Quite a good day at Kelso races today.  Unlucky not to start the day well, Sams Adventure was a couple of lengths in front when he ran left and crashed through the wing at the last hurdle, thankfully horse and rider looked ok, pretty sure he would of won, and not sure why he ducked out.

I backed Charmant in the 1:25, he stood out in the paddock and won well.  I then backed two in the 2:00, only small bets but a profit on the race, as one of my picks Elvis Mail won, at 100/30, he was a cosy winner.

Pretty good attendance at the races, it is a nice little track, and with a bit of rain overnight the going was pretty much ideal for horses.

Looking ahead over the next two days, hopefully I can find a few winners, and end the year well.  I am looking forward to 2019, the Carnival racing in Dubai starts early January, I should be able to find a few winners, it’s always advisable to follow the boys in blue !

Today is Another typical Saturday, difficult to work out the races.  I am going to Kelso, the ground is currently good.  In the 2:00, Goldencard is trying to win a fairly ordinary race, I thought he could be the one to beat, he has won at the track before and will handle the ground OK. Hopefully the favourite kicks the day off to a good start 11:45, Sams Adventure has had a wind op, i will have a look at him in the paddock, see if he looks in good shape, I do think he can win if he is in good shape, and the wind op has helped.  Got to go, early first race !

One horse at Doncaster I like.  Seven  De Buane 12:20, he steps up in grade today, but won easily last time, he has a solid chance today.

Doing a bit of travelling today.  So a short message.  I thought Le Precieux could win the 3:40 Leicester, only three runners, he won’t mind the ground , which is good to firm , and had a win on the flat last time, the other two are a bit like him, not frequent winners, but I think my selection, is the one with the most potential. At 9/4 I thought he was a shade of value.

Hopefully some of my followers backed some of the horses yesterday I mentioned.  Lord Yeats, Posh Trish and Kachy were all short priced winners, Beauva D’Air was pipped on the line and beaten a nose, he made an awful mistake three hurdles from the finish, so did well to recover from that !  I also mentioned Native River as a possible each way bet in the big chase at Kempton 3:05, he was a game 3rd, attracting some market support from 13/2-9/2.  So on a day with so much racing, it was nice to find a few winners, I always say, any winner is a good price !

Looking at today’s cards.  At Kempton Altior 2:30 is very short odds to win, at 1/6 I will watch rather than get involved, he looks as though he has scared everyone away from taking him on.  The 1:20 is the 32 Red.com Wayward Lad Novices Chase, which is a grade 2, it has some nice horses in it, Kalashnikov is odds on to win, I actually think Dynamite Dollars will give him a serious test, the pace should be fast, as Maria’s Benifit is normally a strong pace setter, she is another that has a decent chance. It looks to be a cracking race, Kalashnikov has looked good in his two wins over fences, he was rated a lot higher than Dynamite Dollars over hurdles, but is currently 1lb lower than him over fences, today we will see who will be likely favourite for the Arkle Trophy next March at Cheltenham, depending on how this race finishes.

The 12:50 at Kempton is hard to evaluate, Nebuchadnezzar was one I made a note of when second at Bangor recently, I thought he was a little bit unlucky not to win that day, the horse that beat him has won again since, so the form looks strong.  Deadline Diva has form when winning in France, it is hard to work out, but she would not be running at Kempton if not held in high regard, she also won two from three on the flat , she has a penalty for her hurdle win, so it will be a good race between these two I think.

Really good racing on offer today.  The main jump meeting at Kempton has some top class races.  The 3 mile 32 Red King George V1 Chase at 3:05 is a cracking race, last years winner Might Bite is racing off a poor run at Haydock, I’m not sure what happened at Haydock, but it was a tame effort, for that reason, if I have a bet in it, Native River each way would be my choice, he ran a good race in the Haydock race, is very honest and rarely runs a bad race.  Buveur D’air 2:30 is a good thing, he is one  to put in doubles and trebles.  At Wolverhampton on the flat, Kachy looks a penalty kick 3:55, he is running after wind surgery, if that has made any improvement, I expect him to make all the running, and be hard to pass.

Lots of races to go at elsewhere, Posh Trish is another short priced favourite 12:55, she is one I have had in short odds doubles and trebles with Lord Yeats 1:30 Sedgefield, who looks to have found a good opportunity to get off the mark on his second run over hurdles, this horse was very useful on the level, he should be more than good enough in this.

With no racing over the next three days in the U.K. or Ireland it gives jockeys a few days to recharge batteries.  Reflecting on yesterday’s racing, hopefully followers will have backed Kildisart at Ascot 1:15, he was the one I thought would be the likely winner.  He only won a short head, but still a good effort, as this was only his second race over fences.  Wissahickon, who I thought would win at Lingfield, was short odds, but won well.

Looking at the entries on Boxing Day, the big Grade 1 Chase at Kempton over 3 miles is the King George Gold Cup, finding the winner is not going to be easy, you could make a case for at least 5 horses, that could win it, more on the race on the day ! A lot of horses double entered, but I will hopefully be able to find a winner or two.

Good to get a winner yesterday for my subscribers, Vindication 2:30 Ascot was advised at 5/4 on Thursday evening, he was heavily backed into 8-13 .  Jumping well,this classy horse won well, he is unbeaten and will keep improving, not sure about Cheltenham in March, as all his wins are on right handed tracks.

Todays racing has some good cards. At Lingfield Wissahickon heads the betting 2:15, he is a useful horse, and will take a bit of beating.

At Ascot Kildisart 1:15 ran well on his first try over fences at Ascot last time, he would be my idea of the one to beat, Dolos is the favoured by the race conditions, he is a decent horse, I backed him last time, his only negative, is he likes being second !

At Newcastle 3:05, the bumper should go to the favourite Alright Sunshine, he won well last time at Carlisle, he needs to act on softer ground today, but should cope ok, he is bred to be useful on the flat, so may have to much in his locker than some of today’s rivals, who are jump bred.

Hopefully some of my followers may of had a bet on San Carlos and Aircraft Carrier last night, I mentioned both had good chances yesterday. I was pleased to see San Carlos win well for Shaun Keightley, he is a decent guy, works hard, and can certainly do the training side of the job, he just needs the horses.

Today has some decent racing at Ascot.  The first race at 12:45 has a few promising types, Gallahers Cross has been well backed, he was useful last term in bumpers, if he jumps well on debut, he looks the one to beat.  Probably the most interesting hurdle race is the 1:55, If I have a bet in it, Thomas Darby would be my choice, I do like Danny Kirwan, but I think he will not be at his best on the soft ground, I think he wants good ground to show his very best form.  At Uttoxeter, the ground is very soft/heavy.  Blakerigg has top weight in the 1:45, but he will handle the ground and may well land another win today in the hands of Brian Hughes.

Late post today.  Looking at the racing at Meydan (Dubai) at the moment, I miss the sun of Dubai ! It looks pretty quiet with Spectators, the only really busy days , with good crowds are the main days racing when it is the Dubai World Cup, the last day of the trial races about 3 weeks before the main race is also pretty busy, the rest of the meetings it is very quiet, it probably does not help that the stands and the whole racecourse is so big, and takes a huge crowd to fill it.

Looking at the evening meeting at Chelmsford, some interesting two year old races.  San Carlos 6:30 has been well supported in the betting, 2/1 from 13/2, his trainer may have found an average race, I hope he can win for my old weighing room colleague Shaun Keightley, who trains him, this horse ran well on debut, of others that have raced before,  they look nothing out of the ordinary.

The 8:00 is the main race, decent prize money of £32,000 for the winner.  It looks competitive, Lucky Deal probably has the best form on offer, although he has top weight, Aircraft Carrier won easily recently and runs with a 6lb penalty, he could well be a horse that is going the right way, and I think it’s between these two.

Nice to get a WINNER for my subscribers today, Woodside Wonder 1:10 Lingfield got the job done at a nice 13/8.  Looking at the rest of today’s cards, at Newcastle 5:05 I have backed Rich Approach , he was 11/4 and is currently around 2/1, I would probably leave him if he was shorter than 2/1, as you have to try and get a bit of value ! He came from a long way back last time, that was at Wolverhampton.  Over today’s stiffer 6f, it should be more to his liking.

At Newbury the 2:45 looks a really good  Novice hurdle, Tidal Flow could be a solid each way bet, the current favourite Downtown Getaway has been backed, he may well be useful, he cost £350,000 after his bumper win at Fairyhouse.