It was a good way to go out yesterday for Ruby Walsh, he gave Kemboy a good ride to win at Punchestown, and then announced he was retiring.  Lots of racing rumours were that he was going to retire if he won the Aintree Grand National,  he had a good ride at Liverpool but his horse was not good enough.   Ruby has been a very good jockey, but age and injuries catch up with you, it’s one of the unfortunate hazards of being a jump jockey, riders go on longer when they are riding good horses, and Ruby has been riding the best for a lot of years.

It was mentioned yesterday that he was the best their has been for many years, I think Tony McCoy would have something  to say about that!

Both were very different types of rider, Ruby was always quiet and still on his horses, especially over an obstacle, Tony McCoy was the opposite, so both styles work !

The best jockey I had the privilege of riding against was John Francome, he was similar to Ruby, but in my opinion he was a few pounds better. Some really top riders around in the 80s and 90s, Richard Dunwoody, Hywel  Davies, Graham McCourt,Graham Bradley, Norman Williamson and my great friend Declan Murphy, I must not forget Peter Scudamore either.  I could name another half dozen top class riders at the time.  I would struggle to mention as many at the moment, we have a few decent National Hunt jockeys currently riding , but I don’t think current Champion Richard Johnson was as good as any of the ones I have mentioned.

Any way on to today’s racing.  Good cards on the flat and jumping.  At Mussleburgh it looks pretty tough, the first race has only three lining up, you could make a case for all of them.  Alright Sunshine has useful bumper form, he has to give a fair amount of weight away, through weight for age, it is an interesting race. The final race at 5.15  has Cosmic Ray trying to follow up for his recent win, I think he is the best horse in the race, stall 9 of 9 looks his biggest danger !

I may update later with something.

Hopefully followers backed the two short priced horses I advised yesterday.  Both won well.  Today has some good racing at Ascot, Barney Roy returns to the track at 4.25, he has not ran since 2017.  He has proved in fertile, so has returned to the track after an injury back in 2017.  A new trainer in Charlie Appleby, and new jockey today, he will need to be on his game for this race, I hear he is well forward and working well.  With an 8lb “well in” on ratings, he should win, but Waldisafa and Canvassed are both improving horses, Waldisafa has proven form on turf, he progressed through 2018, winning at Listed level on his last run at Sandown.  Canvassed has won 2-2, at much lower level, both on the all weather surface.  He is well regarded, so this will not be an easy introduction for Barney Roy, he will have to be very close to his rating.  The first race looks like Lady Pauline’s introduction to Ascot, with the Royal meeting as her target in June, she looked very good in her win in Keenland, and her time was exceptional.

I have had a few small bets today, I could not see a stand out priced selection, so fun bets for me today.

Great end to the month for my subscribers, Agent Basterfield was advised at 7/4 last night, backed into 6/5 he was a runaway winner of the 2.55 Brighton, taking the profit to over £800.00  for April,  not too bad for only £60 subscription !

Looking ahead to the rest of the day, the first day of Punchestown, it is really strong fields.  Klassical Deam 4.20, will be short odds to win, he should be hard to beat.

At Yarmouth Lake Volta will be hard to beat in the 4.15, he has had a run recently, and this is a step down in grade, he has been running in better races.  He also has Ryan Moore on top.

Another good WINNER yesterday for my subscribers, Ranch Hand 4.45 Southwell was advised on Sunday evening at 11/8, he returned at 10/11 after strong support, you won’t see many easier winners, 12 lengths being eased down by young William Carver.

Today is the last day of the month, currently at +6 points (£600.00) so happy with that, a couple of seconds that should of won, Sapa Inca was very unlucky a couple of weeks ago, one of Joe Fanning’s few poor rides, he doesn’t make many errors, unfortunately it happens. Looking ahead to a good May, the flat season starts to get really going, on Saturday Madhmoon (advised at 20/1) back in March, each way -takes his chance in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.  Current odds of around 13/2, so hopefully he can run a big one, the race is very open, If I had a choice of opting for one of the Aiden O’Brian runners at the head of the betting, it would be Magna Grecia, I have reservations on Ten Sovereigns staying the mile, you really need to get the trip well, especially in a Group 1 over a straight mile, I could be wrong, but Magna Grecia will have no issues, he should be strong at the finish.

More later with a bit of analysis on today’s racing.

Some decent cards today.  6 meetings including Ireland races at Naas.  At Wolverhampton Mokammal 4.35 can keep up the good form of the Sir Michael Stoute, his horses are in really rude health.  At Southwell in the 3.10 race, it looks a hot Novice stakes over 1 mile. The way Revamp ran on debut, he could be each way value at 7/1, obviously its his first try on the fibresand, so not totally sure he will handle the surface.  Native Silver is a winner at the track, he has drifted to around 6/1, he won quite well on debut, both have good chances each way.

I was taken by Waldgeist winning the Prix Ganay at Longchamp yesterday.  Although I do think Ghaiyyath (who I strongly fancied) ran a bit flat, he won ‘pulling a cart’ on his first run this year, he only beat Soliel Marin (4th ) by the same margin yesterday, when all out, plus he should of improved for his first run of the year, Soleil Marin was having his third run the last time they met ! I am putting a line through his run, he is still a horse to watch closely in Group 1 races, he may step up to 12f, which may suit him better.

Looking forward, some good racing midweek.  And the first Group 1 races for three year olds on Saturday and Sunday, its a good time of year, as the 2000 Guineas is always a guide to the Epsom Derby in June.

A good winner for subscribers yesterday.  Moonlight Spirit Advised at 7/4 , bolted up at Leicester 3:25, by 9 lengths-heavily backed into 5/6, hopefully I can end the month well , already 4.6 points profit.

I also advised followers to back Getaway Trump 9/2 winner at Sandown 1:50.

Today has some really good racing from France At Longchamp.  I spoke to my old work colleague yesterday Laurent Barbarin, he will be advising on Sky Sports racing today.  We both agreed Epic Hero 1:35 and Ghaiyyath 3:25 look very hard to beat.  Laurent is also keen on Morgan Le Faye 2:50.  A good race in Navan at 4:15, Capri should beat stable companion Southern France, obviously it is their first run of 2019, but Ryan Moore has chosen Capri, he is also ahead on ratings.

More tomorrow.

A bit of profit yesterday for Subscribers, I advised Ritchie Valens each way 1:40 at Doncaster , a good second at 11/1, I was prepared to back something at good odds against the winner, who did drift out to around 2/1, thankfully I didn’t lay him when he was 6/5 !

Hopefully followers backed Crystal Ocean who drifted out to almost odds on before running out a cosy winner at Sandown. I did mention I thought the favourite would win the 5:20 race at Chepstow ,  Jatiluwih managed to win under David Maxwell, he looked like winning easily before idling on the run in.

Today has lots of good racing.  The card at Sandown Park over jumps has really competitive fields.  The 1:50 is really competitive, the way top weight Getaway Trump won last time, I think he is the one to beat under 11.12 lb.  He will like the drier ground and is very honest. Altior looks a penalty kick at 3:00, hopefully he can end his season on a high.

At Leicester the 2:45 is a good race for only listed class.  Eqtidaar is a Group 1 winner over 6f, he would be my idea of the one to beat, the stable form is strong, I think he will be fine over the 7f as well.

The 2:40 at Haydock is a real head scratcher ! Tough race- I narrowed this race down to four with strong chances of winning , I might back a couple of them each way, Spirit Of Lund, Pour Me A Drink, Snow Storm and Ouzo, there is another couple of horses in it who I have marked up as future winners, but I don’t think today they will be ready.  The four I mentioned have all shown enough to be very competitive.

Today has some good racing on the flat and jumping.  At Doncaster on the level racing gets under way at 1.40 , Forest Of Dean heads the market, he was given a poor ride last time, he should of won, he is the one to beat but at 6/5 he is not value for me.  I would be willing to lay him at those odds, as he takes on a lot of unexposed rivals with chances of turning him over.   At Chepstow I thought the 5.20 would go the way of the favourite, although his amateur jockey is very ordinary, he rides lots of winners on horses he owns, I don’t back a lot of horses when the rider gives me no confidence!

At Sandown a lot of decent horses running, Crystal Ocean returns to the track, he should be fit enough to win, the Stoute horses are in good form, the filly I mentioned yesterday Jubiloso was a cosy winner last night at Chelmsford for the yard.

A good winner yesterday for my subscribers.  Old Jeroboam was advised at  9/4 yesterday morning, he did well to win the bumper at Southwell, he could be marked up a few pounds, as he raced wide, giving a lot of ground away.

Today a good number of meetings.  The second day of the Perth meeting, the ground will ride as good.  At Chelmsford this evening, the 6.00 has Hero Hero as short odds favourite, he will be hard to beat , although the unraced Jubiloso is well regarded and could give the favourite a race. Kempton has an evening jump meeting, small fields for the track as the ground is good to firm.  At Beverley the first race should go the way of Iva Go, a good second on debut, experience is worth a few pounds when taking on a lot of unraced rivals.

A late post today.  Hopefully some followers may of backed Praceps at Plumpton and Hortzadar at Redcar yesterday, both won well, short odds but any winner is a good price !

Todays remaining meetings are all weather at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  At Lingfield 6.25 Alnasherat runs in his first handicap, he either did not quite stay last time over 7f, or may of just needed the run.  It looks a well contested event, but this horse should be good enough to win, he has plenty of knee action, so I think he will be ok on the surface, he probably will not want fast ground on turf.

I am waiting for a couple of horses entered later in the week.  It all depends on the weather and opposition.

More tomorrow.