My selection at Ludlow Colonial Dreams 4:40 today is still around 10/11, I think he could be a lot shorter, he should win.

Looking at the other meetings, at Leopardstown, Nelson faces two stable mates in the Derby trial, I think we will see a big improvement from The Pentagon as the ground is a lot faster than the last time he ran when only third to Nelson. It’s a race that I think Nelson could win , but I am watching rather than having a bet. So only the one selection today.

Jockeys:

When having a bet, it’s always vital you back a horse with a jockey you like, I have a few jockeys I just do not back when they are riding, as they make a straightforward job , difficult!

Richard Kingscote does not fall into that category, as I have mentioned many times, he rode a treble yesterday ( Mancini being one of them ) I think his ride on Knight To Behold at lingfield in the Derby trial yesterday was top class, he got the fractions right in front, and stole the race, he had a willing partner, but Kingscote always seems to be in the right place at the right time when riding, his retained stable of Tom Dascombe likes his horses ridden handily which I prefer myself. Some trainers who have not ridden in a race themselves,  can put pressure on the jockey before they get on the horse, that it has to be ridden a certain way, they would be wiser to do what the better trainers do, (who may have no race-riding experience)  tell you to ride the race to suit the horse, not the horse to suit the race. When riding in a race,  it is vital to ride your horse where he is comfortable, but to also improvise if necessary,  half the field want to do what you have been told to do, so you have to ride the race according to the pace of it, which also suits your horse best, and gives them the best chance of winning.

Late Update: 10.20pm

I am advising a horse that runs tomorrow that I think will win.  I will do an update tomorrow in the morning as I will look at weather overnight, and see how much rain may of fallen.

Sundays free tip is as follows:

Horse: Colonial Dreams

Time: 4.40 Ludlow

Current Odds: 10/11

I think this horse is really improving.  He won very easily last time, he has won on good and soft ground.  His trainer’s horses are in top form and his jockey has ridden him before.  He will be hard to beat, even with 11.12 on his back.  Of rivals, Cereal Killer could pose the biggest threat, although he has to show a big step forward in form, maybe he will be more at home on the ground, if it remains good.

Late update: 4.25

Just watched Mancini win cosily, he was well backed in from 7/4-11/10. I am going to end on a winner, the rain has put connections off at Lingfield with the horse I liked in late race, it  has been withdrawn.

A good winner yesterday, Raa Atoll won easily at Nottingham, heavily backed from 5/4 into 4/6, he is a smart horse.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Mancini

Time : 4:15 Lingfield

Current Odds: 7/4

A good recent win on the all wether over 1m 6f showed this horse really stays well, he is improving and will be hard to beat today.  He has the excellent Richard Kingscote riding and he knows this horse well.  The 2miles today on grass should not be a problem. Of rivals, Western Way is ultra consistent, he keeps performing well and runs off a career high mark, Master Archer has lots of talent, but he is not totally genuine, he is the main threat, as horses like him are always dangerous if they decide to put their best foot forward.

I will update later around 2pm with another possible bet.

Update: 1:25pm

The ground at Lingfield is going to ride pretty quick I think, reports are it is on the fast side of good. I am not backing the horse I liked, it’s value has gone.

At Ascot I was interested in the 6:35 , but I am finding it difficult to decide on one or the other, so I’m just staying with my earlier selection that runs at Nottingham.  I do think Eminent will win at Chester 2:25 , but 4/6 is far too skinny for me. A few horses tomorrow of interest, some very good racing at three or four meetings, including Oaks and Derby trials.

A nice winner yesterday, Idaho showed his class to win at Chester, he was heavily backed into 8/11.  Now his trainers horses are starting to fire, it’s advisable to follow them.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Raa Atoll

Time: 5:40 Nottingham

Current Odds: 5/4

Although short in the betting today, this horse was given a kind ride on debut when second last month, he was unfancied that day.  He is well bred and will take a lot of beating today.  It is quite a decent race, with a few winners that are no mugs, I do expect Raa Atoll to be good enough receiving 7lb from the horses that have won. Of rivals, Morning Wonder could well out run his big odds, he was useful at two, Occupy is a winner and can be expected to run better than he did on his first run on turf last month, Loveisili ran with promise on debut, he should be in the mix.

I will Update at lunchtime as a couple of horses running of interest at Ascot and Lingfield.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Idaho

Time: 3:35 Chester

Current Odds: 10/11

After having a run in Dubai, where he was a bit below par, this classy horse can bounce back and win this.  It is very calm waters, considering what he has been taking on, a very good run behind Enable last year and a win in a Group 2, would be more than enough.  His trainers horses are really starting to run well and Ryan Moore on top is a plus.

Of rivals, Danehill Kodiac could out run his odds, he is a useful horse and ran well on his latest run, he could be the one to beat. Muntahaa is useful on his day, it’s his debut in 2018, and he could well benefit from it.

Update: 4.55pm

Having watched most of the Chester first days racing, and having backed the disappointing Kinaesthesia 2.25 (who never went at any stage) it just proved my point about how some horses just do not act on the track.  I have made a note of a few horses, who ran good races without winning, the majority became unbalanced and lost ground through the race, to then run on through the closing stages, a lot of hard luck stories today I think.

I was pleased to see William Jarvis have a winner, his horses have been running well of late, I know William well, I worked for his father Ryan,  when I was at school, and managed to ride my first winner on the flat for him when I was 16.

A couple of horses of interest entered over the next few days, If I have a bet at Chester it will be half of my usual stake!

Good to see the filly I put on the update won at Ludlow 8:30 tonight. Lust For Glory was a cosy winner, advised at evens, she returned at a shade of odds on, but the way she won was impressive, she will be useful when she finally goes over hurdles.

I am backing a horse tomorrow, and as I am doing a fair bit of travelling, I am putting it on tonight, as showers will not be a problem I don’t think !

Horse: Kinaesthesia

Time: 2:25 Chester

Current Odds: 4/1

I am backing her win, she won her maiden and looked useful.  This is a step up in class, with some potentially nice fillies in it.  I think my selection is useful and will really progress at three, the stables horses are performing well, her jockey won on her last year and a bit of rain will be ok, unless it’s a deluge !

The track is difficult for a lot of horses, I always bet with a bit of caution at Chester, as it is a track that a lot of horses find difficult to get into a nice rhythm at, so caution with the investment. Of rivals, Aiden O’Brian likes to win this race, he has three involved, the Ryan Moore ridden Magic Wand looks the one on jockey bookings, she has to show a lot of improvement on what she has shown so far, to win, but it will not be a shock if she runs a big race, Dramatically has useful form, but is friendless so far with punters, so she may need the run.

Update: 7.55pm

Diamond Guy won easily, Champ was a non runner so it is a win only bet, poor odds but any winner is a good price !

I am backing Lust for Glory 8:30 Ludlow, around Evens with most firms, I think she will be hard to beat, she should be fine on the decent ground at the track.