It was good to get a winning bet for my subscribers yesterday.  I advised backing Confirmation Bias 3.45 Wincanton (without Supamouse) at 11/8 in the morning.  So in wet conditions, he did well to get second to Supamouse, and make it a winning bet.

Ground conditions at Fontwell looked tough, causing the card to be abandoned after 4 races.  Heavy rain saw the ground turn to be very heavy, and unsafe, hence the inspection and then being called off.  Todays card’s at Chepstow will be a real slog.  It will be tough going, horses will finish tired.  I may well put an update on later today , I’m just awaiting an update on going and weather.

I was sorry to hear of the death of former jump jockey Colin “Jack” Hawkins on Christmas Day.  He was 64, a really good northern based rider in his days as a jockey, currently he had been doing the role of a starter on the northern circuit.  I bumped into him at Market Rasen in September, I knew him from when he was a jockey, and when I was an apprentice in Middleham, he was stable jockey to Neville Crump.  Colin was a really nice guy, and will be missed by friends and family.

Looking at todays cards.  As I mentioned on Tuesday, the main race at Kempton 3.05 is the Grade 1 ‘ King George” Chase, over 3 miles.  Top rated is Cyrname, who is the choice of Harry Cobden, he won the race last year on stable companion Clan Des Obeaux, who I think could well be a bit over priced at 6/1.  Kempton is a fast track, it suits horses that travel strongly, and Cyrname is certain to do that.  If I was having a bet, it would likely be him, I really do think Lostintranslation may find the track a bit tight, although I really like this horse,  I just thought the speed horses may just be able to steal a few lengths on the turns, and this big horse will be much better suited by a more galloping track, he won at Haydock , which is a galloping track, very fair, with a long straight. Kempton is much sharper, and suits horses that travel strongly and race up with the pace, especially over jumps.  Whatever happens it will be a good race.

At Wetherby 1.35 Sammy Bill bids for his third win in a row. He has gone up 11 pounds in the handicap for his last win, but his trainer could of found another race here that is for the taking. At Wolverhampton on the flat Renardeau 4.25 escapes a penalty for his win in an apprentice race recently.  So runs here in a bid to follow up before the handicapper can evaluate that win and raise his mark, he will be hard to beat.

Switching codes to football, I bet when I think value is there, Bournemouth (home) at 5/2 to beat Arsenal is appealing today ! Eddie Howe has had a fair amount of injuries with his squad, so it won’t be totally straightforward, but Arsenal have been poor of late, and new coach Arteta has a very hard task ahead of him !

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Looking ahead to the meetings currently going ahead on Boxing Day.  The main race is at Kempton.  The ‘King George ‘ Chase goes ahead at 3.05 which has only 6 possible runners.  It does look as though it will be a cracker.  Small field but 4 of the intended runners are well fancied, according to the current betting.    The  favourite is Cyrname, who will try to win a grade 1 over three miles for the first time.  He is the top rated in the field, and if given a soft time at the front end, he could have every chance of being as effective at 3 miles,as he is over his ideal trip of 2 miles 4 furlongs.  I am not sure I will get involved in having a bet in the race.

I am a massive fan of Lostintranslation, who will like a good pace to aim at, although he has to put in a career best, to enable him to win.

Plenty of other good fields at many of the race meetings. Huntingdon has already been called off, due to waterlogging.  Hopefully not to much rain between now and Thursday, and all the planned racing will go ahead.  I will hopefully be able to find a winner for my subscribers, and will try and point some of my followers in the right direction of horses with a chance.

More on Thursday.

A good winner advised to my subscribers earlier today.  Disco Fever 12.40 Lingfield, was advised at 6/4 this morning, making all the running, she never had any problems in storming clear under Rab Havlin in the last furlong.

Looking at the rest of the races today.  I thought Shimmering 2.15 Lingfield would be hard to beat.  She was a real eye catcher on her debut, and with improvement, she has a favourites chance.  Guroor 3.20 at the same track, looks to have found a good race to get another win. I was just watching the 1.20 at Newbury, Fonsanta had jumped really well up to the final ditch, the third last fence, he took a really heavy fall, and it didn’t look good for him, hopefully he will be just winded.  His rider Aiden Coleman was also kicked about a bit, so let’s hope he is ok.  A bit of rain forecast over the next few days, so cautious punting on grass racing !

I may well put an update on later today, with a few horses with chances at Newcastle.

I watched a lot of the racing today.  Mister Fisher was a horse I mentioned on my website as one to follow when he was second on his chase debut at Warwick.  He duly did the business today at Cheltenham 12.45.  He jumped well in the main, and stayed on well.  Some decent performances at Cheltenham later in the card.  Call Me Lord was a game winner for Nicky Henderson and his under used jockey James Bowen.  He was touted as a future champion jockey when very rapidly riding out his claim, he was struggled for a decent “Saturday horse” this season, and it was good to see him get the opportunity to get on this horse, his regular jockey Daryl Jacob is currently out of action.  His stable companion Pentland Hills did not relax very well, his rider Nico De Boinville could not get his mount to drop the bit, and having raced with the “choke” out, he was unable to finish his race off, and tired on the run in.  A lot of horses tend to pull with De Boinville.

With racing currently taking place at Wolverhampton.  It was good to see young rider Angus Villiers win the first race for Mick Appleby.  He has just said he will not ride again this year, his boss Richard Hughes wants him to keep his 5lb claim for the start of the turf season, and this promising young rider is heading to Florida for a working holiday, where he will be based with Brendan Walsh.  I know Brendan from our time working together at Godolphin.  I’m sure the experience Angus will get from riding to the “clock” will only benefit him.

More tomorrow.

A Good winner yesterday for my subscribers.  Tea Clipper advised at 2/1 was a game winner in the 1.30 Huntingdon.  He rallied well on the run in, after being headed by the second, getting the verdict at the line, to win by a neck.

Todays racing goes ahead.  A very stormy night last on the Channel Islands, but I have seen that racing has not been affected as yet in the UK.  At Lingfield 1.00 Harrison Point could give the odds on favourite something to think about.  He ran a really good race on debut, and is receipt of a handy few pounds.  I am tempted to back him, although the Godolphin trained horse Story Of Light was impressive last time, and beat  quite a strong field. He likely warranted a rating in the high 80s with that win.  Harrison Point was second to a horse rated 90, beaten only a neck, so it may well be a bit closer between them, than the betting market has it.  The 2.30 may well go the way of Just The Man, who has the right man on his back.  Adam Kirby really rides this all weather track well, he generally knows when to try and kick for home, and has stole many races by his know how of riding this track.  A couple of horses of interest later today at Newcastle, the northern track needs a horse that gets every yard of the trip, as the finish is stiff,  and the tapeta surface can normally ride slow.

More Later.

Good to get a winner for my subscribers yesterday.  Minella Trump 2.15 Sedgefield, was advised at 6/4 in the morning, heavily backed into 8/11, he pulled clear from 2 flights out, winning by 11 lengths.

Saturday racing and finding winners is always tough.  Aintree racing starts at 11.30 am, with a decent race between some nice types.  Harry Senior and Edwardstone look as though they could be fighting out the finish, it’s a spin of a coin between them.  Later in the card One For Arthur returns, he goes at 1.30, it would be nice to see him win again.  Native River also runs at 2.40.   He takes on Might Bite and Black Corton, I expect Native River to win this, he has had a couple of racecourse gallops, so should be ready.

Blackjack Kentucky 12.55 Chepstow looks to have a solid chance of winning, he was second to a useful horse last time, and his course form and experience should be enough to get the job done at short odds.

A really fantastic achievement by Hollie Doyle yesterday.  Riding 107 winners in a year, breaking the previous record held by a lady jockey, Josephine Gordon the former record holder I am sure will be pleased for Hollie.

On to today’s racing.  Sandown looks hard work, as does Sedgefield, Exeter doesn’t look as testing.  I thought the cards were quite difficult to access today, really competitive racing, Friday cards are mini Saturdays these days.  An interesting Novice Chase coming up at Exeter 1.30, Earlofthecotswolds is favourite, he won’t get things all his own way, as Present Value and Kateson will not make it easy for him.  A couple of races this evening at Newcastle look worth a look, I’m just watching the betting markets at the moment.

More later.

A few races gone already.  Market Rasen looks as though it is quite soft ground.  A nice horse lining up in the 12.45 Leicester.  Hold that Taught looked a nice prospect when winning on his first run under rules, he is short odds to win again today.  At Kempton this evening Pyramid Place 5.40 should come forward for his debut fourth at the track.  He is likely to improve from that run, as is the norm for the John Gosden trained horses, this may be a good opportunity for him to get his head in front.

More later.

A good winner yesterday for my subscribers.  I advised Maypole Class 2.45 Lingfield At 9/4 in the morning.  He galloped on strongly from the last hurdle, after making a slightly awkward jump.

Todays card at Ludlow has been called off.  I had advised backing one at the meeting, but have hopefully found one at one of the other meetings.  With soft ground at Haydock, it will be hard work for the runners.  I did think Keep Wondering 1.20 ran a really good race last month, that could be good enough to win this, if reproducing that run.  At Kempton 4.10 Al Dawodiya drops back to 6f today.  She ran a really good second over 7f on her last run, making the running that day.  She is well drawn in stall 1, her racing experience could well edge it for her in this race.  A couple of rivals that are unraced, Never Dark could well be the one to give her most to do.

I was just reading about Apprentices on the flat, who will receive 80% of their win percentages and riding fees in the future.  Currently entitled to 50% from their boss, who is supposed to pay half of their travel expenses.  Under the new rules, the riders will not receive any expenses from the trainer they are employed by, who will get 20% Of fees and percentages the apprentice makes.    I am assuming this will apply to conditional  National Hunt jockeys as well.

I know when I was conditional jockey for the late Brian Swift, he paid me full fees, he told me that as I had ridden on the flat for a few seasons and was experienced, he believed jump jockeys deserved to get full fees, it was really generous of him, as he could of taken his 50% of my fees.