Nice winner yesterday at Goodwood.  Mirage Dancer was an easy winner, he returned at evens, I backed him again when he drifted out from 4/5 as I really fancied him.  Good to see Pat Dobbs riding a lot more for Sir Michael Stoute, he is a good jockey, who is under used for some reason this season so far, hopefully he can stay on this horse, as there could be a Group race in him, he looks progressive.

No bet advised today. More tomorrow.

Nice to get a good winner yesterday.  Uber Cool backed each way at 9/2 advised,   heavily backed, he finished up as 3/1 favourite.  What a great ride by Frankie Dettori, he was at his best.

I saw Frankie at Newmarket recently on 2,000 Guineas day, he was his usual self full of banter, I have not seen him since last year, so it was good to say hello.   When I worked for Godolphin, Frankie was stable jockey.  He was always good to the staff, especially if he rode a good winner, great fun to be around,  but at the races he was the complete professional.  For me he is still one of the best jockeys riding.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Mirage Dancer

Time: 3.45 Goodwood

Current Odds: 4/5

Although short in the betting, I think this horse will be very hard to beat.  He ran a really good race last time when second, only just beat that day by a very useful horse, they pulled clear of the third that day.  If he runs to that form he wins. He stays well, and has a good jockey on top.  I actually think he will improve a lot for the run last time.  He is obviously delicate, as he is lightly raced.  But this horse has a lot of talent. Of rivals, Euginio tries 1m 4f for the first time, if he stays he is probably the one to beat, Blakeney Point is very genuine, he stays well but may well benefit for the run today, it is his first run of 2018.

Fair amount of rain has fallen at Goodwood yesterday.  The ground is currently good to soft.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Uber Cool

Time: 4:55 Goodwood

Current Odds: 9/2 Each Way

I am backing this horse each way.  A winner recently over 14f at Haydock, today’s 16f should be ok for this gelding. He has a good jockey riding and this lightly raced horse  has solid each way claims, he should handle the ground. Of rivals, Imphal has shown his best form on ground faster than good to soft, he will not appreciate any more rain, Medburn Cutler and Pointel are others that should be in the mix.

Update 2:00pm

I have seen the heavy rain falling at Goodwood, light rain was forecast, but it looks heavy rain to me.  If you follow and are backing my selection’s at Sandown tonight, bit of caution, I have HALVED my own stake due to the possibility of  heavier rain at the track, than the original earlier forecast of light rain.

Leading Spirit who I advised to backed  yesterday ( without Legends Of War) was third, the race was a really hot maiden, a lot of horses from big stables were strongly fancied in it.  The winner Legends Of War was very impressive, he still has a fair way to go to pay back his owners Qatar Racing Limited, who bought him for 900,000 gns at the two year old breeze up sales at Newmarket. But it was a good start.   I do think that a lot of winners will come out of this race.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Weekender

Time: 7:35 Sandown

Current Odds: 9/4

This colt won well recently at Chelmsford over 14f, he should have no issue with the extra 2f today. With the excellent Frankie Dettori riding again today he can make the jump up in class, and win this Group 3 race. He is a winner (was demoted to second) going right handed at Goodwood last season.  Of rivals, Sheikzayedroad is a useful performer, even though he is 9 years old, he ran well 54 days ago at Meydan (Gp 2) and is a winner over 16f at Ascot.   Mount Moriah who I consider the main threat, and Magic Circle are both useful horses, both have had recent wins, and will be in the mix at the business end. I do advise a saver or half stake bet on Mount Moriah at 100/30(without Weekender).

Update:

Earlier than planned with message.  I am backing Leading Spirit 2:20 Yarmouth 11/8 without favourite ( Legends Of War).  It looks an interesting maiden with a few fancied in it.

Nothing solid to back today as yet, I will update around 4:30pm with a possible horse.

Really hope Fregus Gregory will be ok after his horror fall last night at Huntingdon, young lad who rides very well, I read that he is in a stable condition in hospital.   Hopefully he makes a good recovery.

Update: 8.35pm

My selection at Huntingdon in the 6.10 Spader,  was very badly hampered 5 hurdles from home, how he managed to stay up was a feat in it self, all chance of winning went at that moment, his jockey Harry Skelton  carried on,  but the horse was feeling the effect of being hampered going to the second last hurdle, hopefully he is none the worse, as Skelton accepted that the horse was possibly injured himself.

Unfortunately Fergus Gregory (rider of The Blue Bomber) who was one of the fallers,  was quite seriously injured, to what extent its not clear, his mount was sadly killed.  Racing is currently going on after a 50 minute delay due to an air ambulance being called for the injured Gregory, I understand that Fergus had been knocked out, hopefully he will be ok.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Spader

Time: 6:10 Huntingdon

Current Odds: 11/8

A good winner 9 days ago, this gelding is more at home when the ground is riding on the faster side, he had dropped prior to his recent win,  to a low mark (88)  having ran a good second at Kempton last May off 104 when beaten only a head.  I think he can defy his penalty today, for his recent win. His jockey today knows him well, and the yard is in good form, so plenty of positives.  This horse also has decent form going right handed. Of rivals, The Blue Bomber is consistent, acts on most ground conditions, and has a good claimer riding, he looks the one to beat.

Update: 4:25 pm

No bet advised for tonight, I like a couple of horses, unfortunately they are in the same race, and I cannot split them.  With the weather forecast looking dry for a few days, a few horses entered over the week that have been awaiting faster going conditions. So I am be patient.