Looking at the results on Saturday. At Ascot in the main race of the day at 4.00pm, all eyes were on Baaeed, who ran below expectations to be a below par fourth. The ground was soft, which was not ideal, but in what was a very slow run race, which should of suited him, he did not run his race. I did think it was a very good ride by Richard Kingscote on the winner Bay Bridge, who was handily placed, and saved lots of ground on the inside, the second Adayar ran a very good race, as he was rushed up about 3 furlongs out, came wide and was beaten only half a length. I did think his jockey would of made more use of him, as he stays 12 furlongs, and his manoeuvre about 3 furlongs from home was costly in the latter stages, having given ground away when trapped wide, and also having to come round Royal Champion, who was dropping out of contention.
It was good to see Emily Upjohn get a Group 1 win, after her unlucky second in the Epsom Oaks in June. She looks to be a filly to follow next season, as she is built like a tank, and can only improve on what she has accomplished so far.
Looking at todays cards, with autumn ground in mind- at Pontefract Poker Face 3.10 has been impressive on his two starts, winning well on both. I don’t think it’s been easy for the handicapper to access him, he was going away at the line on his latest win over 1 mile on the all weather surface at Newcastle, and todays 10f will not pose too many problems, I think he will take a bit of beating.
Hopefully the ground does not get too much rain, as that is a bit of an unknown.
More soon.

Reflecting on the big meeting in France at the weekend. It was good to see the mare Alpinista get the job done in the Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. It was a very good ride by Luke Morris, on ground that was very testing, he used his low draw to his advantage, and never really gave any ground away, by staying close to the inside rail. Travelling well in the turn into the straight, Luke did not panic and then was able produce his mount at the right time. I’m sure his boss was really taken by his confident ride, as I don’t think he could of ridden the race much better.
Well prepared by her veteran trainer Sir Mark Prescott Bt, who is 74 years young, naturally he seemed delighted after the race, as is understandable. It’s Sir Mark’s biggest ever winner, and even though he has always been a good trainer, he has not had that many Group 1 performers over the years. Prescott is usually more at home having a winner at one of the three Scottish tracks in the north of England. Hamilton, Ayr or Musselburgh , he has had a number of good horses over the years, one thing that has never been in doubt is Sir Mark can train a racehorse.

He is a very witty and funny person, if you ever have the pleasure of seeing him as an after dinner speaker, his stories are legendary. My brother in law used to work for him, he said he was always very fair with his staff and his racing background and expertise are vast, he knows lots about numerous things, coursing and fighting cocks being one. I recall seeing over his large red wall at the bottom of the Newmarket Heath( Bury side) lots of cock hens all out on the grassed ring he used for horses to walk around.

I’m not sure if Alpinista will race again, nothing has been said as yet. Looking ahead to the weekend, a good card at Newmarket on Saturday, a number of really good races. One race that looks as good as ever on Saturday is the Darley Dewhurst Stakes. I do like a number of horses entered in it, with Sakheer and Nostrum being at the forefront, both are really promising colts. Looking at the betting market, Nostrum at 5/1 would be my selection each way. I do think it will be between the two of them at the line, if they both run.
Regards having a bet, as yet I’m waiting, Naval Power and Chaldean, are two other very promising colts, who will also be bang there at the latter stages of the 7f event.
Hopefully I can find a winner or two before then.

More soon.

Back from a well deserved break. I always think from the end of August until the end of the turf season on the flat, it’s even more difficult than ever when trying to find a winner. So I took a bit of time away.
But some really top class races at todays meeting at Newmarket, where they had a good amount of rain on Friday morning before racing, making the ground on the slower side of good. Both tracks at Newmarket drain very well, as it is chalk based.
Mystic Pearl 4.50 Newmarket won by a small margin last time at Thirsk, she beat a horse I had backed that day, who was a tad unlucky not to win, but with a good bit of improvement likely for this filly, I think she has a good each way chance, in what looks a competitive fillies nursery, she is around 5/1 with most firms.
Flying Honours 1.50 at Newmarket should get favourite backers off to a good start, he is improving with racing, and should win.
The Juddmonte Midle Park Stakes (Group 1) over 6 furlongs is always a good guide to possibly next years top flight sprinters, and possibly the top class races over a mile. This year It looks a very open race, Blackbeard has been ultra consistent, and keeps winning. He tends to get quite on edge at the start, so if he looks ‘wired’ at the start, do not be too worried, it’s just how he is. He is one I do not expect to be racing beyond 6-7f next year, as he has lots of early speed, and looks a mature two year old, he is also a real smart horse. I am unlikely to have a bet in the race as it’s very hard to pick one that is a stand out.
Marshman, Mischief Magic, Persian Force and the least experienced Zoology are all in it with a chance of winning, a good race to watch. At Haydock, where showers are forecast, Onslow Gardens 3.50 looks the best horse on form, he will be hard to beat, although a lot of these are unraced, and could be useful.
More soon.

Reflecting on the racing yesterday. It was a very good day for William Buick, he rode 5 winners at Goodwood. I thought his rides on Fairy Cross and Jadoomi showed him at his best. He stole the race on Fairy Cross in the 1.50- setting calm fractions in the early part of the 7 furlong event, and kicking at the right time inside the latter stages of the race, to seal victory.
I thought Bright Diamond, who was third, was one to take out of the race as an unlucky loser, she was slowly away, and trapped out wide for most of the race, and ran on well in the last two furlongs, to be under two lengths behind the winner, who was value for a bit more, as Buick eased her the last couple of strides.
The Jadoomi ride, in the 3.35 was a really good one. He stumbled leaving the stalls, and was trapped a little bit wider than ideal, but Buick did not panic, and having been always in the first two, he took on his stable mate Finest Sound from inside the final 3 furlongs. Both horses dug deep, and tried hard to win, for me it was when Buick switched his whip, from his left to his right hand, that his mount found that bit extra, to get up close home, and win by a neck. It was Buick at his best.
At Windsor last night, I thought one of the unluckiest losers of the night was Grocer Jack in the 6.35. Tom Marquand needs to have a good look at his ride on him, as I thought it was poor at best. I like Marquand as a rider, but currently he is making a number of mistakes. Hopefully he will learn from them, as he went far too fast with the other front runner Majestic Dawn over the first 3 furlongs,and his horse Grocer Jack did really well to finish second. Three furlongs from the winning post, Majestic Dawn folded, leaving Grocer Jack in front- to my surprise Marquand went for home, if he had sat still for about 100 yards, I think his horse would of won, in the end he was only beaten a neck, by Regal Reality, who was given a good ride by Richard Kigscote.
More later.

After a nice break. Hopefully I can find a winner or two before the end of the month. I did like one in the 1.00 at Chelmsford today. But a below par effort for her, Peace Of Mine finished 5th, having set the early pace, she did not finish her race off as expected, and faded into 5th in the last furlong.
I do like a horse in France at Deauville. Cognac has drifted to 9/2 from around 3/1, he runs in the 3.40 race. He was a closing second at Saint Cloud over the extended 7f on his last run, he can out run his price, as the two at the head of the market, have promise, but I do not think either of them looked especially great on debuts.
More later.

Two good winners advised yesterday. Good Guess looks a useful prospect and Shimmering Sands who bolted up by 6 lengths at Beverley 5.10, will likely get a steep rise in the weights, so I would not be surprised to see him out again under a penalty very soon.

Today I do think Noya 7.50 Yarmouth will be more suited to the 6f than her two rivals, Spangled Mac is around 8/11 currently, with my choice a 2/1 shot. Value is essential when having a bet, and I think she has a shade of value at 2/1. Later at the seaside venue, Love Trophy Power tries handicap company for the first time at 8.50. She was a game winner over 6f at Windsor 17 days ago, and although she has top weight, she will be hard to beat. The drop back to 5f does not over concern me, as she has plenty of speed, and could have more improvement to come, which does not apply to a few of her rivals. I think River Of Stars 6.30 Lingfield, might be too good for her main threat Dignified, who is ridden by Frankie Dettori.

More soon.

A couple of horses worth a bet today.

Good Guess 12:48 Chantilly, should defy his penalty for his win, he could well make all the running.

At Beverley 5:10 the unlucky Shimmering Sands could get his head in front, he probably would of won last time if he got a better split when making his run, staying on well to get second that day, he is far from exposed.

More soon.

With drying ground, the evening meeting at Windsor should have quick ground. Tarlo 5.35 was a good second last time to Kinta, who has won again since, so the form is good. At 8/1 he is over priced, I have backed him each way, as he ran first time out on grass, and ran ok, a few unexposed rivals, the favourite looked far from straightforward on debut, so I think my selection is value.

At Wolverhampton 7.25 is a trappy race, the one I prefer is Maktoob, who is around 100/30, he is a winner at the track, having ran well last time, behind a useful horse-who is rated 94. So if he runs to his rating of 88, I think he might well be good enough to win.

More soon.

It was a good couple of days for jockey Rob Hornby. He rode two Group 1 winners at Newmarket, the second one yesterday for his former boss Andrew Balding, the mare Alcohol Free winning the July Cup over 6f. Hornby has conducted himself well, after losing the winning ride on Westover in the Irish Derby.

Today has good racing in France, the Deauville card starts at 12:23 with a 5f listed race for two year olds. Malrescia who is trained in England , looks the one to beat, she should have no problem with the drop to 5f , having won over the trip previously.

I like Hooper at Stratford, he has been running well over fences, and todays event over hurdles looks a good race for him to get back to winning ways, he runs at 3.46.

More soon.

Watching some of the racing from Ayr on the round course today. It has been a trait that being close to the pace, on the decent ground is the best place to be. Yaaser ridden by Paul Mulrennan who was favourite 4.45 was ridden from way off the pace, he did well to be a close fourth at the line. I then watched the 5.15 and it baffles me how some jockeys do the same thing, as Mulrennan did the exact same in the early part of the race, sitting last under restraint !

I really rate Paul as a jockey, but I am not sure what was going through his brain from 4.45- 5.15, as he gave his mounts basically no chance of winning.

At Ripon tonight 8.15 Glam De Vega looks a penalty kick, i did back this horse at 6/4 last night, but with a withdrawal of Wilkins, a 25p deduction in the pound, if he manages to win.

More soon.