I read last night that Persian King who I advised as an each way bet when 14/1 for next month’s 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, is favoured to run in the French equivalent, well I backed him with a firm who were Non runner no bet, so hopefully any one who has already had a bit each way,  will have done likewise, it is not set in stone that he will run in France, he likes good or faster ground, so his trainer has said it depends on the weather.

On to today’s cards.  Lots of meetings , as expected for a bank holiday Monday.  At Plumpton, quick ground has led to small fields, the 1.50 has Zanzi Win, who won recently at the track, going for a follow up, his win that day was made a bit easier when his main threat unseated its rider three hurdles from home.  Praeceps has been mixing it with better opposition of late, this looks a good opportunity for him to get his head back in front again.  The final race of the day at the track, has only two lining up.  Darebin comes off a poor run 30 days ago, he will need to put that effort behind him, he has been running well at a higher level prior to that, the trip of 17f should be ok for both of them although the faster ground will suit King Cnut well, and he won well at the track on his first try over fences. A spin of a coin to decide who wins !

At Redcar on the flat Hortzader 3.05 should follow up from his recent win, he had fair form in France, he bolted up last time over 8f, today’s drop back to 7f should not be a major concern.

Plenty of racing today.  With the ground drying out at most tracks, Market Rasen will have good ground, they do a fantastic job of keeping the track in perfect condition, lush grass, which is reported to ride like a carpet.  They have a really good watering system.

Racing gets started at 2.00 with a competitive Novice hurdle.  Mon Port had his own way last time when winning at the track, he was given a very good ride by today’s rider,  claimer Fergus Gregory.

I have been really impressed by this talented rider, he is excellent value for his 5lb allowance.  His chief rival today is Al Kherb who was pitched into a good handicap last time when well beaten at Ascot, he will not mind the quicker ground, it is hard to choose between the two of them, the Olly Murphy yard are in better form of late.  Small fields at Plumpton, He’s A Goer could well give Champion jockey Richard Johnson a winner in the 4.30, a good second last time, he has a solid chance in what looks a  less competitive event.

The news yesterday that big race favourite,  Too Darn Hot, has not yet recovered from his setback, and will be unable to run in the  2,000 Guineas in the first week of May.  Hopefully followers took my advise ( 20th March post) and had a bit each way on Persian King at 14/1 and Madhmoon 20/1.  Persian King is now 4/1 second favourite, he won easily in his trial in France, Madhmoon is currently 14/1 after a decent second on soft ground in his trial.  Both should give a good account of themselves if they run, I backed them both when they were good value. Too Darn Hot has an issue with a splint, which needs plenty of time to recover.  Hopefully he will be ready for some of the group races a bit later in the year, although he is in the Derby, he looked like a horse that was very speedy to me, I’m not convinced he will be as good over 12f.

Good cards today, Plenty of good racing both on the flat and over jumps.  Trying to find a winner or two is always the most difficult!

At Kempton on the flat racing starts at 1.25 with a two year old Novice Stakes over 5f.  Electric Ladyland will be bidding to follow up from her recent win at Lingfield, she did a good time on the clock that day, and could well be hard to beat again, she takes on two newcomers from good yards, the Godolphin owned Dark Of Night could be useful, although he is bound to be better over further judging his pedigree, Saeed Bin Suroor two year olds are known to improve for a run as well. The 3.45 is a listed race over 1 Mile, black type win or placing is always important to fillies when eventually retiring to stud.  Rawdaa heads the betting, around 4/1, this shows how open this race is.  If I was having a small each way bet it would likely be Anna Nerium, she competed at a good level last year, and should be fine over the trip, this race is more of a watching brief, as it could go the way of any one of six , and you would not be surprised.

Enola Gay 4.20 Haydock was a good winner last time, he has  claims of following up again today, with regular jockey Gavin Sheehan riding, he should be fine on the ground, which is currently good.

A good winner yesterday for my subscribers, after 5 days of no advised selections (including a non runner) I did like the  chances of Lord Lamington at Wolverhampton 8.00, he never looked in any real danger, and was a cosy winner at 2/1, so the patience paid off !

Good racing at Lingfield today on the all weather surface.  The lightning fast Kachy runs at 3.05 over 6f.  His only concern looks to be stall 8, it looks pretty straightforward if he gets a good break, he should win.  Encrypted could be the one to maybe try and get competitive, he is around 8/1, so each way with small stakes could be tempting.  The card starts at 1.30, with an open apprentice race, it often pays to back the best or rider who is doing well, a lot of these young jockeys have experience, and have ridden winners.  Gallipoli has been running well, he has course form and has a useful apprentice on top.  At 7/1 he is a bit of value each way.

Bath has its first meeting of the year, with the ground good to firm.  Global Prospector was an easy winner over 6f on debut, he runs in the opener at 1.50.  It looks to be a two horse race on form, the second in the betting The Cruising Lord has really good form from last year, his last run he was 4th in a pattern race over 5f, his current handicap is 98, so although that may be a bit inflated, in receipt of weight today from Global Prospector he has strong claims to give the odds on shot a real race.

Newcastle has all weather racing on the flat, with some competitive races.  I have a few horses I follow running, slight issue is that they are in the same races !

More later.

Looking at the races left today at Cheltenham.  The 4.55 is over 2 miles, the majority of the runners have shown their best form over further.  Pique Rock won well last time, that was over 2m 4f.  Positively ridden that day, which seemed to suit her,  she could well be ridden aggressively again today, especially dropping back in distance.  She would be my idea of the one to beat, Happy Diva is probably her main rival, although a definite preference for further than the 2 miles, is a concern.

At Newmarket, the 4.10 is over 9f, First Contact has been supported in the betting, I feel he is better over a shorter trip than this so I think if having a bet I would look beyond him.  It is a very open race, Elarqam was a very useful two year old, if he is anywhere near his old self having had wind surgery, he would be my choice at 5/1 each way.

A few entered tomorrow that look of interest, racing is very competitive over the next few days.

A late post today.  I have been doing a bit of travelling.  Looking at the results from Newmarket, Skardu won the 3.35 Craven Stakes, he was having only his second race of his life, so although he only won by a neck, a fair amount of improvement can be expected.  The dissapointing effort from Royal Marine, looks like he is not quite right yet, he was below par on his run on dirt at Meydan, so he is probably a horse to avoid currently !  It remains to be seen if he heads for the 2000 Guineas, which is looking very open, Too Darn Hot has an injury, and it is not clear if he will run, Ten Sovereigns, who is second favourite, looked to me last year that he is blessed with a lot of speed, so I’m not convinced he will be as good over 8f.  Uae Jewel was an impressive winner of the 1 Mile Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket, he looked useful and where he goes next, I am not sure yet, but he should be followed.  I have had a quiet week, no real bets of substance, I was interested in a horse today at Beverley, but he was withdrawn. Looking at the races this evening at Southwell, the 8.00 looks a competitive event for the track, two previous winners at the track head the betting.  Sense Of Belonging, who is trying the surface for the first time, could well be capable of upsetting the front two in the betting, useful form at two, given a break and trying a new surface might well give him a solid chance. You never fully know how they will handle Southwell, all I will say is if they handle ground on turf on the soft side, they will handle conditions better than something that wants fast ground grass conditions.

A couple of horses are entered to run over the next few days that I follow, hopefully the ground stays ok.

A  couple of decent races  today at Newmarket’s first meeting of 2019.  The 3.35 is a Group 3 event for three year old fillies over 7f.  A few of these will be hoping of winning or running very well, and then maybe running in one of the classics, either back at the track for the 1,000 Guineas in the first week of May, or either France or Ireland for the equivalent Guineas fillies races.  Todays race looks very open to me, Main Edition, Angels Hideaway and Mot Juste all have good form from last year, it all depends on how forward they are, I am not getting involved in the race, as I don’t know which way it will go.   The main three year olds colt event is at 3.00, a listed race over 9f, this is seen as more of a Derby trial.  Kick On and Western Australia are the front two in the betting, they met in a group 1 last year, that was over a mile on easier ground, The latter was a few lengths ahead in third that day, with Kick On back in 6th.  Western Australia has had a run this year, so may have the fitness edge, I think it is another race to watch closely, as Kadar is another potentially useful horse.  He won his maiden last year, and could be anything.

I looked at Exeter, and nothing really appealed as worth backing, Wolverhampton this evening looks pretty difficult as well, so not much of great interest today worth an investment, if I do back anything it will be small stakes.

Quite a decent card at Windsor today.  The ground is ok, I did think Deal A Dollar 4.00 could win under Ryan Moore, he has had one run when second, he has drifted in the betting from odds on to around 11/8.  Lots of support for Telecaster has caused the drift, but it’s not a one horse race, Ginistrelli won at Newmarket last year, he has a penalty, so will be dangerous as well, it is always difficult in the first few weeks of the flat, especially when it is the first run of the year as a three year old, some horses improve so much during the winter and cautious betting is required, unless you have heard they have been working like a machine !

It was good to see Persian King win easily yesterday, he was around 14/1 when I advised a small each way on him for the 2000 Guineas, with a firm that was NRNB.  If he goes to Newmarket he has a decent chance, I would not rule out my other tip Madhmoon either, hopefully both will line up.

Good racing at most tracks today.  Trial races at Newbury for potential classic contenders , the ground is on the soft side, it will likely be ok for Dancing Vega who runs in the 2.10, this 7f fillies Group 3 looks very open, Dancing Vega was really impressive when she won last year at Doncaster, her stable has not ran many of late, but it is the same for many of the trainers.  I think it is a trial to watch, as is the colts race at 2.40, which looks open as well, this was the planned trial for Too Darn Hot, who is current favourite for the 2000 Guineas in May, unfortunately he has met with a setback. The 1.40 at The track is a good race for the older horses over 12f.  I like two in this, Young Rascal is a really useful horse, he will have to be fit as Marmello and Defoe are very good horses as well, I just prefer Young Rascal as he acts well at the track, he has a few pounds to find with Defoe and Marmello, so small bets only. At Ayr, I like Secret Investor in the 3.00, he handles the faster ground, I just hope him and Monbeg Legend don’t set the race up for Ballywood, who tries the longer trip today and likes to come from off a good pace. It’s a day for small bets for me, the bookies could have a field day !

Today has some really good racing at Newbury on the level.  The most interesting race is the 4.10 10f conditions Stakes, some really strong market support overnight for Space Blues, at his current price of 11/10, I will leave him alone, I am not saying he will not win, but Turgenev is 4/1 with a few firms, I would rather back him each way, or without the favourite.  He has the strongest form of the field, his last run was in a Group 1, so this is a bit of a drop in class.

At Ayr over jumps, Galvin is favourite for the 1.50- he is the likely winner as I see it, a lot of these are running off below par effort, I just thought he had the best form, and ran well at Cheltenham.

More later.