Having just watched the first race at Newton Abbot, where the eventual winner Stepney Causeway was left at the start by over 25 Lengths, yet managed to get up on the run-in and win by about a head. It was a good ride by Harry Reed as he did not rush his horse in the early part of the race and just crept into a slowly run affair. The ride on the runner-up Valentino Dancer who was odds on to win was less inspiring. As far as I know, Paddy Brennan is qualified as a jockey coach. He is one of the most untidy riders in the weighing room and does plenty wrong himself, especially in a finish. He is decent over an obstacle and presenting his horses at a jump but I am baffled as to why someone as ‘messy’ in a finish can teach young riders. He has no contact with the horse’s mouth, his reigns are dangling, and he is a complete shambles at the business end of a race as I see it. One thing I was taught and it is vital in a finish, if you have the horse balanced and collected, they will run in as straight a line as possible to the winning post. If you have no contact with the horse’s mouth and are riding like Paddy does, they wander off a straight line, and lose momentum and give ground away- it’s that simple. I think Paddy needs coaching himself.

On to the rest of today. At Dax this evening in France 5.52, I like Messina who is around 9/4 with most firms. She won in Madrid on debut and then ran second. Her latest effort was in Listed company where she was fifth, and was not beaten very far. This is much calmer waters and the favourite Sparkling Light looked too keen last time and did not finish her race off. I think Messina is a bit of value and can get the job done.

Looking at the racing from Goodwood yesterday, I thought the French filly Blue Rose Cen was an unlucky loser. She was fourth in the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares. Her rider tried to make ground on the inside 2f from home when not having sufficient room at a crucial stage, Ryan Moore rightly closed the door on his mount Above The Curve. It was pilot error from the French rider Aurelien Lemaitre who then found he was boxed in behind the winner Al Husn and Above The Curve.

On to today. I like a couple in France, Kalca Mome 2.07 Saint Malo and Keller Dodville, who has Christophe Soumillon on top, he goes in the 3.00 Clairefontaine. Both ran well on debut and should improve a good deal for that experience.

More soon.

Apologies for no post on Saturday. It was a strange race the Group 1 King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot. The front pair in the betting, Auguste Rodin and Emily Upjohn ran no sort of races. The O’Brian horse was beaten fully 3 furlongs from home. He must have some issue and it was a similar story with the filly Emily Upjohn, she found nothing when asked to go by her rider Frankie Detttori.

It ended up a good finish with Hukum just prevailing from Westover. I thought both horses got good rides, and the best horse won.

On to today. At Vittel in France I like Haiti Du Berlais in the 11.10 race, she is around 11/10 and although she has top weight, she won well last time and should be too good for her rivals.

At Lingfield this evening I like Magic Memories each way in the 6.57 race, he has not got the ideal draw in 3 but ran well last time when third at Windsor and if he can master the current favourite Molaqab, he should win. He is around 11/2 with most firms.

More soon.

Good racing today with 6 meetings in the UK and Down Royal and Cork in Ireland. At Ascot where the ground like most tracks at the moment will be on the soft side. I thought Gaassee could have a good chance of getting back in the winners enclosure 3.35. His stable are in form and he should be fine on the ground. At Thirsk where it will be soft ground, Darnation 2.35 was a good third on debut at Haydock at the start of this month, with progress expected from that run she could be worth backing at around 3/1.

At Newmarket this evening, racing gets under way at 5.52. The son of Calyx and current favourite is Habrdi who makes his debut, he looks good on paper and is from the astute George Boughey yard. He could be well drawn in 14 and has been showing some talent on the gallops. Naqeeb will be short odds to win the 7.35 race, he stayed on strongly last time at Newbury over 10f, today he has an extra 2f and should be too smart for his rivals.

I will put a post out tomorrow, with a really good card at Ascot. The big race at 3.40 is the King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) with a really top-class field. I am not sure what I would back if given a choice, possibly Emily Upjohn each way as she has Dettori back on top. It is an open race and looks like a really intriguing contest.

Some good racing today at Newbury where the going should be good. Maximum Dividend 2.25 was a good second at Sandown earlier this month and will improve a good deal for that run. He can be too smart for his rivals, although I have heard that the Roger Varian horse Boiling Point is nice. At Newmarket this evening I like Ziryab in the 7.30 race, he ran well at Ascot on his last run and should get the better of the older rival Royal Symbol.

In France at Vichy where the going could be on the soft side, Pepete 3.00 has been second on her last three runs. She wears cheekpieces but looks honest enough and this looks her best opportunity so far to win. She was second to a useful horse in Kumaite twice, and nothing of his quality line up unless the unraced Astra Dream is useful.

More soon.

Some good racing today in France at Dieppe. I like two horses in the 12.12 race. Kenito should just get the better of Krakan, both have had one run over hurdles so far, the former was second at Compiegne and Krakan was third on his only run, when he was tenderly handled. I think it is between the two of them.

At Hamilton George Boughey sends Crows Nest on the long journey north from his Newmarket base, he was a nice third at Windsor on debut behind a couple of horses with experience. He looks as though if he beats Macauleys Tavern he can win the 2.30 which is over 6 furlongs.

More later.

Today at Aintree it is the Grand National at 5.15pm. Trying to find the winner this year looks as difficult as always. If I have an interest bet it will be Delta Work, who ran well last year when 3rd. He handles soft ground and has been in good form, so a lot of ticks! I also think Le Milos could run a good race, possibly the biggest concern is will he stay the trip !

I always find trying to find a winner on a Saturday very difficult, more so than any other day of the week. One horse I do like is Kandy Park in the 10.40 Moulins. A good 2nd on debut at Lignieres last month, he stayed on stoutly and was beaten by just over 1 length. I think he could go one better today, in a French bumper race. Hopefully he can get the day off to a good start.

More soon.

Back from a break, hopefully I can find a winner or two today. At Huntingdon today the ground will be good. Pass The Love On 1.15 should get favourite backers off to a good start. She ran ok last time over 2 miles, and should relish the step up in trip today. It may be a day to back the short odds runners in France as well, at Auteuil Il Est Francais has a change of jockey today, his regular rider James Reveley is out with injury, and is replaced by Felix De Giles. He will be hard to beat in the Grade 3 race at 2.50. At Pornichet later today, Endless Chain 4.17 will be hard to beat, she was a bit unlucky last time, when she had a wide trip, and was only beaten as the winner got the jump on her from 2 Furlongs out, and ran on strongly in the straight from a better ride on the inside rail saving lots of ground on the tight left handed track.

More soon.

With the recent cold snap taking its toll on a few scheduled race meetings today, I have looked at Cagnes Sur Mer in France. in the 10.50 race Swing For Me has solid claims, he was given a fair bit to do last time, and with only 5 runners here, he will be closer to the pace, he is a tad keen, so i would think Demuro will try to get a bit of cover if possible, and close late. His likely main threat is Hoxton, who has solid form, she ran a decent second on the all weather surface last time at Lyon La Soie, although its a big drop in trip today, so preference is for Swing For Me.
More soon.

Very testing going at the moment, with lots of rain around. Plumpton has an inspection at 8.30 am to see if they can go ahead with the racing.
At Wolverhampton, where racing should have no problems because of rain, I do like Cicely in the 1.40, she has put in two good runs since being acquired at the October sales by her trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy and her improved run last time was possibly because of the cheek pieces first time, so with a 5lb rise she will be hard to beat again. She is around 11/8.
City Escape is a lot better off at the weights with Cicely today, so could be worth a few quid each way as well at around 11/2 generally.
More later.