Two abandoned meetings today.  But 5 meetings are currently on, plus Limerick and Downpatrick in Ireland.  The main flat meeting is at York, the second day of the two day meeting.  Ground described as soft, with light rain forecast.  The 3.00 is the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes, it is a Listed race over 1mile and 6 furlongs.  With a decent field of runners, most of whom will have an eye on the main race the “Ebor” at York later in the season.  Mekong is favourite, and is justified at being at the head of the betting market.  He should handle the ground fine, has a top jockey riding, with a good run 23 days ago over 2 miles, he was a decent second that day, with old rival Austrian School a head behind him in third, and another horse he meets again Making Miracles was a further 5 Lengths back in 4th in that Group 3 event, that was run on good to firm ground, so today’s easier ground will be more appealing for all three of these useful horses.

I think Mekong could well come out on top again today, he won on very testing ground at Leicester last season, his jockey knows him well, he is a bit tight in price today, so that is the bit that is not very generous !

With testing ground at all the tracks in the UK, cautious betting is the best way to go, I tend to play small stakes on the flat when the ground is soft/heavy.  A lot of flat bred types don’t handle the deep ground as well as the National Hunt horses.

More later.

With racing at Newton Abbot abandoned due to the rain.  Aintree is the jump meeting today.  With also flat meetings at York, Goodwood, Chepstow and Fairyhouse  and Cork in Ireland.  The Friday cards are becoming very much like a smaller version of the ultra competitive Saturday cards.  At Aintree, where it is reported to be soft, good to soft in places(showers).  A few horses engaged who I follow, but they have better form on summer jumping ground, so due to the ‘freakish’ wet conditions, I’m giving them the swerve. At Sandown, Visible Charm 2.35 was fancied on debut when second.  He should come forward for that run, and if he handles the soft ground, he is the one to beat.  At very short odds on ground that he probably has never encountered before- I would rather watch than take the risk ! The same applies to Herculean 3.45, he will likely handle the ground, but 6/4 with top weight in a competitive handicap, is not appealing.

I will try and find something today, a few days where I have not got really involved, due to the heavy rain fall.

More later.

Another day where rain has fallen in many parts of the UK.  I managed to find a couple of winners yesterday for my followers.  Global Gift, who drifted to 3/1 was a cosy winner in the 4.20 Haydock.  He handled the heavy ground well, and basically outstayed Zip, who I think is better over a shorter trip than yesterday’s 1 mile.  Half an hour later Moon King, won his fourth race of the year. This horse is really honest, and could well win again, he has not stopped improving all season.

On to today.  Not much to go on as yet, I am waiting to see a race or two before deciding if I do back something.  Plenty of caution, many of todays runners will have not raced or trained on very soft ground.  I was always a believer that, no horse really wants heavy ground, they just cope with it better than the others.

More Later.

Once again a lot of rain has fallen at the racetracks.  Backing anything at Haydock that has not shown form with the word ‘soft’ in the going is a must.  It will be very tiring heavy ground.  A few short odds favourites in the 2.20 and 3.50, both probably will handle the conditions, but I am watching them !  I thought Global Gift 4.20 had a good chance, he stayed on well to win at Carlisle on soft ground.  Only 4 line up as Wiretap is a non runner, Zip will handle the ground, a good second at the track 4 days ago, that was over 7f, todays 8f could stretch his stamina a bit.  Moon King 4.50 keeps winning, he is improving fast, and could well defy a 6lb penalty for his cosy win last time, that was 7 days ago.  A couple of horses of interest at Kempton this evening, at least the form is a bit more consistent, when any rainfall does not make a big difference compared to the grass.

More later.

Plenty of rain has fallen over the last 24 hours.  Looking at today’s cards, Lingfield has survived an inspection this morning.  This track on grass is clay based, so when it is soft/heavy ground, it is a real slog ! The clay makes it ‘tacky’ and very tiring for horses.  So with those conditions, I am avoiding it as a place to have a bet, unless betting in the first three races, as these are on the all weather surface.  Rosadora 3.00 meets Love Love today, on a different surface, and with a run under her belt.  She was just over 2 lengths behind Love Love at Windsor, and looks as though she has every chance of reversing the placing today.  It may well be quite a useful race, as there are some well bred types in it, Brazen Safa is another with a chance of the fillies that have raced.

A couple of races tonight are of interest, but I will likely watch a race or two before making a decision if  to bet or not.

Update-4.10 pm

The heavens have opened at Leicester and Stratford, it looks very testing conditions. Time to watch, and not get involved, unless you know your horse acts on soft ground.

More later.

With a forecast of rain around.  The best approach today is to watch a race or two from most tracks, before deciding if you want a bet.

At Leicester the ground will be on the softer side of good to soft, if they get a good bit of the wet stuff.  So with the possibility of rain, I am going to wait.  I do like a few horses at Leicester in the later races, depending on conditions underfoot.

More later.

o

I have been travelling today.  I missed watching most of the racing today, in watching the replays later I should be able to mark something up as a future winner.

Reflecting on the racing yesterday at Newmarket.  It was a good day, I played small stakes most of the day, a fair bit of rain made the ground a bit loose on top, a number of jockeys said it was riding a bit on the slow side of good.

One horse I was impressed with was Visinari 3.20.  He was a big horse, very leggy and still weak.  But he can really gallop, when he fills his big frame, he could be really smart.   He beat the short odds favourite Ottoman Court, who ran better than his debut run, he can win a race, another big horse, who will hopefully be given a bit of time to fill his frame as well.  A lot of horses caught the eye in the preliminaries,  the last race was won by Caradoc 5.35.  He stayed the 10f well.  I think this lightly raced 4 year old could well win again soon.  Nonchalance 4.30 stood out in the paddock, she looked really well in her coat. She won a shade cosy under Frankie Dettori, who was a late replacement for Ryan Moore.

More later.

Today I am going racing to Newmarket.  I am pleased I have my rain jacket ! It has been drizzling with rain for most of the morning.  The ground will likely ride good for the first few races, and if rain continues it will likely ride slower as the race day continues.  It is competitive, the first two handicap’s are races to go each way in.

I like to try and find followers a horse with a good chance on Saturdays.  Proschema 2.45 could be worth a small each way bet.  He should be ok with the rain, and has had a couple of runs so far in 2019.  I like the jockey, and this horse was highly regarded last year, he won on soft ground over 12f, and was a good second over 14f at York in October 2018.  Of a 2lb less rating today, he can be very competitive.

The rest of the card looks difficult. I have advised one at the track each way for my subscribers, hopefully it can run well.

More later.

A late post today.  I have been doing a lot of travelling.  But managed to find a  winner for my subscribers.  I advised Future Investment 9.00 Ripon tonight, to back without Dubai Tradition At 10/11.  He ended up as the outright winner from Dubai Tradition, so a good result.  Well ridden by Harry Bentley, with the ground on the easy side of good, it suited my selection.

With some good racing over the next few days, I am going to Newmarket races on Saturday.  Quite a few horses I follow entered, so it will be good to try and find a few winners.