A late post today.  I’ve been so busy today, missed most of the racing so far.  Cantering to post at Thirsk for the 4.45.  Abate has the best form, and looks the likely one to beat.

I have advised one tonight for my subscribers, hopefully I can keep the winners coming.

Quite a few horses at Windsor races tonight of interest.  With decent ground, it could be a night to follow horses at the head of the betting market.

More later.

Really good start to the month.  Nahaarr was advised to my subscribers at 2/1 yesterday, a convincing Winner of the 7.15 Lingfield.  And just advised Inns Of Court 2.05 Chantilly as my selection today, he won very easily, hopefully I can have a good June.

I advised Anthony Van Dyck as my each way selection yesterday, he managed to stay on strongly to win the Investec Derby. Really good ride by Seamie Heffernan.  He is a very good tactical rider, switching left just over a furlong out helped his horse, as he had the rail, and his stick in the right hand.  Japan was a good third, so really good result.  I backed him each way a few months ago.

I have not much advise for my followers today.  The Qipco Prix du Jockey Club 3.25 at Chantilly, looks very competitive.  Persian King has done very little wrong, he keeps winning, and the drier ground today will be more suitable than his last run, even though he managed to win.  Stall 14 is his main problem.  I would expect his rider to take his time, and try and not race too wide, giving ground away is vital in any race.  Raise You steps up in class today, he looked very useful when winning at Listed level at Newmarket 15 days ago.  I really like his jockey, I am tempted to have a small each way bet on him, although I think Persian King is the one they all have to beat.

The big day is here.  The Investec Derby at Epsom today, is the most prestigious race for three year old colts and fillies in Europe.  The unique racecourse is a test in every aspect, you need class, speed, stamina, and luck to win.  We have seen some hard luck stories over the years.  Everyone remembers Dancing Brave, he came from so far back when a running on second to Sharastani, back in the 80’s.  I was fortunate enough to get to know Greville Starkey , he was in Dubai with Singspiel in 1997, riding him in his training before he won the Dubai World Cup.  I was assistant trainer for Mark Tompkins at the time, and was riding Even Top, who ran in the same race, who ran ok, but he didn’t stay 10f.

I asked Greville one day if he thought he should of won (Dancing Brave) he looked at me and said he didn’t handle the track very well, and got shuffled back through the pack, and it was very difficult to make up ground, especially as Walter Swinburn had a dream ride on Sharastani, and he just could not peg him back. Greville was a lovely man, very funny, and we had some fun days and nights, we were both preparing the horses, for about 6 weeks, prior to the big race.

So with all that information in mind.  I am backing Anthony Van Dyck each way.  The race is very open. I have heard that Ryan Moore thinks his mount Sir Dragonet is a very good horse, his problem is stall 13, and inexperience.  He also races on faster ground today than he has encountered before. I have a small investment on Japan each way at good odds, that was an ante post wager, so if he wins, I won’t be upset. Anthony Van Dyck has experience, a good jockey and has class and all the other ingredients.

Lots of great racing to digest, and finding winners on a Saturday is always a nightmare.  I have sent my subscribers a selection this evening, hopefully I have found them a winner.

More later.

Just heading to post for the Oaks at Epsom.  Pink Dogwood looks a million dollars cantering down.  I think it’s between her and Mehdaayih, I favour the Ryan Moore factor, on the former.  It is a good race.

More later.

Strong fields today. I fancy a few at Sandown tonight.  It looks like the ground will be good to firm, so a level playing field for everyone.

At Lingfield 3.30 Enzemble has a decent chance of winning.  He has a good man on top, and this small field could well play to his strengths.

Yarmouth always has some decent horses running at the Norfolk track.  The big Newmarket stables like running horses at the track, it is usually well maintained ground, and a fair track.  Velorum 4.20 was impressive at Newmarket when winning recently, he should win again today.  The 4.50 sees Dragon Sun going for a hat trick of wins.  He has a solid chance, although he will need to have taken a step forward again, this is more competitive than what he has faced so far, but he looks progressive, and winning gives confidence.

More later.

Rain has fallen at Hamilton, the ground is riding soft.  I have left the card alone, because of the change in the weather.

I thought the cards were quite difficult to work out today.  The forecast is looking like dry conditions in the Epsom area over the next few days.  I would think the ground will be perfect for the meeting.  The year is going fast, we are approaching the Derby weekend.  It looks quite open at the moment.  It will be good to see the way Ryan Moore goes in riding one for the Ballydoyle team.  I would not be surprised to see him ride Anthony Van Dyk.  It looks difficult to choose which one is the best of them.

More tomorrow.

Update: 8.16pm

I am going to back Addis Ababa 8.20 Ayr, only a small stakes bet, as he is a bit quirky.  Today he has first time cheekpieces.  He clearly did not stay the 1m 4f last time at York.  The drop back to 10f will be much better for this horse.  A number of these horses have in and out form, Mulligatawny ran well last time, the ground was soft that day, and  he is a horse that possibly is at his best when the ground is not as quick as good to firm, the likely main rival to my selection could be Mutamaded.

A later post today.  Another Winner today for my subscribers, Franz Khafta 3.00 Brighton was advised at 10/11 earlier today, heavily backed into 8/15 !  The result never looked in doubt, he made all the running under Robert Havlin, a shade cosy length victory. The only rival is definitely one to avoid, Current Option pulls hard, and when asked to go, he does not put everything in.

Looking at the races left, a couple of horses I like at both evening cards.  I am going to watch them in the preliminaries, so look for a late update at 6.35, and possibly 8.15.

More later.

The bank holiday cards look good today.  With dry wether conditions, look for something that likes or has previous form on ground of the same.  I watch numerous replay’s and video footage of horses before backing them. Good horses go on any ground, obviously they have a preference.  I have mentioned previously about my years when working for Godolphin, the stand out horse whilst I was with them was Dubai Millennium, he handled soft ground well, good ground was ideal, he was also brilliant on the dirt, and proved that when he won the Dubai World Cup in 2000.  He never raced on ground that was firm, he would of won on it, but it would of not been ideal.

I do think Rathbone 2.55 Leicester has a good chance of winning again today. He won well last time at Pontefract.  This horse was thought very useful last year, before he even set foot on a racetrack.  Having been castrated during the winter, he looked a better horse for it.

I may well update later with another horse around 3.30 pm, just waiting for some information.

I did not get to involved with the racing today.  It was another convincing win for Hermosa, she put daylight between herself and rivals at the Curragh 4.25. In winning this Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas, she will probably head to Royal Ascot in June for the Group 1 three year old fillies race.  The way she won today, she is going to be very difficult to beat, all being well.

Her trainer Aidan O’Brian was earlier successful with Magical at 3.50, she won as she like in the €400,000 added Tattersalls Gold Cup over 10f.  She is a very big unit, and should bag another few Group race wins before the season is over.

Tomorrow has some good cards, both flat and jumping.  I will try to advise a couple of horses with live chances of winning tomorrow am.