ivans82

2.20 Aintree Kargese looked the winner all day long until outstayed up the hill at Cheltenham and with a question mark over Sir Gino and the stables form . looks a good bet . Could even put a saver on the SF if the real Sir Gino turns up . 5.15 Aintree Honky Tonk Highway is the bet , unfortunately the Skeltons have been shouting it from the roof tops for months , so a price collapse is likely .

Once again the Ladies show the men how to ride , Alice Bond and Saffie Osborne rode perfect races , always in the first 3 or 4 keeping it simple and off they go Hayley just touched off on Harry Did .

I was hoping Lossiemouth would run in the Champion Hurdle but if not Mullins still has it sewn up .

I have one main question to ask regarding NRNB , in the small print in the bookies it has the dreaded word Rule 4 may apply . Therefore if i bet against Constitution Hill , will i be hammered with a huge Rule 4 if it doesn`t run ? I have asked in a few of my local shops , no one can give me a satisfactory answer , i have e-mailed Corals and their reply didn`t answer the question either , whats your views ?

Nice comments by Callum Shepard on the need for Sunday night racing . Completely agree , having men and women having to work 7 days a week and the last race being 2030 hours is just not needed .

Yet another day of ITV racing............and yet another day of "talking horses" stuffed .....Have learned my lesson a while ago on tv racing.......look at the "top tipsters" in the racing post panel , cross their horses out , and pick from whats left .

Jet Powered and Under Control , yet 2 more Nico/Henderson horses to run like drains . Their novices might still be running o.k. , but their established horses just aren`t at the races .

Strange rides given to Maries Rock and Hyland , both horses travelled well , but both were handled with kid gloves , never really put into the race to get an agressive ride to win , must have eyes on other targets .

Just read on the at the races pages , Gordon Elliott has 15 of the 21 runners in the Troytown race at Navan today ........and they wonder what is wrong with racing .

After J P R One yesterday who fell at the last , Broadway Boy stumbled at the last , and now Stage Star nearly fell at the last......all had one thing in common , they all jumped tight to the wing , would advise jockeys in future to take the last a bit nearer the centre of the fence .

Teumessios Fox looks the one in the November H`cap , all it`s best form on the AW , so it`s the one for me , can`t have been a plan though as they wouldn`t have known about the switch to the AW until last week .

F C Porto , Atletico Madrid , Newcastle Treble only pays about 6-1 , but can`t come up with anything else .

Benfica , Lens , Napoli Treble pays around 9-1 .

Got a real quandary about the Balmoral Handicap which closes the card . On the Ascot web site it says under extreme very soft/heavy conditions high numbers are favoured , but it has been several years since this bias can be confirmed as conditions haven`t been that bad .On top of that last years race under softish conditions the whole field went (for some unknown reason) over towards the low drawn side of the course .All the hold up horses were then squashed up on the rail and coudn`t get a run leaving the prominent racers in pole position .Would love some of the jockeys to stay down the high draw side , but believe they will just play follow my leader as usual.........so much so at this moment in time can`t find a bet.....any answers out there ?

Going for Sweet William ew at 10-1 in the stayers . Last time when beaten by Trueshan came cruising into the race and then faltered (perhaps on a bit of dodgy ground) and still ran on strongly to the line . All it`s best form on soft , also has a very pronounced knee action .If the real Kyprios turns up might just be playing for a place , but think it will get a nice tow into the race so might not have to hit the front too early .

Just on an aside , anyone with 5 mins to spare , watch the finish of the 1622 at Clairefontaine , Testipedro in the dark blue colours is on the near side . After the race the slow mo shows the finish with Testipedro clearly the winner by a head . The result gives it 2nd beaten a head .......the only explanation is the winning post isn`t where the tv cameras are , but that doesn`t make sense.........answers on a postcard please !

Yaaser at 7-1 looks worth a couple of bob in Yorks last Bred by Lope De Vega whos offspring love the soft and it looks bottomless at York today .

Going for doubles and treble on the 3 bumper races today 1720 punchestown my great mate 6-4 sire jukebox jury top stayer 1735 ludlow dantes inferno 5-1 sire sixties icon again top stayer and owned/ridden/trained by the Nicholls family 1745 sedgefield micks jet 2-1 P.Kirby loves winners here , won it`s last bumper at Cheltenham by 9 lengths .

One for Saturday.......Hamish in the Cumberland Lodge .......rain forecast all week.......3-1 as we speak....won same race last year .

Jason Hart deserves a medal for his ride on Highfield Princess , He was flat out and under pressure from the moment the stalls opened until about half a furlong out when it shot clear .Any other jockey might have given up 2 furlongs out because it looked beaten , but He stuck at it and won the day .Another thumbs up for the connections for sticking with the jockey who knows the horse best as opposed to looking for someone "more Fashionable" like a lot of people do ........Commiserations once again to Rob Hornby , who rode the perfect race again and found one too good , but i repeat myself , well done to the connections for sticking with Him , no one could have given Westover a better ride .

Just had a quick look at the Abbaye tomorrow .Pontoss looks the e-w play to me at 16-1 4 places with Coral . Drawn 2 and is a front runner , All the first 5 or 6 in the betting are drawn out in the Car Park so this one will do for me ...Highfield Princess is as low as 5-2 with some forms and has a shocking draw , if it wins form there the others must be trees .

On the question of Continuous ( not to say i am backing it ) but it tanked through the Leger pulling double . Sealed the race 2 furlongs out with a real change of pace , quickened away and perhaps if anything tired in the last furlong . Looked as if the one mile six stretched it slightly and 12f might be its ideal trip . Ryan Moore only gave the horse a couple of taps so he thought there was plenty left ...........personally i want Westover to win , been so unlucky in the past .

New todays morning line would be good when Adele Mulrennan and Matt Chapman were on , She clearly doesn`t get on with Him , as already glowered at Him a few times (with good cause ) , come on Adele give Him both barrels !

Pointed this out to a friend recently who likes to do ew doubles on big fields . In the old days 16+ runners a quarter the odds now with extra places been given a fifth of the odds . ( i have asked if i write first 4 only a quarter the odds on my slip , that option is not available) .Therefore a one point ew double on two 20-1 shots ......say if they both come 4th , return is 25 points , under the old rules you would get 36 points ....... nearly 50% more .....extra places is fine but you have to take the hit . What i do now is back the horse to win at the odds i can get and do a tote place only as well .....at least you are getting what you are due .

Bit early of me i know , but in the Cheveley Park on Saturday , Christophe Soulmillion is coming over to ride Jasnas Secret for A&Y Lerner . Only ride and can`t be coming over for a day out , the day before the Arc as well .Have a look on the race replays He has ridden it twice before and won 2 decent races easily . No stand out Horses over here yet , a little play each way maybe ?