Cilaos Emery won well yesterday, I put him on my post as one to win, he was clear on ratings (hurdles) although it was a chase yesterday.  He looks a useful type to follow.

Today has some good racing.  Tough races to find a winner I thought.  Magic Of Light 2:40 Huntingdon looks tough to beat, she won well recently.  If she turns up in the same from, she will be hard to beat, although today is over fences, but she has won over both, so a big chance. At Lingfield Little Rock could well serve it up to short priced favourite Harvey Dent, 10f could be a plus for Little Rock, he ran well last time over 7f.

More later.

Hopefully followers may of backed Choice Encounter last night at Kempton, I thought he was the one to beat 6:45.  He stayed on well to win by a nose ! I think Hollie Doyle has improved as a jockey since losing her claim, she rides a lot for Archie Watson, and does well for him.

Todays turf UK meetings have been abandoned.  Gowran currently goes ahead in Ireland, Cilaos Emery 3:35 is an interesting runner, he has the best form over hurdles, and if he runs anywhere near to his 159 rating, he will be hard to beat in this Beginners Chase, Ruby Walsh has opted to ride him.

At Meydan the racing looks good.  Some very tough races to work out the winners.  Sometimes it pays to back the second or third string of Godolphin in races, and that may be the same today, the 3:40 has 6 Godolphin runners, in a field of 9, both Saeed Bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby have three each, finding the winner looks tough.  First Contact at 12/1 may well be worth a small each way.

More later.

A good WINNER yesterday for my subscribers, Clondaw Castle 1:40 Leicester strolled home at 6/4, it was only a three horse race, I opposed the odds on favourite, simply because he had a lot of question marks, jumping, enthusiasm, and first run of year.  He was rated 12lb ahead over hurdles, than my selection,  but it was a chase yesterday, and his previous race over fences, was poor.

Anyway on to today, two turf meetings have been abandoned, the two remaining are on the all weather.  At Lingfield racing gets started at 1.00, a tricky first race, I like one in the second, and the third race at 2:05 looks a moderate event.  If Turn To Rock is any good, he has an ideal chance to win, as the favourite is not very good.  At Kempton later today Choice Encounter looks to follow up on a recent win at 6:45, he could well be hard to beat.

I was just talking to a good friend this morning, former top jockey Declan Murphy.  He was in good form, said the weather is cold in the UK, and he was looking forward to going back to Madrid soon, he spends most of his time living in Spain now, always good to speak to him.  He made an amazing recovery from his awful fall, back in 1994.   He had great belief that he would get well again, after his fall, such a shame his career as a jockey was cut short, he was a very talented rider.

Looking at today’s cards, at Kelso a few small fields.  I thought Elvis Mail would likely beat Erik The Red, although the latter’s flat ability was of a high level,  intersting to see his new hurdling career start today.   I saw Elvis Mail win last time, she won well.

At Newcastle Straight Right 5:15, who is a course and distance winner, could win again.  Stargazer is another that likes the track, he runs at 4:10, he is in good form and improving.  His likely main threat will come from Loud And Clear, who is on a career high mark at the age of 8, which is rare on the flat.

More Later.

Delighted to get a WINNER for my subscribers yesterday, Destrier 2.00 Ayr was advised at 5/6 in the morning, he won like his very short odds of 1/2 should, jumping well and winning easily.

Todays meeting at Sedgefield has survived three inspections , but goes ahead.  Looking at the card it looks quite tricky.  One horse I thought would probably win was Beallandendall 2.20, he has to overcome a heavy fall on his last run, so probably when having a bet, in play would be the best option, watch him jump the first two fences, and then back him ! Briac who is the favourite, fell on his only run over fences, so he is another that has a question mark.

At Warwick today the 1.30 looks like being a decent race.  I prefer the favourite Yellow Dockets to Shantung, although I think it will be closer than they are in the betting market. Hopefully the weather does not get too bad over the next few days, and we can continue with plenty of racing.

More Later.

Hopefully followers may of backed Negarious last night at Wolverhampton, he returned at 2/1, so decent value.

Todays racing at Exeter looks competitive,  the 1:45 looks like good chance for Halton Hill to get a win, it won’t be easy though as Golden Promise has been running well, and has a decent claimer taking 5lb off his back.  The 4:30 Exeter is a bumper, a lot of money has been shown for Saint De Reve in the betting market. One horse I think that will be tough to beat today at Thurles is First Approach 1.00, he ran on well in a top race last time, Todays extra 2f will suit, I think he will be too good for his two rivals.

Later post today.  Like most Saturday’s, as tough as ever looking for value and winners.  I tend to sometimes just have interest bets !

I just saw former Grand National winner One For Arthur unseat his rider again, two races in a row he has not completed the race.  Looking at the remaining races Ellarna 4:25 Taunton is one I thought could be hard to beat.  Nefarious 7:15 was another I liked at Wolverhampton this evening, the two at the top have come out, and Nefarious ran with promise in three outings last year.

A good day yesterday for my subscribers. Two WINNING bets.    Little Miss Poet 1:10 Ludlow, won at 2/1, and I advised backing Thistle Do Nicely 1:20 Wincanton at 5/4 ( without Elusive Belle) so that was two good wins, I also advised putting them in a double which worked out at 5.75/1 !

It is pretty good fields today at most of the meetings, Mussleburgh has been abandoned, which is rare for the Scottish track to be called off.  Chepstow goes ahead at 1:05, large fields in most of the races, Minella Bobo 2:10 must have solid claims each way at around 5/1, he did little wrong last time at Doncaster, I think it is an open maiden hurdle.  Goodgirlteresa was an easy winner 4 days ago, she has a 7lb penalty, but if she is anywhere close to her Monday win, she will be hard to beat in the 3:50 race. A few horses are of interest at Kempton this evening, I thought the 6:15 , which has only 4 runners was pretty hard to sort out, strong claims for three of them, with Kentucky Kingdom looking to give Ryan Moore a winner, he has a favourites chance.

More later.

Some decent racing today.  The first race at Market Rasen has two nice types in it, Deyraan de Carjac and Garretstown.  My slight preference is for the former, he is honest and ran well at Huntingdon when second, it will be a good race though between them, I can’t see any others troubling them.  The ground at Wincanton looks decent, dry conditions for January, although Plumpton turned soft yesterday.  The bumper at Wincanton has some well bred horses, no line to go on with form, usually it is best to follow the market in these races, they are the best guide to what is expected.

Really awful news today about the young girl who was killed at 22, Natasha Galpin was riding excercise at Iain Jardine’s yard.  I am not sure what happened, but racing can be so cruel sometimes, both Natasha and horse lost their lives in a freak accident. Iain and his team will be devasted by what has happened, he works really hard with his staff, hopefully they can find a way of trying to get through their difficult circumstances.

I may do an  update later today.

i just watched the 1:40 Newbury.  Whatever some of the jockeys were thinking in the early stages of that race, God only Knows !

Absolutely awful rides by a lot of them, they let 4 or 5 horses go about 25 lengths clear after jumping the second hurdle, one that was held up at the back was 8/13 favourite Harambre, they had no chance of winning, or even getting involved.  I would not like to be trying to explain to connections, why I had ridden like that.

Some decent races today,  I did think it was quite tough today looking for a winner.  Nothing much at the moment, I may update later if something appears !