A cracking days racing today.  Lots of competitive fields at Newbury.  The main race of the day at 3.40 is the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, run over the straight mile.  It looks quite open to me.  It is a race I will probably watch, but not have a bet.  It could go the way of one of six, and it would be no surprise.  I do think Crystal Ocean will win the 2.25, he won well last time, when not fully wound up.  He is a really nice horse, and the Stoute trained horses are in good shape.

At Newmarket Al Hilalee drops down massively in grade from his last run, that was in the Group 1 2,000 Guineas.  He didn’t disgrace himself that day.  The 10f today should suit him, and I think he has a good chance of winning.  The 5.05 at Thirsk is a really good race, some nice three year olds in this Novice Stakes over 12f.  I think I would be prepared to lay the favourite Selino in this, he has 4 strong dangers.

Reflecting on the racing yesterday.  It was good to see Stradivarius win at York.  He is very honest, the main target for him will be the Ascot Gold Cup again at the Royal meeting in June.

A late post today.  The biggest race for three year old colts today at York was the Dante Stakes, a Group 2 over 10f.  This is usually one of the main Derby trials of the year.  Too Darn Hot was short priced favourite to win, his first run of 2019, plus his first try over 10f.  He ran a good race, Telecaster the winner has only had the two runs prior to his step into Group class today.  He stayed on well to win by about a length from Too Darn Hot, who was given a bit to do by his jockey.  If they meet again over 10f, I think I would back Too Darn Hot.

With regard to Too Darn Hot heading for the Epsom Derby, I would not be backing him, I have never been convinced he will get the 12f, if he was mine, he would be prepared for a crack at the St James’s Palace Stakes over 8f at the Royal Ascot meeting in June.

I will try and put a post out tomorrow morning with something worth a bit of interest.

A number of meetings today, 7 if including the two meetings in Ireland at Tramore and Killarney.  Competitive fields at Beverley on the flat, I thought the 4.50 was really tough to solve, for three year olds over 12f.  A number of these are trying the trip for the first time, you have to stay very well at Beverley, as the finish is a gradual climb to the winning post. Nordano has been running well, he was a good second on similar ground last time, that was over 14f, he will have no problem with the drop in trip and should be bang in the mix again today.  Jazz Hands is honest, he should be ok over the extra trip, these are low grade horses, but if they try, which I think the two I have mentioned do, there is always hope for them of getting their head in front.  Casanova looks to have found the right opportunity at 5.25 to get of the mark, this son of Frankel was only just ran out of it last time, Astrologer and Jabalaly could be his biggest rivals.

I am having a few small stakes interest bets only, the rest of the week looks like being a cracking few days racing, York has some really good horses entered. The main race I am looking forward to, is the Dante Stakes on Thursday.

‘ore tomorrow.

A late post today.  Godolphin won both classic races yesterday at Longchamp.  Persian King was able to overcome the heavy ground to win by a length.  He is a really classy colt, and will likely head for the French Derby now.  Classy Lady was the winner of the French 1,000 Guineas, so a good day for the boys in blue.

Only 1 race left today at Windsor.  The ground has dried out.  Some good racing over the next few days at York.  Hopefully I can find a winner or two. The meeting is very difficult to back winners, but some real quality entries.  The Dante Stakes, which will be a really good trial for the Epsom Derby next month.  Too Darn Hot, Japan and Line Of Duty all really top form as two year olds, it will be like a ‘mini’ Derby, I am still sceptical about Too Darn Hot staying the 12f at Epsom, he is bred to get the distance, but he looked a horse with loads of speed last year.  It will be a good race to watch, I just have a feeling Japan could be a very useful prospect, we will know a lot more after the race.

More tomorrow.

Today has the French three year old colts and fillies classic’s.  Both are over the 1 mile turf track at Longchamp.  Heavy rain has fallen, Persian King will not be at his best on the soft/heavy turf, Andre Fabre could well of made an error missing the English 2,000 Guineas, where the ground was on the fast side.  I would not back Persian King on the ground, I think he is the best horse in the race, but Anodor could well be a good alternative each way at odds of around 10/1, he is unproven on the soft/heavy ground, but did little wrong at two, and I think he can run a big race.

In Ireland Broome will be short odds to win at 3.25, he should be hard to beat.

Nothing much of interest at the jump meetings, I may update later.

A late post, I was sidetracked most of the day with Other sports !

I backed Setting Sail 2.15 Ascot, who ran with the choke out in the early stages of his race, unfortunately you don’t get home at Ascot or most tracks when you don’t relax.  Maybe he will drop back to 10f on the grass, or an easier 12f.  Ascot is stiff and you need to stay very well, he simply didn’t !

I backed Anthony Van Dyk in running at Lingfield 2.30, who was another good winner for the powerful Aiden O’Brian stable.  He has won most of the Derby trials so far, he runs a few more over the next week or so, Japan is pencilled in For York next week, he will likely run in the Dante Stakes, with the likelihood of meeting Too Darn Hot, so that could be some race.

I will try and watch the French racing tomorrow.  Persian King runs in the French 2000 Guineas.  He will be short odds to win, but he is a very good horse, and it will take a good one to beat him.

More tomorrow.

Hopefully followers will have took my advise and layed Borehan yesterday at Chelmsford 7.00, he looked once again that he is a real one to avoid. I am not a massive fan of laying, but I did lay him.  The ground at Chester turned soft, plenty of rain yesterday. It is a hard track to back winners when the ground is good, so I have not really had a bet since Wednesday.  The big race today is the Sportpesa Chester Cup Handicap at 3.35, it looks as tough as ever. I am avoiding having a bet at Chester, plus a lot of rain around, so horses with form on ground on the easy side is a must.  Lots of withdrawals at Ascot, I assume the majority have been scratched because of the going change.  The ground at Market Rasen looks as though it is decent, I just saw the first race, won by St Gallen. At Nottingham this evening, Twist ‘N’ Shake was a good second last time at Newmarket, she was beaten by a very good filly that day, I’m not backing her at odds on, Audarya would be my each way pick.

I will hopefully find an each way selection at a decent price tomorrow for followers to back.

A good card at Chester today.  I like the chances of Kew Gardens 3.35, if he is anywhere near his Leger winning form, he will win, despite his 7lb penalty.  At Chelmsford tonight, the 7.00 looks an interesting race for a small field.  I would be prepared to take the favourite on, Borehan does not look totally straightforward to me, at 5/4 he would be my idea of a lay.  The ground at Huntingdon will be good, it is usually well looked after by the ground staff at the track.  The 1.40 looks a good opportunity for the favourite to get his hurdle career of to a good start, he won quite well last time in a bumper at Warwick.  The 4.15 Worcester looks a penalty kick for Sunrise Baby, although short odds in a Mares race is not of great appeal !

More  later.

A late post today.  Couple of good winners yesterday for my followers.  Both won well at Exeter.   Darcy Ward 7.20, jumped well and likes quick ground, he could win again.  Story Of Friends 8.20 was a good winner of the bumper, it’s hard to know what he beat, and it is always hard trying to follow up under a penalty, if his trainer decides to try and win another one.

A fair amount of rain around throughout today.  I backed one at Chester, who ran ok, no excuses on the ground, I just think the winner is a very good horse. Sir Dragonet looked a more than useful horse, he only had his first run 13 days ago, the O’Brian horses look very strong this year so far.  Japan is another horse I really like, he is pencilled in to run at the weekend in a Derby trial , possibly in Ireland.  A great ride by Shane Kelly today on Gossiping, he galvanised his mount to get up on the line in the 5.05 to win by a nose.  Tomorrow has some good races at Chester, hopefully I can find a winner.  It is a really difficult track, some horses just do not handle the sharp bends, you really want a horse that is a strong traveller, as it is difficult to make ground on a lazy type, you get pushed wide if your horse loses its place, and it makes it very difficult to get back into the contest. Franny Norton is a jockey who rides the track very well, he usually has an excellent strike rate, winners to rides.

More later.

A good days racing yesterday at Guernsey races (L’Ancresse).  Three winners for David Evans and two for Mick Appleby, only 5 races on the day so it was a clean sweep for UK trained horses. The track is very sharp, right handed over about 7f, you need a strong traveller, who likes fast ground !

Hopefully followers may of had the forecast yesterday at Kempton 2.55 , it paid just over 5/1 so that was good. I hope my other selection Tommy Silver is going to be ok, he jumped the fourth last with a good lead, but was pulled up quickly soon after.  He looked as though he may of injured himself behind, fingers crossed it is a “knock” or muscle injury only.

Todays jump meeting at Exeter has small fields, the ground is on the quick side.  If Story Of Friends acts ok on it, he could well win the last race at 8.20.  Of rivals, Mario De Pail, was well backed on his first run when 3rd at Plumpton, he should progress from that run.  A lot of unraced horses in the line up, who may be useful, so it is interest betting only.  Darcy Ward jumped well on his first run over fences over course and distance last time, he should be ok on the ground, and will be hard to beat again in the 7.20.  His threat is Triple Chief, who has no weight on his back, but will not like the ground as much as Darcy Ward.