A good winner yesterday at Market Rasen, Ballinslea Bridge who I advised as a bet without the favourite, managed to win well by 6l, the favourite made an error at the last and finished 4th.  Ballinslea Bridge could possibly follow up, if turned out soon, especially if ridden again by useful claimer Fergus Gregory, he is great value for his 7lb.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Melangerie

Time: 1.00 Ludlow

Current Odds: 6/4

This mare won at the track last time, acts on the soft ground, and her jockey won on her last time.  What she needs is a decent pace, as she can be quite keen, as long as there is a decent gallop, she can defy her penalty for her recent win. The useful  James Bowen claiming 5lb off will be helpful. Of rivals, Passing Call is her main threat I think, she has been knocking at the door, with two recent seconds, she should cope with the soft ground and is a danger, Rouergate has also a chance of improving on her recent third, when behind Passing Call that day.

With snow in many areas in the U.K., racing has been given the go ahead at most tracks so far.  It will be testing ground again, so staying power and a liking for slow ground are a must, unless betting on the all weather surface.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Ballinslea Bridge

Time: 12:30 Market Rasen

Current Odds: 11/10 without fav

I am backing this horse without the favourite.  He has a good claimer riding, and ran well at the track last time, he should act fine on the ground as well. So, although I think the favourite is a danger,  the rest apart from New Quay don’t look a major threat, on what they have shown. With a positive ride my selection has a good chance of turning the favourite over, in receipt of a handy 14lb.

I may well update with something later today, after 3:30 pm.

Late update:

I am not backing the one I like later,  it’s a bit short in the betting. So more tomorrow, It was  a good winner earlier with Ballinslea Bridge winning well at Market Rasen.

Nice winner yesterday with Humbert winning at Wolverhampton, he returned at 5/4 I was not over enthused with the ride he got, I do think Josephine Gordon should of made more use of her mount, as when she asked him to go and win his race, he took a while to get on top, maybe she was told by the trainer to ride a waiting race , but I do not like to see horses pulling hard in the early part of the race, this horse could be better in a better race with a strong pace, and ridden positively.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Metkaif

Time: 6:10 Kempton

Current Odds: 6/1 ew

I am going to back this horse each way.  He ran well last time, in a decent Novice event at Lingfield, it’s always a bit difficult trying to assess handicaps for horses just turned 3, and which have had three runs to qualify.  I just like this horses draw, and his jockey is riding well.  He can be right in the mix, in a race with a few with decent claims. Of main rivals, Dream Mount has been running well and warrants respect. Sharp reminder is another that has been running well and has every chance of running in the first three.

With lots of rain widespread in the UK forecast, ground will be very testing at both jump meetings today.  Wolverhampton has all weather racing on the flat and is where I am looking for a bet.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Humbert

Time: 5.40 Wolverhampton

Current Odds: Evens

This horse won well recently, after a long lay off.  He is facing stronger opposition today, but the horse he beat when winning has won since, and hopefully he will be ridden positively today,  as he is a strong traveller, and will possibly get further. He can improve to win this.  At Kempton , he really took some pulling up when he won.  Of rivals, Mythical Madness is a winner at the track, and will be the main rival I think, he will be a late closer, Poets Society is another that could well run better than his recent form.

No tip today.  Only one flat meeting and two jumps with the card in Ireland.  Hoping Linganno Felice can run well at Southwell 2.55, my wife is in partnership with her father in him.  He has been off the track over 10 months, so will improve for today I’m sure.

Saturday has always so much racing and is always the hardest day to find a winner.  Looking at todays card’s is difficult, hoping for winner to two !

Todays Free tips are as follows:

Horse: Secret Investor

Time: 12.55 Kempton

Current Odds: 5/4

A shade unlucky last time not to win when a mistake two out possibly cost him, Secret Investor can go one better today.  The step up to 3 miles should pose no problem, and I think he can beat his main threat Che Des Obeaux, although it won’t be easy.  Of other rivals Duke De Barry has to show a marked improvement to beat the first two in the betting.

 

Horse: Red Indian

Time: 2.40 Kempton

Current Odds: 12/1 ew

In a race that is wide open I am backing this horse each way, he is a bit of value each way and comes into the race of a couple of decent efforts.  He has a good racing weight and will handle the ground and the trip is fine. Of rivals, lots with chances, River Frost looks as though he has targeted this race, he ran well last time and has a good chance, William Henry comes here off a poor run over fences, he should be much happier back over the smaller obstacles today.  Diese Des Bieffes is a novice running a handicap for the first time, he is useful and has a good claimer on top, which makes him competitive.

 

 

Bit of run of seconds of late, after a really good start to the year.  Two seconds yesterday , they were just beaten by better horses.

Todays Free tips are as follows:

Horse: Early Morning

Time: 2:20 Lingfield

Current Odds: 7/1 ew

In a competitive handicap, my selection has solid each way claims, he is 2-2 on the track , likes 7f and his jockey has won on him before.  He has gone up a bit from last time in the weights, and did run ok in France on his last run.  Of rivals, Mysitique Moon should come on for his last run, it was after a bit of a break, so he is very likely going to be competitive, drop back to 7f is possibly not a big problem as he won over 7f before, Shyron has also a chance to be in the mix, he likes the track and is coming of a good win.

 

Horse: Style De Garde

Time: 3:00 Huntingdon

Current Odds: Evens

This horse won well last time, he is upped in grade and will be hard to beat today.  He is a strong traveler and will handle the soft ground well. Of rivals , Gumball is his biggest rival I think, if he jumps better than his last run he is a big rival, he usually goes a good gallop and hopefully will today and set the race up for my selection.

Great shame to hear former Champion flat apprentice Bryn Crossley died recently, he was only 59.  I actually rode against Bryn on the flat when I was an apprentice, before I went on to ride jumping. Later when  I worked for Godolphin, Bryn was part of the team in Dubai, he used to stay in Dubai when we returned with the horses every spring to race in Europe each year. He kept the yard tidy and had all repairs done, and everything ready for when we returned in the Autumn.  He was obviously a good jockey and rode over 200 winners, he was a small man with a huge personality, life was always entertaining with him in or out of work. I had not seen him for a number of years as he was living in Spain.  I heard he had been unwell and in and out of hospital recently, sadly he had a seizure and failed to recover.

 

Hitting the crossbar over last few days ! Looking at the positives, still a profit for the month, looking to get back in the groove today.

Todays free tips are as follows:

Horse: Tabernas

Time: 3.35 Newcastle

Current Odds: 11/8 Without Fav

It is difficult to split the favourite Battle Lines and Tabernas in this race as I see it, so I suggest backing without the favourite, its 11/8 on Betfair and a few other firms if you shop around. Tabernas was a close 4th last time at the track, he steps up 2f today which should be ok, and as mentioned looks as though he has Battle Lines to beat. Flag Festival the stablemate of Tabernas has been gelded and could step forward from his debut run, The Jungle Vip was disappointing last time, he is quite small and could of ran his best race on debut, Swordcraft is a unknown on debut.

 

Horse: Native Appeal

Time: 5.05 Newcastle

Current Odds: Evens

I think my selection can follow up under his penalty.  He won well in the end  at Kempton last time,  and looks a progressive type, he has Three Weeks as the main threat, who won a shade cosy at Lingfield last time as well, it will be a good race, with Danzay also in the mix with a chance on his two recent seconds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got a winner yesterday with Black Op, an easy winner at Doncaster.  My other selection Acker Bilk at Southwell was second, only just beaten a neck, by a horse that looked as though it wanted to win a bit more than he did.

Todays Free tip is as follows:

Horse: Grey Waters

Time: 2:15 Lingfield

Current Odds: 13/8

A winner on the all weather surface at Kempton late last year,  and still quite well in on her flat mark, the long trip from Ireland can pay off today for Grey Waters.  Her jockey is riding well and full of confidence. She stays well and 2 miles is fine, she ran well over hurdles last time. And can win this.

Of rivals, Authors Dream looks the main threat, but was behind my selection when they met at Kempton, and is worse off at the weights today. Bertie Moon is a recent winner, and is genuine, he has a chance as well to be in the mix.

Todays Free tips are as follows:

Horse: Acker Bilk

Time: 12.15 Southwell

Current Odds: 5/4

This horse won easily last week at Wolverhampton.  I think he can follow up on his first try on the fibresand today.  He looks the type that has needed time to develop, his jockey rode hime when he won so knows how to ride him.  Of rivals  Topamichi is a horse with talent, but tends not to produce everything he has, he will act on the surface and if in the mood, he is a threat, Swift Cedar is a course winner ands a chance, he ran well last time.

 

Horse: Black Op

Time: 12.25 Doncaster

Current Odds: 4/6

Although short odds, I suggest having a double with my other selection and it is around a 5/2 bet.  This horse ran really well last time, and has one to beat as I see it in this race. He will act on the surface and has a very good jockey on top. His danger Colonial Dreams has to step up on his last run to be a real threat to my selection, he has yet to totally prove himself on softish ground.