Easter Sunday

Musselburgh
Time	1st choice		2nd choice		Runners
14:20	Titus Bolt	2nd			12
14:50	Goneinadodat	7th	Keep It Dark	2nd 16/1	12
15:20	Lightening Launch	1st 9/4	Rawaafed		9
15:50	Los Nadis	8th			12
16:20	Hell Hath No Fury	4th			5
16:55	Danehill Flyer	4th			10
17:25	Alpha Tauri	8th			8
1pt level stakes		-6.75		0.5
Plumpton
Time	1st choice		2nd choice		Runners
14:30	Bebinn	3rd			8
15:00	Red Anchor	4th			7
15:30	Weston Lodge	PU	Tchang Goon	4th	7
16:00	Hi Note	4th	Act of Kalanisi	7th	12
16:35	somchine	4th	breaking bits	2nd 6/1	14
17:05	Poppy Greg	4th			6
17:35	Laughton Park	1st 22/1	Southway Queen		14
1pt level stakes		15		-3.75

Doncaster 30th March

Hi Everyone hope your all having a relaxing Easter break with being off work and no UK racing Good Friday I've had plenty of time to study the cards, hopefully it will be time well spent and we get a few nice winners.

Today I will be covering the racing at Doncaster the official start of the flat season race running a week behind due to the abnormal weather we have encountered lately, one word of caution to you all, in sprint races with large fields of runners it's so easy to pick the one with the best form however there is always the risk of them being boxed in and not being able to get the room they need to go full throttle, it takes a skilful rider to ensure his / her mount is placed in a position which is beneficial to the pace of the race. There are a lot of horses I love and follow racing against each other today I've had to be totally brutal when selecting, sometimes you have to say to yourself no matter how much I admire and love that horse today is not his/her day.

Doncaster 13:20 6f going forecast soft – (possible better side of soft) Class 2

So having read through the form of the runners again, and again & again! My views for the first race Colonel Mak won this last yr and runs again today from the same draw no'15 with the same rider and a 5lb claim which would take his weights to 8-13 he won at Hamilton last July carrying the same weight over the same distance in the same class, he won this last yr on good going carrying 9-5 with the jockeys same 5lb claim as he does today he has won on good and soft so surely he stands another chance today yes? No!! normally I'd be snapping up the price of a horse like this yet there is a difference here, last yr he had a few runs before competing to win here, he needs a few runs to shake cobwebs not being a horse that runs well fresh he's never placed after a 60 day break so this time I will give him a wide birth having not had a race since last November.

Jamaican Bolt is one I love and one I've been brutal with! he's priced at around 8's which I think is pretty ludicrous considering this is his first attempt over this distance Pivotal or not he would be a watching brief for me, Spinatrix runs well fresh predominantly a class 3 horse the step up in class puts me off the win for him, although could well sneak a place given the amount of runners who do not run well fresh racing against him, Thunderball appeals greatly he loves it round here runs well on most goings when fit enough, he's had a few races and did well LTO only weakening during the final furlong in a 7f race back down to a trip that suits, the yards doing well and what better way to start off the Doncaster card with a Doncaster Racing Club winner he's priced around 14's currently and certainly one who I shall personally be having a dabble at, Alejandro is another who's caught my eye unplaced throughout 2012 having raced over 7f now back down to a trip that suits

Doncaster 13.20

Both E/W

Thunderball

Spinatrix

Doncaster 13.55 1m class 2

Well first thing for me to say is I've pondered over this race for hours!! and it's not often you hear someone like myself or even admit but this race has me stumped, there are runners I think well their price is way to big and other's that I think that's a bit short, a class 2 race where the majority of runners have only ever raced in class 3, 4 or 5 is certainly one to puzzle over My Boy Alfie is a runner I like he's only once raced in a class 2 back here in November over 7f he did not tire he was staying on just unfortunate he didnt get close enough beaten by 2 ¾ lengths to finish 5^th in a field of 20 runners, he's a miler the trip will suit he's competitive in this class and will love the soft ground. Las Verglas Star is one of the few who have raced in a fair few class 2 races having had a race to clear some cobwebs should be up in the mix of the finalists currently priced around 25's way to high IMO George may not be the best jockey in the world but he does have a 7lb claim and if Verglas wants to run to win he will no matter who's riding him & he appeared fit enough LTO, Patriotic is a decent  sort and this will be his first Class 2 race so one to watch, Barren Brook loves the course has placed on soft but seems to prefer better ground, extraterrestrial is a classy horse but will no doubt need the run having never placed after a 60 day break, Docofthebay has been doing well so could well end up in the places, satanic beat runs well fresh and conditions here should suit, Ocean Tempest was extremely impressive when last seen back in July 2012 at Newmarket winning gracefully on boggy ground there are a few ? Around the course and whether he will run well fresh in a race that suits but still way overpriced IMO, so out of the minefield of a race who am I going for you ask! Well let me tell you the 3 I've decided on after numerous amounts of head scratching.

Doncaster 13:55 e/w chances

My Boy Alfie

Las Verglas Star

Satanic Beat

Doncaster 14:30

Love this race along with most of the runners there's those who have returned from their overseas travels it will be great seeing them race back on home turf, Humidor has to be my fav of the lot but has a ? how he does on soft ground, Hitchens tends not to do so good on soft however classy he is and his price reflects that, confessionals wins have all been over 5f where regal parade and our Johnathan both stand a chance on their best form and both will appreciate the soft going Our Johnathan also has Atzeni onboard which is always a plus in my book, yet Regal parade has the benefit of having a more recent run.

Doncaster 14:30 e/w

Our Johnathan

Doncaster 15:05 Will Hill Lincoln 1m Class 2

Studied for this race last week before it was called off due to snow so I already have a good idea who I'm opting for even more so with runners being confirmed Memory Cloth has had a decent run to get his gears going placing behind strictly Silver will come on for that run and definitely an e/w shout with trip and conditions to suit, swiftly done is also a classy horse who will like today's conditions who also runs well fresh, lahaaq along with a number of others are unknown how they will deal with the course, Bancnuanaheireann was running a decent enough race back in December when he became hampered however does not seem to like a soft going, levitate is back at his favoured course but may struggle against some classier types, Brea Hill wants better ground so his stablemate is given the advantage here when Justonefortheroad placed 4^th here back in 2011 on good ground, the softer going will suit and he's come on a lot since then and certainly should be up in the places with Luke giving a 7lb claim being a bonus. 

Doncaster 15.05

Memory Cloth

Swiftly Done

Justonefortheroad

Doncaster 15:40 1m 2f class 5

Little form to go on and a few “newbies” thrown into the mix of the form there is Helmsly Flyer seemed to want further on his last outing so may appreciate the longer trip at a price of currently 19/1 certainly worth an e/w chance in a tricky race

Doncaster 15:40

E/W

Helmsly Flyer

Doncaster 16:15 1m 2f Class 4

Amaze is currently market fav here and rightly so he is classy i'd be wary of backing him so short never been tried at the course and given the long break although has ran well fresh previously, Noguchi is unknown on the going, Askaud came 4^th here in a class 3 10f race last June he also has the benefit of a recent run and certainly a decent price at around 14/1 i'd be willing to take on the market fav's long absence runner Amaze with the inform Dixon yard. Perhaps a safer e/w option would be Eastern Destiny who will appreciate a lot of today's conditions and proven to run well fresh

Doncaster 16:15

E/W

Askaud

Eastern Destiny 

Todays thoughts

---

Hi all today focus will be away from the TV races I will be looking for some value at Ayr and Chepstow will also be putting my likes into a placepot to see if we can all top up the banks for Cheltenham ;)

The first race I am hunting for a value winner is the 3:25 at Ayr And The Man is the forecast fav for the race who won here in a class 4 who do I oppose to the fav the horse in question has raced in class 2 races on hvy ground proven stamina may not be a distance winner but every horse has that chance of becoming one of those in the right race! You know yourself has won on good and good to soft he also placed 3rd on hvy going LTO which tells me this horse is classy enough to run well on any going this race is a drop in class and distance so he stands a most definate chance of getting in the top 3 given the jockey / trainer combo which has to be one of my fav's of all time they work well together and rightly so. I would also give an e/w chance to super ally who will appreciate the softer ground then the bog ran on lto and the drop in trip also with P1 which interests me

E/W 

You Know Yourself 

Super Ally

I shall stay at Ayr for now and hover over the whillans horse lady blue sky who placed a gallant 2nd in the last race a course winner who struggle very slightly on hvy ground the softer going will suit the current 12/1 is a huge price for a decent course horse Imo along with Mahkzoon who may well be stepping up a class but the drop in trip could well account for that ;)

E/W

Lady Blue Sky

Mahkzoon

The last leg of the pp is a 6 horse race so naturally you will go for the 1st or 2nd fav right? erm hell no read this ") Led, headed before 10th, mistake 13th, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 32l behind Nuts N Bolts (11-2) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Feb." so this race is 2m I would be damn inclined to be on the 2nd fav and outsider of the race due to that reason alone!! 4f less not so heavy ground alexander trained and ridden horse seems to be race fit i will take a bit of 12/1 thank you very much 

E/W

Rossini Dancer

I've decided to go for the first race at Chepstow next a tricky one to solve but hoping I can help point out a few to get the PP up to the 2nd leg at least maiden hurdles are always a nightmare to try and solve but I've studied the race for about an hour now and keep coming back to the same 2 horses. O Brians runner Perfect Candidate came 3rd on hvy going in a class 3 over this distance, the drop in class will surely put him in a decent chance of placing again in the top 3 the other which catches my eye is the Hobbs runner Nutin Fancy who has placed on hvy each time he has run at this course, with the ging being not so bog like may well just get his nose to the front for once, gets another point the because jockey takes off 3 lbs and although not one of my preferred riders he does do well round Chepstow

E/W

Perfect Candidate

Nutin Fancy

Chepstow 3.05 Maurice the athlete would be my choice of value here who loves it round this course the distance going & weights with the jockeys 7lb claim all tick a lot of boxes the last race can be excused given that race was a class 2 on desperate ground,  Sarando is one I follow who will have had the few runs needed to clear away some cobwebs shown in his last race when not being disgraced placing 4th in a class 3 at Bangor Lukes ridden him a fair few times and won on him previously so knows him well enough the pt being fitted also tends to be fitted when placing or winning so will take a chance that he will like it round the course having never raced here before.

E/W

Mauricetheathlete

Sarando

My last race to cover will head to the last race at Chepstow where Massini sunset seems a safe e/w bet and can hopefully end with a winner loves it round here has the blinkers on Tom takes off 3 lb's only raced 12 days ago but that shouldnt be an issue he will win on any going when he's right and imo he will be placed, Somerby from Saddlers Wells (love this breed) and Derwen Pryde are also ones I have been following for a while who also stand decent chances its a close one to call to be fair i'd be inclined to back all 3 e/w prices allowing

E/W

Massini Sunset

Derwen Pryde

Hope you have a great day all. 

The roar of Cheltenham is almost upon us :)

Saturday March 2nd

Hello and welcome to Saturdays TV racing previews, I hope you are all well, navigating around the new look website with ease  & like how it looks, I think the team have done a great job well done :)

So without further delay let me proceed with my thoughts on Saturdays racing to be aired on CH4 Newbury: 

I will cover the three races over at Newbury firstly followed by three at Doncaster 2.05, 2.40, 3.15 and 3.50. Doncaster: 2.20, 2.55 and 3.30.

Newbury 2:05

The going here is good to soft we have some very classy runners out today with Cheltenham drawing close the NH racing is getting very exciting indeed! the first of todays races is a great example of a decent class 3 race we have top yards and smaller yards all of which no matter how big or small have some very classy horses in their yards, there are a few that interest me in this race even before reading any form, one of those is an old fav of mine so its a race not to let the heart rule the head and ensure those with the best chance of winning are selected rather than those who I would like to see win. who would I want to see win before reading any form you may well ask, the answer to that is simple none other than the class on the grass who runs for the Twiston Davis yard none other than Kayf Aramis, this is one classy animal even at the age of 11 he could show some of these a thing or two around at Chelts, he has changed yards a few times during his career winning gracefully for Mr Spearing & Ms Williams he has been with Nigel since 2009 never yet winning a race for him but placing at some very decent e/w odds, why am I rambling on about him you might ask, A) I would love to see him win and B) I know factually he will appreciate the going and the trip, but I shall cast him to the back of my mind whilst I review the other 11 runners competing with him today,  Monetary Fund has won twice over this distance in a class 3 once on soft once on good he runs well when fit enough his last race was a tad disappointing weakening a few furlongs out may well be a little to high in the weights for today's race, Ballytober will be ideal at the weights given the jockeys claim however tends to prefer running in a mud bath which I doubt he will get today, Pipe has two in this one water garden appears to take after his name preferring good to soft to soft from the races he has had so far, he was not disgraced although coming 6th lto considering he had not ran since June may well have needed that run to blow away some cobwebs being a class 2 race will also have been a little to high expectations for him considering he has only won a class 4 may well have place claims in today's race, both the Romford Pele & Buck Magic are horses I like a fair bit but I feel today's trip may be asking too much of them, Off The Ground may also find today's race a bit too tough although he has one of my fav jockeys onboard, Destroyer Deployed will appreciate being back on turf wearing blinkers for the first time which is interesting, Jonjo's runner is forecast to go off fav and rightly so winning twice over desperate ground has also won on good the step up in class will prove his worth or catch him out, Pipes other runner Bygones sovereign will appreciate being back on better ground after running in a swamp LTO, Iron Chancellor has plunged down in the weights will race better in today's conditions has placed in a class 3 over this course so may be one to side with for a place & cuban piece may well be running out of his depth, so who am I going to opt for do I get a lucky pin or do I put my case forward, I've already given a few clues perhaps with Water Garden he's a distance winner the 7lb claim of Thomas Bellamy is a plus the going is a plus and pipe knows how to ready a winner having cleared his cobwebs he has a decent chance at a nice price, I'm tempted to side with Iron Chancellor but will also side with my fav on form not ruled by heart at all Kayf Aramis was inform LTO the class oozes out of him and stands a very decent chance of placing given today's competition.

E/W

The Water Garden 7/1

Kayf Aramis 12/1

Newbury 2:40

We now head to a class 2 9 runner race 2f further than the last race with 4 course winners and 2 distance winners, most if not all of the runners have been running over desperate ground lately and some will appreciate the better going of today's race Hey Big Spender is definitely one of those his last 4 races have been on boggy ground and he's raced probably as he's needed a run and they have been the only races available to him, the drop in class will suit the distance will suit, he has won carrying this weight before so definitely one to keep on side, Michel Le Bon is interesting wearing blinkers first time, will also appreciate the better ground yet has to be tried with today's weights on his back, its a big ask for Idhara,  Tartak has not placed since winning at Cheltenham two years ago, if the course is on the better side of good to soft then Fortification will stand a decent chance, Sona Sasta would be the likely winner of the race IMO, Mortimers Cross currently around 10/1 is way to big a price IMO has definite place claims although never tried at the course, Desperate Dex should be there or thereabouts but too competative a race to back at such short odds, Posh Bird is another who has place claims who also seems a little too big of a price.

E/W

Hey Big Spender 

Mortimers Cross

Newbury 3:15

So we drop in trip to 2 miles and increase the runners to 14 for the final race at Newbury, looking at who's running before reading the form I'd opt for Meganisi who's won for me a few times but form studying I shall commence......... looking at current prices there are blues and reds all over the place so no one seems to be overly sure about who will be winning this race! 13 of the 14 runners are distance winners 3 of those are course winners, so who's turn will it be today all but one have raced recently who generally needs a run before getting into the places so Sonoran Sands goes to the bottom of my list, sporting boy and meetings man have not raced for 120 days Sporting Boy has raced here before finishing 5th although sports a better jockey today than that ride, of the two I would prefer meetings man who even though not racing here previously will appreciate a lot about today's race ticking a lot of boxes, I love Knight n purple but his better performances have all been on much better ground, The Betchworth kid does not appeal even with a 7lb claimer, Princely Player is the one who is not (YET) a D winner but he was not disgraced here back in December placing 5th over 19f on soft ground in a class 2 with the last race he had being able to write off due to desperate ground I'd be tempted to give him a chance here given the distance, going, weights and previously placing 2nd in a class 1 race around Kempton back in October off a higher mark then he is today, Tango De Juilley is appealing for Ms Williams and she does love to have a winner, All the Aces appeals also over a lot of things but I'm not opting for him today, Meganisi appeals even more after reading back through his form although I wish AP was onboard however I struck off a few last week due to the jockey so would be stupid to do the same again!! it's good to see A Bridge to Far back on turf and his price is too big at 16's IMO, Turn Over Silvola has to be one of my favourites for the King yard but today's competition is a bit to harsh for him IMO, Cry Of Freedom & the Pier both tick a lot of boxes & although from Cape Cross a decent bloodline I feel the step up might be too much to ask of Zafranagar.

E/W

Princely Player

Meganisi

The Pier

Doncaster 2:20

The first of three races being covered here today sees a smaller field of 7 runners for a 2 mile handicap chase (make that 6 runners I have just noted that Kings Grey will be a N/R) prince of dreams likes a bit of cut depending how good today's "good" going is I would be dubious about backing him at short odds, Toubab might struggle at the weights but does have Ruby onboard and will appreciate the good ground, laterley wins on any going when fit enough and was very unlucky when falling LTO he's a chaser and a hurdler so if his confidence is regained after that fall stands a decent chance, the bull hayes makes no appeal to me at all given his last races, Kudo Country appeals over the trip and going being decent enough at the weights to be in with a chance, Ulysses Collenges I really like who ticks a lot of boxes for today's races again its the "jockey factor" do you ignore it or do you not! I'd be more inclined to give Laterley a chance of not letting his fall LTO affect his performance for today's race.

E/W 

Laterley

Doncaster 2:55

We come to the Will Hill Grimthorpe Chase, that name sounds a bit Grim! oh what a competative little race this is, well not so little being 3m 2f long it may take a while for some to get round if they all complete the race before PU that is, I see Corkage is out along with another 3 from one of my notebooks (must not let heart rule head!) so who will like the distance? who will appreciate the better ground, and who likes it at Doncaster, Calgary Bay has raced 3 times here winning 2 & placing 2nd in those races, his form since racing the National last yr has been off and has a new yard the drop in class and coming back to a fav course may be what he needs and would be a decent price if showing some of that Doncaster form today, Join Together was just beaten by hello bud lto on hvy ground and has won on good ground, Mr Mooshine showed class when losing out to Cape Tribulation back in December in boggy conditions runs well on any going when fit, Ikodoru Road has won here over the distance and going but on a lower mark and lower weights then he carries today,  there s a ? over Corkage and the distance, Court by surprise is another to try this distance although does appeal at the weight, Billy Mcgearn ticks a fair few boxes who is most definitely a chaser who will appreciate the going the trip should not be an issue the only ? is how he will like the course having never raced here previously, Night in Milan loves it round here is certainly a contender with a decent e/w chance.  Daly & Tinkler is a combo I like Quentin Collenges would be in with a chance if improving on his last runs but the GN last year seems to have taken something out of him, lord Villez will appreciate the better ground he will either run well and then run out of steam or steam to the front and stay there! 

E/W

Calgary Bay

Night In Milan 

Doncaster  3.30 

And so we come to the last race I wil be covering for today so who stands out right away well if you have read my previous articles or you know me you you will know well enough that Aaim To Prosper is a horse I love a lot along with a few others running against him, His furthest race to date is 4f shorter then todays race he stayed on well enough LTO but when there is that unknown to back at short odds is ludicrous, Powerful Ambition keeps finding one to beat him and has yet to get his nose in front however at todays weights at course he ran well round LTO the going will be appreciated he seems a decent e/w chance, at the top end of the scale we have carruthers with a 7lb claimer on his back who has won over good ground and hvy boggy ground he's class all over and another who seems overly priced as the trip will be no issue, the ? with Carruthers will be the course having never raced here previously I'd still be tempted to give him a chance, Barafundle should be up in the mix but I feel may be a little too high in todys race, the Cockney Trucker appreciates shorter distance races so will be giving him a swerve toda although with AP onboard anything can happen, Possel PU LTO and if recovered from whatever was wrong is another who will be in with a decent chance, both Revelry's runners may need a few runs over this distance before getting their nose in front & Beyah will need to step up massively to be in with a chance as will the Fonz.

E/W

Carruthers 

Powerful Ambition

Good Luck to all today and have a great weekend

P