Dancer would be my idea of the winner of the 4.00. She tackles fences for the second time, and despite a large rise in the weights, she was impressive when winning last time, and proven she acts going right handed, having won at Hereford previously over the smaller obstacles. The last race on the card is a bumper, I thought Shantou’s Melody may be too good for his rivals in that.

On the level at Redcar, Super Over 2.20 has a good chance of winning. A good second on debut,at Newcastle on an artificial surface, the grass today should pose no problem, and it is a race that does not look overly strong on the ones that have ran before. So should get off the mark.

A good week ahead, with the first day of Newmarket tomorrow, a number of trial races this week for the ‘classic’s’,so changes in the betting for the big two guineas races for the three year old colts and fillies coming up in a few weeks very likely.

More soon.

Hopefully followers took notice of my post on the 14th March, and backed Appreciate It in the 1.20 at Cheltenham today. He was a very easy winner under Paul Townend.

Looking ahead to the rest of today at Newcastle tonight Streak Lightning 6.45 is my idea of the winner in the 7f handicap. He won well last time, and was strong at the line that day.

In France at Chantilly, the 1.50 has Juan Equain in it, unlucky not to win last time, when I thought his rider gave him no help, Demuro rides again today, and if he gets a more positive ride, he should win.

Looking at todays race meetings. With Bangor already called off, Warwick in the UK is the sole jump meeting. The last race on the card at 5.22 is a competitive ‘bumper event’, with two previous winners Fame and Concrete and Mucho Mas trying to defy penalties, both won well on debut. High Worth is an unraced Nicky Henderson horse, who could be anything, Piaf Bubbles has had one run already at Plumpton, a race that has turned out quite well, so lots of potential, some decent types, I’ve not had a bet in it, but will watch with interest.

In France at Toulouse the 5.45 on the turf has some nice types lining up. Gregolimo heads the market at around 7/4. If he can transfer his recent useful form from the all weather- to the grass, he has a solid chance of winning this event. Mothill is his likely main rival.

A good week ahead, with Cheltenham starting on Tuesday. At 1.20 Appreciate It could get the strong Irish team from Willie Mullins off to a good start on the opening day, he has been very impressive over timber, and has a high cruising speed, which should enable him to travel kindly,already a winner of a bumper over 20 furlongs, and a 3 mile point to point. His stamina is not in doubt for the latter stages, he is short in the betting, but will be very hard to beat.

After a few weeks break, back today with hopefully a horse for my followers to back in a couple of races today, both well worth a look. All the recent racing news has been focused mainly on Gordon Elliott and the awful picture of him sitting on a horse that had sadly died from a heart attack. It was in my opinion a moment of madness !

Clearly Gordon is a talented trainer, and has been one of the leading trainers in Ireland for quite a few years. I do not see in the short term what lies ahead for him, possibly he will get a ban, but nobody really knows yet.

On to todays racing, in France at Pornichet on the all weather track, Pierre Charles Boudot could be a jockey to follow. He has some really good rides. Keep Fire 2.05 was a running on 5th on debut last year on the turf. The race turned out to be a very good maiden, as the winner went on to be second in a Group 1 race and the second and third that day are useful winners since, so he is one of Boudot’s mounts worth a look at, currently around 2/1 with most firms.

In the UK at Taunton the ground is described as ‘good to soft’ which should be fine for Time To Tinker 1.55, I think he has a solid chance of getting off the mark for trainer Paul Nicholls.

More soon.

I watched a few races from Exeter today. The 1.45 was a novice chase won by the second favourite Full Back, who jumped well in the main, he stayed on strongly from two out to win comfortably, although both him and the second were tired at the line. The horse I thought would win it was Welsh Saint, who made a real mess of the first open ditch, giving rider Nico De Boinville little chance of staying in the saddle.

One thing that has been on going for a number of months is the Bryony Frost issue she has had with what some people describe as bullying and jealousy from a few of her fellow jockeys. It is supposed to have started last September, at Southwell. Robbie Dunne confronted Frost over the fatal fall of his mount Cillian’s Well in the handicap chase. I have watched footage of the race, and for me Bryony did nothing wrong, her horse had a tendancy to jump to his left, and Dunne was behind Frost for most of the race, and as the fall of his horse did not happen until 3 fences from home, he had seen what was in front of him, and in my opinion should of expected Bryony’s horse to jump left. The first thing you do when something is doing that, is not get on the horses left, which Dunne did. I hope issues can be resolved, both jockey’s are more than capable riders, Frost rides a lot for the Paul Nicholls yard, so gets on some really good horses, and recently won a grade one race on Frodon at Kempton in the King George V1 Chase, in which she ‘squeezed’ up fellow rider Gavin Sheehan en route to victory, a move that led to a two day suspension.

More tomorrow.

A good winner yesterday for my subscribers. I advised Alavina at 6/4 in the 3.00 Fontwell, she attracted some support in the betting into 11/8, travelling well she stayed on strongly to win on the run in, despite a mistake at the last flight of hurdles.

Today has only al weather racing on the flat in the UK. At Southwell 6.30, a maiden over the minimum trip of 5f, with the favourite Unleash looking like the one to beat, a good second last time over course and distance, he should get the job done. It is always an advantage to know at Southwell, that they act on the surface, and this horse handled it well last time. He is short odds to win, but I would not bet against him.

More tomorrow.

A good winner advised for my subscribers today. Tamborada 2.10 Lingfield was advised at 2/1, despite running green he got up close home to get the better of his main rival close to the line. A couple of races left at Wolverhampton. Big Kitty 6.50 has a good chance of winning, she has dropped back to 7f today, and should not be inconvenienced by that, she is well drawn in stall 2. She is currently around 3/1, so I am tempted to have a bet.

More tomorrow.

A good start to the new year, with Bravado 2.20 Lingfield getting my subscribers a good winner yesterday. I advised him at 7/2, making every yard of the 6f event, he never looked like getting beat. A couple I like today in the UK, but I think followers should have a look at Intellogent 12.40 Deauville, he was a shade unlucky last time, and although he is on a bit of a losing streak, this horse has a touch of class, and at around 5/2 he is value for me. The odds on favourite, Bugle Major ran a good race last time when it was second over course and distance, but I thought Intellogent would be too good if he recaptures some of his old group race form.

More tomorrow.

Good to get a winner for my subscribers yesterday. Lomu 6.35 Newcastle was advised at 11/4, he was supported in the betting into 5/2 before getting the better of his rivals in the last race. I have a couple a few horses I like today, with testing ground due to rain it will be pretty hard work at most of the racecourses today.

One horse for followers today to back is Saint Roi 2.25 Leopardstown. He was unlucky not to win last time, when I thought Mark Walsh made a mess of it. Walsh is on board again today, so hopefully he will not get his mount trapped in behind rivals today, as he meets Abracadabras who beat him that day, on the same terms as the last time they me, so it it is closely matched race.