Looking at the big handicap races at Ascot.

Two each way horses today for followers:

Medahim 2:50 9/1

Berkshire Blue 3:25. 12/1

Bit of fun bets, wide open races.

Looking at today’s Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot , lots of really good jockeys riding from all over the world.  Joao Moreira who is from Brazil and now based in Japan, he has some good rides, this guy is known as the ‘Magic Man’, having been Champion Jockey in Hong Kong and Singapore, some people say he is up there with the best in the world, I agree with them.  Just watching him interviewed on the ITV Opening Show this morning, it was really interesting to hear his comments about his thoughts on the horse being 95% of winning a race, the other 5% he believes is  from the jockey.   I have to agree with most of that, not sure on the percentage split !

UK based riders with experience of riding at Ascot, probably have a slight advantage today.  Ascot is a stiff track, a lot of races can be won and lost by a rider who ‘kicks’ for home too soon.  So walking the track is very important, even if you have ridden at Ascot or not- you should always ‘walk’ the course, the norm for any jockey when he arrives at the racecourse.   It is really important to see the how the ground may ride, and look at the contours of the track.

I think today’s racing is a good spectacle, but regards having a bet, fun only !

A fair amount of rain has fallen at Newmarket. Gerald Mosse (who won the 6:25) was interviewed last night at the track, he described the ground as ‘soft’, but knowing if it has been dry overnight, and dry up to race time, Newmarket is chalk based and drys very well- so I will see what the weather does over the next few hours.   I do like a few at the track today, it’s just a case of waiting to see if it stays dry over the next few hours.

I will try and put an each way bet on later, hopefully at a decent price !

Another good WINNER yesterday for my subscribers, Marhaba Milliar won at Yarmouth.  Advised to back at 6/4, he finished his race off well, winning by a neck from Fanaar, with newcomer Barys a close third.  This was a decent race, Stakeholder who was 4th was fancied to run well, he is one to follow, as is the first three home.  Rain did arrive at a few of the racecourses yesterday, Sandown had a deluge of rain just before the final race, with the race being run in pouring rain.

I heard rain has fallen at Deauville over the last 24 hours, I will keep a close watch on the weather in France, Alpha Centauri who runs on Sunday is best on decent ground.  She will need to have good ground, it will be a strong field, taking on colts for the first time, will not be easy.

A couple of horses running today of interest, I will be keeping a close look at the weather today, hopefully it stays dry.

Quite a good amount of rain has fallen here in Guernsey.  The rain is forecast to hit a good bit of the UK today.  With the rain in mind, caution is best if having a bet at one of the tracks, or wait to the last minute !

Yarmouth has an interesting Novice Stakes race at 2:20 over 6f.  A couple of recent winners go to post in Marahaba Milliar and Fanaar, both good winners last time, although the former got his win in the stewards room.  He was given a heafty ‘bump’ when beaten into second in a photo finish, on the straight track at Ascot, he clearly deserved to get the race that day.  There are three well bred colts from big yards also in this race, Barys ( Archie Watson) has been heavily backed from 11/1-7/2, so he must of been working well at home.  It will be a good race to watch, hopefully the rain stays away- although Yarmouth could of done with rain yesterday, as there was a fire on the far side of the track during racing.  Thankfully the fire services got it under control, racing was delayed by about 15 minutes before the 6:20 race.

Just saw the 2:00 at Chepstow, where the winner got off the mark at the 37th attempt! Jacksonfire was given a good ride by Laura Coughlan.  I have not seen much of this young apprentice riding (heard she has ridden 3 WINNERS) but what I saw of her today, was she is a very tidy rider.  It was nice to see a polished ride from Laura, I do not know who she is apprenticed to, but she looks pretty decent.

A fair amount of rain is forecast over the UK over the next few days, if the forecast is correct.  Rain is needed for most of the racecourses, hopefully not too much in France (Deuville) as I am looking forward to Alpha Centuari running in a Group 1 race on Sunday, she is best on good or faster ground, if she gets her ground, she will be hard to beat.

Looking at todays racing post. I just saw in the birthdays that it is Bryan Cooper’s birthday, he is only 26.  Here is a young talented rider who has been finding it quite tough over the last season or so.  He lost a big job in Ireland, when Gigginstown ( Michael O’Leary) decided to end his contract.  Then he was riding as a retained jockey by the Pott’s family , who own a large number of horses in the UK (Colin Tizzard) and in Ireland with a few trainers.  When Alan Potts died, Cooper found his services no longer required for the Potts family !  Not totally sure why he lost either job, what I do know is you do not become a bad rider overnight.  Riding winners gives a jockey confidence, when you keep getting beat, your confidence goes, and you can hit the “panic button” during a race.

What I mean by that is, you can go too soon on your horse, when sitting still for 4 or 5 seconds, can make the difference between winning and losing.  Hopefully Bryan Cooper can get his leg over a nice horse or two, and get back in the winning groove again.

I am waiting until late today, as showers could well fall over a few of todays race track’s.  The 1.45 Newbury has some nicely bred fillies in the line up, Miss Serenity trained by Hugo Palmer ran recently at the July meeting at Newmarket.  I was at the races that day, on looks in the paddock, she was a lovely big filly, she did run with promise that day, and think she could be in the mix today, although looking at the size of her, she will make a really nice three year old.

Another good winner yesterday advised to my subscribers.  The Trader won by over 4 lengths at Chester 2:25.  Advised at 11/10, he was backed as though defeat was out of the question, returning at 4-6 ! His coltish antics in the parade ring before the race, did not have any effect on his performance.

6 meetings today including the two Irish cards.  Typical Monday, it’s never easy any day to find a winner, today is pretty tough as well.  A couple of horses running in later races of interest.  The 5:00 at Ripon looks an interesting Novice Stakes race, three big yards have runners.  Al Kherb has a 7lb penalty for his win at Newbury 25 days ago, he will not find it easy though, as Volcanic Sky has shown promise in his two runs so far, Tajdeed from Mark Johnston’s yard is bred to catch pigeons !

But starting life over 12f at 3, suggests he is not the quickest at home.  An good race to watch.

Another good WINNER for my subscribers yesterday.  Mekong did the business at Chelmsford yesterday 2:45.  Advised late on Friday evening at 100/30.  He returned at 3/1 co favourite, given a positive ride by Jim Crowley, who always had him in a good position.  Mekong found plenty in the closing stages to repel the late challenge from Rude Awakening.  Both of these horses should be followed, as they are both improving with racing.

I did see a racing accident last night at Lingfield Park in the 5:30 race.  John Fahy on the eventual winner Dark Side Jazz, who made all the running, went sharply left about 1 furlong out, he had just received a crack with the whip by Fahy (with his right hand), which caused his mount to go left.  To be fair to Fahy he was doing his best to try and get his  mount to go forward as best he could, he did his best to correct his horse, but the horse on his inside Iballisticvin-who was looking like making a serious challenge, was hampered, causing him to fall. Thankfully the horse that fell and his jockey looked fine.   Fahy received an 8 day ban (which I think was a bit harsh).  Ok he caused a fall, but it was just an unfortunate incident.  For me the stewards have over reacted, stewards in my view, at a lot of racetracks make too many inconsistent decisions.  A 2 day ban would of been fair, Fahy did his best to correct his horse when he deviated, he could not do much more.  I believe the majority of stewards have never ridden in a race.  So how they can do a  stewards job is beyond me !

I recall one day a steward asking me why I was not asking my horse to progress (I was sitting still at the time), I pointed out to him that we had a circuit of the track to race !

Common sense idea:

I think at least one former jockey should be a steward, at every race meeting, the majority of stewards secretaries are former riders, so why not have at least one as an acting steward as well.  A large number of stewards are clueless , it amazes me why the BHA has not weeded these people out of doing a job they are clearly not qualified at.

The big sprint handicap today at Goodwood is the Unibet Stewards Cup.  With over £155,000 to the winner, it is highly competitive.  Trying to pick the winner is nigh on impossible ! Fun each way betting only, if I was having an interest each way it would be Gunmetal, around 14/1 he is trained by a shrewd man, and drawn in the middle in stall 13, hopefully his jockey will follow the side which has the most early pace, big fields over a straight 6f, usually split across the track, it is vital that when riding you are where the pace is quickest, as they take you into the race if you are on a horse that likes a bit of cover.

I was pleased to see Shaun Keightley have his first winner of 2018 with Dance Teacher on Thursday at Epsom.  I did mention it on my blog, a really good weight carrying performance by the mare, winning with 10stone 5 pounds on her back.

Delighted to get my subscribers a winner in the 1:50 at Goodwood.  Mirage Dancer , who I advised at 7/4 was heavily backed, I think he was around 5/4 returned.  He won very well, a winner at this track earlier in the year, (advised that day to back) the son of Frankel is progressing with racing, typical big colt, who has not been over raced by his trainer Sir Micheal Stoute.

The rest of today’s card’s look pretty tough.  I do like a horse tonight at Newmarket , just assessing his rivals, currently dry at the July racecourse, I see it has been raining in the north.  I spoke to my brother in law earlier, he was heading north with my sister for a week away from Newmarket.  He told me he is busy riding out every day, he was a head lad for many years for James Toller, up to when he retired from training about 3 years ago.  He was just saying how difficult it must be for someone in charge of the yard ( Head Lad) is these days, staff in Newmarket is in decline, I could see that when I was working for Godolphin, although we had very good staff at Saeed Bin Suroor’s yard. A large number of old school lads/lasses got out of the racing industry about 8 years ago, and have not come back ! What the answer is to attract school leavers to work in racing is , I do not know ! I think it is going to get worse,  before it maybe can get better.