A good day of racing at Newmarket and Ascot on the level today.  One race that had a good finish, with a lot of really promising colts lining up, was the 4.10 Newmarket.  I did think the second horse Al Suhail was unlucky not to win, he hit the front about a furlong and a half from the winning post, and literally won his race, only to be caught in the shadow of the line.  If his rider had switched his whip, from right to left, he would of won.  It was pilot error, his rider thought he was going to win and put his stick down, when he should of pulled it through into his left, Al Suhail had just edged left, close to the finish.    Jim Crowley on Al Hamady who had his horse balanced, was able to seize his opportunity to win, he had a willing partner as well, which helped.  This race is one to watch a few times, lots of winners will appear from it.

It is interesting to see the Sir Mark Prescott running well again. He had two winners yesterday.   He should be followed with his runners, as when he hits form, he usually has a good number of winners, if he turns out Blame It On Sally, who won at Epsom last nigh, in the next week or so, try not to miss it ! He looked a well handicapped horse, with a lot more to come.

The main race looking at the Newmarket card is the Darley July Cup Stakes Group 1.  Ran over the straight 6f, it is a really good race, with lots of good sprinters lining up.  Hopefully I can find a winner for my followers tomorrow, although Saturday is the hardest day of the week !

Good racing today from Newmarket.  The 2.25 Tattersalls July Stakes, a Group 2 race for colts and geldings, was won by Royal Lytham, who got up in the shadows of the winning post to beat Platinum Star. It looked a good renewal, as the third horse Visinari, who was short priced favourite to win, was a good third, beaten a nose and a short head.

The 4.05 is a maiden fillies Stakes over 6f.  With some really well bred two year olds in the line up.  Dubai Paradise makes her debut, she has been well supported in the betting, and is clearly well regarded. Hopefully she can make a better showing than Masar, her older stable mate, and last years Derby winner.  He was an eased down dissapointing last of 6.  I would not be surprised if that is his last race.  He raced too free in the early part of the race, with little cover from the small field, he didn’t really see out the stiff 12f, although it is hard for any horse to come back from an injury, he is clearly a fair way off his current rating of 119, on today’s performance.

More later.

A  nice winner last night for followers.  I advised Takingitallin in the last race at Uttoxeter 8.50.  Given a good ride by William Kennedy, who set the fractions right, making all the running, the game mare found plenty over the latter stages of the race, to win quite cosily at the line.

Todays fields look pretty tough to solve.  I did think Model Guest 4.50 had found her chance to get off the mark today, she has been running in much higher classed races, including a third in a Group 3, that was last August.  She ran a good race last time in a really good race, maybe 8/13 is short, but she looks a penalty kick.

Good racing over the next few days, lots of nice horses running.

More later.

With only a few races remaining of today’s racing.  At Uttoxeter, where the ground looks in great condition for July, the final race could well go the way of the ultra consistent Takingitallin.  This mare has really taken to hurdling well from racing in Ireland in point to points.  Trainer Donald McCain seems to have his horses in decent form, and this mare who is having her first run in a handicap, likes decent ground and likes to make the running, and with her as the only proven front runner, she may well get the run of the race if left alone in front.  She has a good chance of winning this.

Looking ahead to the racing over the next few days.  The July meeting at Newmarket starts on Thursday.  Newmarket will be very busy with racing and the Tattersalls July Sales.  Some really good horses entered for the meeting, a number of horses I follow, so hopefully I can find a winner or two during the 3 day meeting.

More tomorrow.

Too Darn Hot was back to his brilliant self yesterday at Deauville in the Prix Jean Prat over the straight 7f.  He travelled supremely well under Frankie Dettori, and was a ready victor at the line.  He handled the dry ground well.  It was interesting to hear the post race comments from his shrewd trainer Joh Gosden.  He admitted he made a couple of errors running over 10f and also rushing the colt when racing him in Ireland over 8f, that was in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, where he was a good second.  I would expect this horse to be aimed at 7f graded races from now, and possibly even 6f.

Todays card’s looked tough, trying to find a winner is difficult.  I do like a couple in the final race at Windsor tonight, but it is hard to decide the right one to be with, so I will probably watch.

More tomorrow.

Reflecting on yesterday’s racing.  Enable was a cosy winner of the Coral Eclipse at Sandown.  Given a really confident ride from the front by Frankie Dettori, she was always holding Magical throughout the final stages of the Group 1 event.  She really looked as good as ever.

Frankie was in great form, Mojito 2.25 and Falcon Eight 4.45 made it a three timer for him, both rides were a pleasure to watch.  I was talking to an old friend from Godolphin last night about Frankie, he was stable jockey when we both were working for  Saeed Bin Suroor, Tony is still working for Saeed, and he said Frankie looks better than ever, of which I agreed.  Let’s hope he keeps going for a few more years yet.

On to today’s cards.  At Limerick 2.20, All The King’s Men is top rated.  In a race where a strong pace is guaranteed, it is going to be a case of who wants it most !

Honor Oak is sure to hassle All The King’s Men and Morpho Blue, another front runner in this race.  It could set the race up for a late closer, so I am going to watch, and may have a bet in running ! All The King’s Men is the horse I like, but I will watch the early part of the race, and then decide.

In France the Dettori band wagon could roll on with Too Darn Hot At 2.52, this Group 1 is over 7f, Dettori’s horse will need a decent pace to aim at, with Fox Champion the likely pace angle.  It is an interesting race, Graignes and Space Blues are improving types, the former has high level form in top races, he could well run the favourite close, he is drawn on Too Darn Hot’s inside.  I could see the race being fought out by these two, if Too Darn Hot is back to his brilliant two year old form, he may get his first Group 1 of 2019.

A decent end to the month for my subscribers, a 2.89 point (£289.00) profit for June.  It was a difficult month, a lot of rain made selections difficult.  But profit is what is most important.

On to today’s evening race meetings.  Windsor has had two races already, with drier weather over the last few days, good to firm ground will hopefully make it a nice level playing field for tonight’s runners and riders.  Tomily 6.45 drops in grade massively tonight.  If he is anywhere close to his rating, which is currently 77, he should be hard to beat.  This 5 year old was once rated as high as 102 !

More tomorrow.

Just watching some of the racing from yesterday.  I was pleased to get two winners yesterday for my subscribers, really pleased to see Al Aakif who was advised at 11/8 grind out a victory in the 2.10 at York.  To win under a 6lb penalty is never easy, but his trainer Willie Haggas had the son of Acclamation in good shape, going away from his nearest rival Clareyblue in the last half furlong, he will keep progressing, and is well worth following.  The same applies to the second, Clareyblue showed he had taken a giant step forward from his debut third at Newmarket, he will be winning soon.

Limato was advised to my followers as the horse to be with in the 3.15 at Newmarket.  He drifted out in price to 11/4 ! But that did not stop him, he battled hard in the last half furlong, to win by a neck.  Charlie Appleby won with two nice two year olds at the track.  Summer Romance who was my other horse advised to my subscribers, won pulling a cart ! She is a decent filly, and will likely step up into a Group race now.  Charlie’s other winner at the track was Al Dabaran, who looks a nice prospect going forward.

I will do an update later today.  A quick mention for Tom Marquand and his ride on Who Dares Wins at Newcastle yesterday.  He rode a really good race to beat Luke Morris on the game Dubai Fifty, who was second.  One of my each way selections Proschema, was a staying on third, at 11/1 he was a nice profit for each way bets.  The crowd at Newcastle looked huge, I always used to like riding at the track when it was all grass, as I was born in the north, Newcastle has always been what I believe as my second favourite  racecourse.  Having grown up in Newmarket, which is what I regard as home !

An excellent days racing ahead.  It is the big race in the north east today, the Betfair Exchange Northumberland Plate Handicap at Newcastle.  With a big pot in this £150,000 added event, finding the winner is difficult.  Gibbs Hill has been well backed in the ante post market.  He has not seen a racecourse for 724 days, but his trainer Roger Varian will no doubt have him as fit as he can, the surface at the track is stamina sapping, and being a “galloping” track, Gibbs Hill has to be ready.  With regard to having a bet in it, I will be playing small stakes each way, Austrian School and Proscema are two horses that I respect, they will be my choices.

At Newmarket, I have just been talking to my great pal Paul Smith Eccles.  He is enjoying a day out with friends and family.  Paul rides out for Godolphin, and will be hoping they can have a winner or two.

I did think Limato 3.15 had a lot in his favour today, he loves the fast ground conditions, 7f is ideal as well.  He has a penalty of 5lb for his group win after 31st of August 2018, but I believe he is the best horse in the race, and will be hard to beat.

It was nice to get a winner yesterday for my subscribers.  I advised backing Milltown Star 3.20 Salisbury, my advise was bet without (Sword Beach and Atmospheric). He was even money with the two at the head of the betting market, out of the equation.   Low and behold, he drifts from 7/2-6/1 for a fixed odds win bet, he was ridden positively by Franny Norton, who had his horse more or less in front all the way, and was a cosy winner at the line.

Looking at today’s meetings, after a bit of rain earlier in the week, a number of the racecourses ground will ride on the easy side, although dry weather today could see Newmarket ride on the good side of good to soft.  The chalk based track drains very quickly.  I was at Newmarket races when Nazeef 3.50 made her debut.  She was given a kind introduction to racing that day, keeping on well in the latter stages, to finish a decent third.  She takes on the boys today, so will need to have improved for that run, she would be my idea of the one to beat in this 7f maiden event.  Her owner Hamdan Al Maktoum could have a good day.  His  Faylaq, is short odds to win the 2.45,and looks to have found another winning opportunity in this 12f handicap.  He takes on his elders today, as this race is for 3 year olds and upwards.

More later.