Slow ground conditions at most of the grass tracks.  At Ascot 2.45 Annapurna is side stepped by stable jockey Frankie Dettori, he prefers Star Catcher the favourite.  I just thought at 11/2 with some firms,  Annapurna is a bit of value.  Later in the day, Magical is top rated, if none the worse for her run in France 13 days ago, she will be hard to beat.  The 3.45 at Market Rasen is a really classy event for such a small field of novice chasers.  Hopefully Linganno Felice can jump well and run a decent race, he likes the track, ground possibly is not ideal, plus he has been off the track over a year, and likely benefit for the run, although  at 20/1, he is over priced.

At Wolverhampton this evening, Falcon Cliffs 6.15 has a good chance of getting off the mark, she was given a lot to do last time, she has also ran well at the midlands track before, and should like the two mile trip.

Redcar was abandoned today.  Leaving only two evening cards on the flat, with two jump meetings currently racing, we also have Dundalk all weather meeting tonight in Ireland.  Not too much I fancy at the jump meetings.  At Wolverhampton this evening, the 7.25 is an interesting event.  Maqtal carries a penalty for his win at Yarmouth 30 days ago.  He is taking on two of the Godolphin colts, with In The Night heading the betting market, having his first run, I think I would rather back Maqtal at around 2/1 to defy his penalty.  Earlier on the card, Mischief Star is a bit of value at 6.55 each way, he is around 12/1.

Tomorrow has some really good racing from Ascot, and some other competitive  races elsewhere.  Hopefully no more rain falls at Ascot, as the ground is very soft, and possibly wouldn’t take a lot to be borderline getting cancelled.

More later.

The going at Carlisle today is soft, good to soft in places.  Already one race has been ran.  I thought the 1.15 was really well contested, a few travel a long way to try and get off the mark over obstacles.  Some Detail has solid bumper form, his trainer Nigel Hawke likes to have runners here, although he is 325 miles from the track ! Tango Boy is another who is trained by a trainer who is sending a few to the track, from his stables close to Bath, so a fair old journey.

I may well update later, just coming out for the 1.15.

Just a short blog this evening. With the first couple of evening races just about over from Kempton and Southwell.  I like Baadirr 5.50 Southwell, it’s his first try on the Fibresand , so a little bit of an unknown.  But he did not like the quick ground on his last run on grass, so the surface should be ok.

More tomorrow.

A late post today.  Leicester was abandoned earlier, I did fancy a horse at Mussleburgh today, who just did not handle the soft ground conditions.  The remainder of races this evening at Kempton this evening, look quite difficult.  Turn To Rock 7.00 is improving with racing, well drawn in stall 2, he has a good chance of breaking his maiden tag.  The hardest race to evaluate, I thought was the 7.30.  Alrajaa has really  shown improved form of late, he won very easily last time, his 10lb rise for his recent win, will make it harder this evening, he also takes on course and distance winners as well, Sir Busker was well ridden when winning his last race, he would be my each way selection.

More tomorrow.

Rain over the last few days, has seen racing abandoned.  At Mussleburgh the track normally drains quite well.  The first race is over the straight 5f for two year olds.  A nursery that is not really that strong.  Not On Your Nellie has a tongue strap on today for the first time.  She ran well at the track on her latest run, ridden today by Tom Eaves, who takes over from a claiming rider, she has a good chance of getting off the mark.  At Yarmouth, the ground is heavy, soft in places.  The 2.10 is also a nursery for two year olds, over the straight 7f.  I think it is between the top weight Freshwater Cliffs and Robert Guiscard, slight preference for the latter, as his best form is on turf.  Both of these youngsters will not of encountered ground like today, so if having a bet, it would be an interest bet only.  Wolverhampton this evening is on the all weather, River Sprite 7.25 ran well on debut at Kempton, beaten a fair way, she will improve for that experience, and should have a decent chance in a race that looks open, Trinity Girl is unraced, she could well be useful, so an interesting race to watch.

More later. /

A good winner advised to my subscription members earlier today.  Darver Star was advised to back at Evens (without Fast Buck) this morning, he was well backed in the betting, took the initiative of Fast Buck’s slight error at the last flight, where Paul Townend lost his irons.

Not too much else of interest today at Limerick and the Curragh.  Goodwood was abandoned today, so no racing in the UK.  Hopefully I can find something over the next few days, with plenty of rain having fallen,  bit of caution is a must.

A nice winner for my subscribers today.  Only advised bet was Military March 2.55 Newmarket, he was 6/1 at the time, backed into 4/1, he made about all the running under Oisin Murphy.

A few races remaining at Wolverhampton, I did think Glenties 7.30 had solid each way claims, he is unfavourably drawn, and that looks his only negative in this two year old event.  He ran really well on debut, and the stables horses normally improve a lot for a run.

Looking at some of the winners earlier today.  Pinatubo was workmanlike rather than impressive, in winning the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes.  He goes into the winter break as short favourite for next years 2,000 Guineas.  Taking odds on about a horse next May is absolute madness.

More tomorrow.

Good racing at lots of the race meetings today.  Soft ground conditions at York, so it will pay to go with something that has shown previous soft ground form.  Having seen the first race, it looks hard work.  Hamish 3.50 has been allotted top weight, and quite rightly so, he has good form with ease in the ground, has won at the track previously and stays well, his negative is his price, 13/8 is narrow, but I wouldn’t be keen to back anything to beat him.  At Chepstow over jumps, really good racing.  Just about to start the Grade 2 Hurdle (Unibet Persian War Novice Hurdle). A open race I thought.  The last race at 5.35 where Silver Forever is short odds to win, she has strong claims on her bumper form, unraced over obstacles has made me look at something with a little bit of value, Kissesforkatie has solid each way claims, she was not far behind the favourite in a bumper, and has had a run over hurdles, where she ran well.  The drop back in trip of about 2 furlongs, looks a positive.

A good winner yesterday for my subscribers.  Byron Flyer 2.15 Ludlow, drifted in the betting from slightly odds on out to 6/4, jumping well in the main, his rivals were making plenty of mistakes, he managed to get the better of his nearest rival.  Also followers hopefully backed Moosmee 1.25 Nottingham, who made just about all the running to handle the soft ground well at Nottingham, backed in from around 3/1- 9/4.

Plenty of money being spent at the Newmarket yearling sales.  The Maktoum family having been spending large.  3.6 million and 3.1 million on two colts, the latter of them bought yesterday, was a Frankel colt, half brother to the excellent Golden Horn, he will likely go into training with John Gosden.  The Book 1 yearling sales also has the bonus scheme, were if they go on and win races of a certain level they get a £25,000 pound bonus, not that it will make much of a dent in these two horses purchase price !

At Worcester today Waitonit 3.20 has been well supported in the betting, he comes here with a bit of a useful reputation.  His trainer Nigel Twiston- Davies likes to run his nicer types of bumper horses at the track, and I would expect him to be the one to beat.  At Southwell on the all weather tonight, it always pays to follow horses with previous form on the Fibresand , Queen Of Khalahari 7.45 should be difficult to beat again tonight.