A delay at Fakenham, they have only raced the first two races, the 3.10 is going ahead in the next 5 minutes or so, not sure what the delay was for as I have been out of the house.  I did think Canyon City in the 3.10 , would stay the step up in trip and defy top weight.  Some average racing today I thought, at least the ground is not too soft at either turf track.

Every thing at the moment seems to be trainers getting ready for next weeks big meeting at Cheltenham.  The only ante post bet I have had was a few weeks ago, I backed Sir Erec for the Triumph hurdle at 11/4 , he is currently around 6/4 at the moment.  It is always a good meeting, and always hard to find winners, as everything is trying for their lives !

More later.

Looking at today’s racing.  Huntingdon card starts at 2.00 pm.  Some nice novices line up in this, Jimmy The Digger was really impressive in winning his bumper at Ludlow when last seen.  If he jumps well, he would be my choice in this race, his two main rivals, Ferobin, who has had a run over hurdles when second and Sammy Bill who showed promise on his hurdle debut, will be no pushovers.  I just thought that Jimmy The Digger had the best bumper form, looks a big unit, and if he likes jumping, he was the one to beat.  It could be a good race to watch as all three look well fancied by connections. Not too much else catches my attention today at the other meetings.  I did see that One For Arthur was a non runner at Kelso yesterday, this former Grand National winner was withdrawn, possibly because of the ground, although I am not certain of the exact reason.  It was a dissapointing day for favourite backers, a day for horses at decent odds.  I did think the last race was one that Aye Right could win, he was odds against in the morning, heavily backed into 4/6, he was not quite good enough to win, finishing a close second, possibly the 11.12 he carried was just beyond him.

Looking at the remaining races today.  I thought Le Torrent was good value at 5/1 in the 5.00 Lingfield, I have had a bit each way, I’m not too familiar with his apprentice , so only a cautious bet.  He has been fragile to train, but is talented and won well last time at Kempton,  coming from a long lay off that day.  At the evening meeting at Chelmsford tonight, the first race is a three year old Novice event.  Mustadun carries a penalty for his win at Newcastle 12 days ago, he looks a nice type.  The money in the betting market has been for the unraced  Moftris, he will have to be above average to beat Mustadun.  The rest of the races looking quite difficult to work out, White Coat is very short odds to win the 6.00, although a lot of this field are totally unexposed and could well be anything.   So I am not sure I would play the odds on shot in a 14 runner race.

More tomorrow.

I have missed most of today’s racing, travelling to the UK.  Looking at tonight’s evening meeting at Newcastle and Dundalk, I thought Edgewood could give Solar Park a race at 7.30, the short odds favourite Solar Park was really impressive when winning last time, although he had very little to beat that day.  I think it will be a closer race than the betting market sees it. At Dundalk the 7.45 is a really hot race, Western Australia looks the first string of the Ballydoyle stable, Barys of the Archie Watson stable, won well last time in France, he likes the all weather and likes to make the running, he could well run another good race at decent odds.

More tomorrow.

I just saw the first race at Mussleburgh at 1.35, the 1/2 favourite Constancio was leading when he ran out approaching the fourth flight, his jockey did his best to try and straighten his mount, but the horse was having none of it, he had just passed the stable yard on his left, and looked as though he knew where he was, a cock of his jaw and he was out of the race.

A bit of rain has fallen, but the majority of tracks probably needed some rain.  Looking at the racing today, it looks a good card at Meydan in the UAE.  Probably another day to back the Godolphin horses, but with three or more in a lot of the races, it’s tough.  I did think On The Warpath 5.25 would be ideally suited by the drop back to 7f today, he is a strong traveller, and struggled to see the 1 Mile trip out well on his recent runs.

At Ludlow the 3.00 is a decent race for a small field, I think you could make a case for three off the 5 runners.  Top weight Earlofthecotswolds is improving, and possibly just shades it here.  The 2.25 is just about to start, Kupatana is having her first run for Paul Nicholls today, she is 4/7 to win, she is not the most reliable jumper, but the very likely winner.

With only Kempton evening meeting left today, I have not had a bet at the day meetings, a couple of horses I was looking at this evening.  But one is poorly drawn, so I will watch it run.  Hungarian Rhapsody won last time, he made virtually all the running that day, and from his 9 stall this evening, he will need a lot of luck to be able to get his own way.  He runs at 8.00, in a race that is open enough. Verdana Blue is very short odds to win again in the 6.00, she should be more than good enough, this mare was a game winner over hurdles when last seen, she beat her stable mate that day, who is no less than current dual Champion hurdler Buvair D’Air.

The final race on tonight’s card looks very competitive.  Riva’s Rob Roy has been running well of late, he could again be right in the mix.

A late post today.  Of the remaining races left at Wolverhampton tonight, Martineo runs in the 6.00 , he looks as though he has a solid chance again.  He won from off the pace last time, probably needs a strong pace to aim at.

Looking ahead, some good races tomorrow, hopefully I can a winner over the next few days of February and end the month well, it’s been ok month considering the amount of racing missed with the abandonment of racing for 6 days or more.

More later.

Hopefully followers may have backed Gregarious yesterday, he drifted to 6/4 briefly before returning at 5/4, winning easily in the 4.15 Carlisle.  Today has some decent racing at Ayr, the bumper at 5.00 has seen strong support in the betting for untraced Nickolson, he will have to be smart to make a winning start, as Arian Sky was a good winner last time at the track.  At Uttoxeter the 4.10 looks a decent contest for a Novice hurdle.  The Cashel Man has been backed as though he will be hard to beat, his run last time was good.  If he had jumped the final hurdle slicker on his debut, The Cashel Man would of been here with a winners penalty. It looks to me like Trio For Rio will run well again, he might be the main threat to the favourite.  Later in the card at 4.15, only four runners line up, it’s a race I looked at, and found question marks with all of them, Crucial Role has the best form, but has broken blood vessels on two of his last three runs, so at 11/8 I will avoid, if Rock My Style gets his jumping together, he could likely win, but he jumped poorly last time, it’s a race to watch !

More later.

 

Just the two meetings in the UK today, and Naas in Ireland.  I just watched the last race at Carlisle 3.10, the favourite River Glades unseated it’s rider 3 out, when a long way clear, leaving a group of horses all in a bunch, I was surprised on Brian Hughes ride on For Three, as he took a massive pull on the horse after jumping the third last and then subsequently seemed to think his mount would pick the leader up whenever he wanted as they approached the final flight, only to be beaten about a neck at the line. For me he dissapointed his horse, when he did the massive yank on the reigns at a crucial stage of the race, and I think it cost him the race.

Looking at the remaining races Gregarious 4.15 has found a weak race, if he comes back to anywhere near his best form, he will be hard to beat, Although I am not one to get heavily involved in backing horses off a few poor runs, so possibly an interest bet only if he is value in price, he is currently not great value at 6/5 !

More later.

Another competitive Saturday days racing ahead.  Wissahickon will be a short odds favourite to win again at Lingfield 3.15, he was impressive in his last win at the Surrey track, and will be hard to beat again. Some other very tricky races at the meeting, it’s strange to have a walk over on a Saturday, but we have one in the 4.10 !

It is good racing at Kempton.  The 3.00 has some really promising types lining up, if I was having a bet it would be Tokey Dokey each way, he is around 12/1, it’s a jump in class today, but he has won 3 from 3 so knows how to win. At Chepstow Dickie Diver was a really good second last time, he runs at 2.30 and will be very short odds to win this maiden hurdle.

At Wolverhampton this evening Alkaamel 7.00 has been really impressive in his two wins recently , he will be hard to stop again today.

More later.