Good winner yesterday with Maria’s Benefit showing she is a very game mare, she battled to win at Doncaster.  Native Arrow was beaten a nose last night at Kempton, I thought he had won when they went past the line,the winner who was 20/1 did well to rally near the line and just pip Native Arrow.

Today Fontwell has been called off, ground issues with all the rain fallen over the last week or so.

Todays Free tips are as follows:

Horse: Reverant Cust

Time: 1.10 Sedgefield

Current Odds: 100/30

This horse ran really well when second last time at Haydock, he came from a long way back, which was a really good effort in very soft ground.  He finished his race off well to be a very close second that day, hopefully his rider will be a bit handier today and with a front runner like Tonto’s Spirit in the field it may set the race up for my selection to finish off the race well to win. Other rival’s that are dangers are Black Art, a course and distance winner,  he comes here of a recent win, and The New Pharaoh  has a chance with a good claimer riding, taking 7lb off his big weight.

Horse: Blottos

Time: 2.10 Sedgefield

Current Odds: 15/8

This horse did well to win over shorter two runs ago, and  then ran well to be second at Catterick recently when a slow pace probably was not ideal. He has a good jockey riding today, and it looks as though this horse will progress from Catterick, and be hard to beat today. His main threat is Aaron Lad, he ran well last time and his trainer knows how to get one ready, he is a threat.

Nice winner yesterday, Django Django obliging at Huntingdon, he was returned at 11/8, profit on the day.

Lot of good racing tomorrow, once again it looks as though another usual Saturday, very tough to pick winners.

Todays Free tips are as follows:

Horse: Maria’s Benefit

Time: 2.40 Doncaster

Current Odds: 5/6

The way this mare won last time, I have to back her.  She won by a very wide margin, she is really improving and will be tough to beat.  I am hoping the ground will not get very soft, as although she has won on soft, she does not want it heavy.  Of rivals, Dame Rose ran no race last time, not sure what was wrong, but she is a talented mare who is a threat on her best form. Irish Roe has been running well and is also one to be wary of.

Horse : Native Arrow

Time: 5.45 Kempton

Current Odds: 11/8

This horse was very green on debut when 4th over 1m 2f, he can only progress and todays extra 2f should be much better for this colt.  He has to find improvement to beat Shakour today, as he was just in front of him last time they met. With Adam Kirby in the saddle , my selection can take this race.  Pilgrim Soul, is open to progress, and has a staying pedigree, she should appreciate the 12 furlongs.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Django Django

Time: 1.35 Huntingdon

Current Odds: 6/4

In quite a big field of novices, its hard to make a case for lots of them.  My selection ran a really good race last time when second, he will like the ground, his jockey rode him last time and is good value for his 7lb claim.  Of rivals, The Blues Master has shown decent form last time, he was third to a useful horse, he will cope with the ground, but may well be better when the ground is faster.  Ar Mest has talent, but was too free last time on his hurdle debut, if he relaxes he has a chance, as he showed enough on his second run when third in a bumper.

Horse: Wiff Waff

Time: 7:45 Kempton

Current Odds: 11/10

In this small field, my selection is taken to complete the hat trick of wins.  He races under a penalty for an easy win last time, Hopefully Sir Hector will set the pace and my selection can finish late to win . Wiff Waff likes 5f and his jockey won on him two runs ago.

Nice to get a winner on the update yesterday.  So Satisfied won at Catterick, returned at 11/2 from 6/1 , managing to win after a good jump at the last.  The ground today is again a concern in the UK, very testing conditions.

Todays Free tips are as follows:

Horse: Molly The Dolly

Time: 1.25 Warwick

Current Odds: 10/11

She is short priced fav, but warrants to be head of this race, she ran well last time in a good listed race, acts on the ground and this big mare can give 6lb and a beating to her main rival Sensulano, who made a few errors when second last time, she can improve for her run and is the only real threat as I see it.

For anyone who likes to bet the short odds horses, Gold Town 4.15 Meydan, looks as though he can win on his first run on dirt, he is bred for it, his sire Street Cry who won the Dubai World Cup was a dirt horse, he was a very good horse, as I remember he had a few issues when he was a three year old,which he overcame to run second in the UAE Derby, before going on to win the World Cup the following year, when Dettori rode the wrong one. Gold Town can oblige in this trial for the UAE 2,000 Guineas, he has good turf form going into this event.

I will do an update, as there is a horse running in a later race I like, the update will be around 4pm.

Update: Gold Town bolted in at Meydan, pity the earlier tip just not quite good enough.  I do like Banksea 6.35 Meydan is worth a bet , he is around 9/4 and is well fancied to win on his first run of 2018.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Nautica

Time: 1.30 Lingfield

Current Odds: 6/1 EW

This filly ran well on debut, she was very green that day, but still managed to finish 5th in what was possibly a fair maiden.  Today I think she has solid ew claims, the favourite was beaten last time at odds on, so with that in mind she may not be totally reliable. Todays distance will suit my selection, and think she can improve for her debut and be right in the mix today. Of rivals, Power And Peace will go off favourite again, she is the likely one they all have to beat, if she steps forward from her recent second, New Orleans is unraced and could be half decent, she has to overcome stall 9, which will be tough on her first run.

I will update with a fresh message around 2pm, just trying to go through some information.

Update: Nautica ran ok, just out of the money in 4th, I am having a bit EW on So Satisfied 1.55 Catterick as he is 6/1, it is quite an open contest, he has ran well last week.

It will be a slog at both jump meetings today.  Going described as heavy at both Wetherby and Leicester, if they both race !

I am not always keen on betting on ground that is very soft, horses that win usually cope with it better than the others, I am not totally convinced horses like it when it is very soft, and becomes a real slog.

Looking at the card at Wetherby, Solo Saxophone 1.10 could well win again, but even money on the ground is narrow, he scrambled home last time, and this son of the great Frankel will need to jump better today to win, as he takes on previous winners. So I am not advising a bet today, Southwell looks trappy, more tomorrow.

Only Fakenham and Wolverhampton today, heavy ground at Fakenham, it will be tough in the later races when the ground is churned up.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Rio Quinto

Time: 1:55 Fakenham

Current Odds: 4/5

A course winner last time on slow ground, this horse looks the type to keep improving.  He steps up in trip today and his jockey rode him when he won recently. I think he can win with his penalty today.  Of rivals, Oscar Star won a mares hurdle last time, she looks honest and stays well, if she handles the heavy ground she is the biggest threat, Earls hill is the other horse with fair form, he will cope with the conditions and is dangerous.

With lots of rain yesterday, it will be testing ground at Fontwell, and at Thurles in Ireland.  Nothing really at Chelmsford on the flat appeals today.  So I will leave today’s racing alone, hopefully Monday’s cards will go ahead, a couple of horses I am interested in, so more tomorrow.

Hopefully I can find something today, that is a bit of value.  It’s the hardest day of the week to find one, too many meetings.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Al Hamdany

Time: 2:35 Lingfield

Current Odds: 5/2

This horse has been running well on the all weather, he was second last time, where possibly ridden a bit handier he may of won. He has a good jockey on today and comes here with a good chance of winning. Of rivals, Burcan is from the same stable as my selection, he has also been running well, he is a danger, although the main danger I believe is Lawless Secret, who ran a good race last time, she is still progressing and is lightly raced.

I could update later today around 3pm.

Update:

It has been tough going at the turf meetings today, soft ground.  Good to see The New One win at Haydock, he has won the race 4 years running ! I was hoping to put a tip on for racing tonight at Chelmsford in the 7.15.  I am going to watch the race now rather than get too involved as it looks between the front two in the betting, both are fancied. So I will watch and see what wins.

A good winner yesterday, Melangerie obliging, backed at 6/4 she was well supported into 6/5 and won quite well in the end, another decent ride by James Bowen. Two short odds selections today, but I think both look good things.

Todays Free tips are as follows:

Horse: Summer Thunder

Time: 12.55 Lingfield

Current Odds: 8/11

If looking for a good thing, although this horse is very short, she should win without breaking too much sweat.  She ran a good second last time, when she did make up a lot of ground to come and look like winning, I think her effort to get to the leaders was a good one, only horses like her with limited ability,  cannot sustain making up too much ground and win, if ridden a bit closer to the leaders, she will win. Of rivals, hard to make a strong case for a threat, a pretty ordinary bunch as I see it.

Horse: Native Appeal

Time: 3.40 Lingfield

Current Odds: 4/7

I suggest putting this one in a double with my earlier selection, it works out at around 7/4 and this horse will be very difficult to beat.  I backed him last time, when beaten by a useful horse, this is  a weaker race.  Of rivals, Shakour has ability but I can’t see him beating my selection, Cross Swords is the unknown, he could well be ok although is quite friendless in the betting.