robertob

3.15 Doncaster: November Handicap, 1m 4f A full 23 runner strong field. It couldn't be any more competitive. Nonetheless I feel bottom weight Al Destoor is a bit overpriced. True, he's never won over 12f and his pedigree does not necessarily says he should, but he's still been placed twice in three tries over the trip and has shown excellent form in softish conditions over trips up to 1m 2.5f. Al Destoor also is an incredibly consistent animal. He rarely runs a bad race. So given the trip is not totally out of his reach, he loves the ground conditions and has a feather weight on his

2.40 Doncaster: Gillies Fillies' Stakes (Listed), 1m 2f The favourite, albeit most likely with the best form in the book, looks a reasonably short price compared to Time Chaser, currently trading as the second fav. Both fillies remain lightly raced with potential upside, however I feel Time Chaser has more upside and is a better price at the same time. She is a full-sister to the very smart Time Test, so taking that as an indicator, there is a good chance Time Chaser might still do a bit better than her current official rating of 91 suggests. She won three on the bounce fro

6.45 Newcastle: Class 4 Fillies' Handicap, 6f A race very much for the taking and favourite Cashla Bay should be very hard to beat from a perfect draw. That is if she can regain form shown previously to a abysmal performance in her last start, when finishing down the field. However all other three life time starts were quite excellent efforts in the context of the race and how the form has worked out in the long term. Cashla Bay achieved a time speed rating of 81 on her debut back in October last year, which suggested she is potentially smart, and with natural improvement surel

Oh what a sweet feeling to get it right - particularly on such a big day! Pinned all my hopes on Rekindling, feeling there was everything to like about his chance. How he delivered. Superb ride by Corey Brown. Let the horse settle, made most of the perfect draw and had him pinch perfect positioned when it mattered. Again wonderful buildup to the race itself. Always feels like the world cup final. They do it so well over there!

4.45 Kempton: Class 6 Handicap, 1m This looks a race where one of the younger, lightly raced three year olds really should land a blow. Mio Ragazzo looks the pick of the lot, if this doesn't come too soon and he can overcome a wide draw. However I rather go with experience in this race. From the bottom end of the weights, nine year old Pick A Little looks primed for a big run. He comes here off a nice win at Brighton, yet can race off 2lb lower on the All-Weather, than he did on turf the last time. Pick A Little is equally as good a horse on the sand as on grass, in fact his wi

1.10 Wolverhampton: Class 5 Novices Stakes, 5f After three highly promising runs, with the debut a clear stand-out, Miltia is clearly the one to beat. 5f on tapeta looks ideal with a perfect draw in a race that appears to be very much winnable. Militia's sire Equiano has a superb record with juveniles over CD therefore the switch to the All-Weather looks more like a positive than a negative. Selection: 10pts win - Militia @ 9/4 Bet365 ....... 4.45 Kempton: Class 6 Handicap, 1m This looks a race where one of the younger, lightly raced three year olds really sho

Good luck everyone! Here's my take on this very special race. Melbourne Cup 2017 - Preview: The race that stops the nation.... or the race that disrupts my sleep. Yep, it's back - the one and only Melbourne Cup! Thankfully only once a year. Getting up at 3.30am on a regular basis is probably not recommended. Nonetheless, Tuesday morning I will. All in the name of my favourite race on this beautiful planet! Not because I've ever been particularly successful finding the winner. I have not. But because the build-up. The atmosphere. The enormity of the whole event. It's s

11.37 Del Mar: Breeders' Cup Turf, 1m 4f One last hooray for Highland Reel. He'll go to stud after this - a race he won last year. Or shall we say stole? He got away under a perfect ride by Jamie Heffernan that day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Ks7tvV39A The globetrotter had another productive season in 2017. Winner of the Coronation- and Prince of Wales's Stakes. When he gets his preferred conditions Highland Reel is clearly tough to beat. I feel that'll be the day here. Trip is perfect, fast ground is what he loves, a perfect draw will enable him to be up with the pa

Del Mar (US) 9.25: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, 1m Without the shadow of the doubt Aiden O'Brien's Happily is the form horse in the field. She won two major Group 1's on the bounce, including the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere when beating the boys. Granted, she had a long season with six starts and coming here at the end of the year isn't easy - if she reproduces anything close to her recent form, she is hard to beat, though. On paper that is. Question marks are over her pace in the early stages of the race. She has got a perfect draw but will Happily be able to utilize it? R

Del Mar (US) 9.25: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, 1m Without the shadow of the doubt Aiden O'Brien's Happily is the form horse in the field. She won two major Group 1's on the bounce, including the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere when beating the boys. Granted, she had a long season with six starts and coming here at the end of the year isn't easy - if she reproduces anything close to her recent form, she is hard to beat, though. On paper that is. Question marks are over her pace in the early stages of the race. She has got a perfect draw but will Happily be able to utilize it? R

2.20 Lingfield: Class 5 Novice Stakes, 5f The two fillies at the head of the market set a fair standard, however their form is nothing to shout about and while experience counts for quite a bit in these races I side with a completely unknown quantity. It looks significant that Silvestre De Sousa is on board of newcomer Baileys Excel. That is because the colt is quite well bred and his sire does incredibly well at this track over this trip, particularly with two year olds. Now the jockey booking is even more so significant as this yard's record in these type of races with young

2.40 Yarmouth: Class 5 Nursery, 7f Owen Burrows' Mutafarrid appears to be potentially well handicap on his nursery debut. The Dark Angel colt ran well in his last two races in maiden company - in his second career start he used allot of energy from a wide draw to be up with the pace, yet he finished a good fourth in a hot race that worked out well. Last time at Wolverhampton he missed the break, got bumped into right after and never settled over too sharp 6f. Still he finished with credit in fifth and this athletic type should enjoy the simpler experience that is 7f at Yarmouth.

2.40 Yarmouth: Class 5 Nursery, 7f Owen Burrows' Mutafarrid appears to be potentially well handicap on his nursery debut. The Dark Angel colt ran well in his last two races in maiden company - in his second career start he used allot of energy from a wide draw to be up with the pace, yet he finished a good fourth in a hot race that worked out well. Last time at Wolverhampton he missed the break, got bumped into right after and never settled over too sharp 6f. Still he finished with credit in fifth and this athletic type should enjoy the simpler experience that is 7f at Yarmouth.

4.10 Naas: Remembered Joy @ 22/1 Skybet Still a maiden after five career starts, however goes handicapping for the first time now and that might make a difference. A lowly opening mark gives her a chance over trip and ground possibly to suit. It is a poor race that does not take allot to win.

Interesting card at Naas today - given I'm not a local resident here I will shove myself down there in a couple of minutes. Some selections for the day here: 1.20: Lost Treasure @ 9/2 Bet365 Superbly bred as expected bred from this yard and might have advantage over most here as an early January foal. 1.50: Cheering @ 9/1 Ladbrokes From family of derby winner Pour Moi, so trip is short enough. However could easily be good enough on debut in an open field. 2.25: Zeb City @ 12/1 Bet365 Bottom weight who looked progressive in maidens. Now handicapping off fair mar