BBOTD - Friday the 31st of January

17.55 Wolverhampton: Well Painted @ 10/3 Bet365 - 5pts win

Well Painted went extremely close last time out at Lingfield and was unlucky not to win in my mind. He was simply locked on the inside and short of room to break out and start a challenge from 3f out, all the way turning for home and pretty much until the final furlong marker, while the other horses had a chance to get into full flying, Well Painted didn't and had to wait until he got free while then he had to produce instantaneous acceleration. He did extremely well to got as close as he did in the end without getting touched with the whip at all. He seems to be poised I feel as he run well over 1m before too when he finished runners up to Alfred Hutchinson and these forms work out very well. He drops in class tomorrow, has the useful assistance of a 5lb claimer and should get a clear run in this small field - so no excuses this time. 

BBOTD - Wednesday 30th January 2014

17.50 Kempton: Plough Boy @ 4/1 Bet365 - 4pts win

Feel Plough Boy has an outstanding chance to go really close here. He surly didn't get the run of the race last time out at Lingfield when he travelled really strongly but was short of room turning for home and for most of the time in the home straight, while also never got any serious question asked to safe him for a better day. He ran with loads of credit on two occasions before at Kempton when he finished second and third and I thought particularly on his penultimate start he was slightly unlucky, when he travelled strongly again, but was a bit in a pocked entering the home straight and had to switch to the left in order to get a clear run. The process to straighten up and hit top gear was in the end what cost him the victory when he was beaten in a very tight finish. He didn't have quite the speed over 7f on his start before to an at that time extremely well handicapped Starlight Princess. But taking everything into account, he ran extremely well in all his last three starts, forms of these races work out very well and he is still lightly raced, with more to come and off a mark of 58 he is more than capable of winning a low grade handicap such as this here tomorrow, as he drops in class as well.

BBOTD - Tuesday 28th of January

15.05 Clairwood: Lady Carter @ 12/1 Sportingbet - 2pts win

Lady Carter looked a hugely talented filly on her racecourse debut back in October when she won her maiden in tremendous style. She was cruising alongside the long time leader over 200m out hard on the bridle, showed a bit of greenness in the closing stages but one flick on the neck was enough to keep her focused and she won as easy as it gets. She was a huge gamble that day and connections clearly knew, stating after the race they knew they have a really nice filly on hands and they expected much more to come. She was well fancied on her handicap debut one month later but run extremely below par. She was green throughout, hanging badly and got also hampered. Simply wasn't her day. She got a nice little break and comes back as a fresh horse tomorrow. That might be key to her but she surly will have learned plenty from her two other starts. She'll get further in time no doubt but sprinting is alright for now. she drops in class and also gets some assistance from the handicapper and it would be disappointing if she wouldn't be good enough to be right there when it matters.

BBOTD - Monday 27th of January 2014

16.40 Wolverhampton: Lesha @ 7/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Lesha seemed quite unlucky on his first handicap start. He travelled strongly but got a nightmare run down the home home straight when he was desperately trying to find a gap but simply got always some rival shifting into his line. He switched wide in an extreme manoeauvre around 1f out but then things were out and over already. Still a much better performance than the result suggests and he followed up on a very fine maiden win, a form that works out well. He drops in trip, which should surly suit as last times 11f seemed stretching his stamina in the end. The switch to Wolverhampton shouldn't do any harm to him either. He is nicely bred and the current mark could be underestimating his true potential, so this price looks quite big to me.

It's a tough game...

Racing can be a tough game. For jockeys it is particularly tough on cold, wet and windy winter day over the jumps. Last Saturday it was one of these horrible grey and rainy days at Naas racecourse. Conditions were desperate at the County Kildare track as clearly visible in the shot above, which I took of jockey Robbie Colgan after the penultimate race. More photos from this day are to find here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjQVir43

Bets for Saturday the 25th of January 2014

12.50 Lingfield: Catalinas Diamond @ 15/2 Bet365 - 2pts win

Catalinas Diamond has a big chance here tomorrow off her current mark after two interesting performances since she came back after a break. She travelled well on her penultimate start, which came after four month off the track, but she got badly hampered approaching the home straight and might needed that run anyway. She had the widest draw to overcome in a big field ten days ago at Lingfield and dropped in from there, trailing the field and having an awful lot to do 3f out. She made nice headway on the wide outside though and had to turn wide, which cost ground. She really run on strongly however and finished in manner that suggest she could be poised to win soon. The handicapper thinks differently and relieves her off another 2lb, which makes her extremely well handicapped on form. In fact she's able to run from a mark 7lb below her last winning mark. For that reason I think she should have a cracking chance to find her way back to the winning ways. 

15.45 Lingfield: Shavansky @ 16/1 Bet365 - 1pt win

Interesting performance from Shavansky last time out here at Lingfield over 12f in a hot handicap. He was pretty keen that day and his jockey switched him to the widest outside 7f making a big move to take over the lad soon after. He travelled strongly entering the home straight and led the field till the final furlong marker, when he tired eventually. Still he wasn't far beaten and he confirmed the fine form he showed at Kempton in November where he won really well off 1lb lower mark. He had an off day in his next race but ran to form in his most recent race then again, as stated. He drops to 10f tomorrow, a trip that should certainly suit. He is currently 2 from 2 over course and distance and therefore must have a good shout in this race.

Bets for Friday 24th January 2014

Finally off the mark for the new year! Took me a while but it the waiting was over today - yeah! Divine Call won well considering the position he came from in the race. He was a 6/1 SP as well, which makes it all a bit sweeter. Could have been even better as Ryedale Lass ran a big race, but finished 2nd in the end. Tammuz was disappointing though.

13.30 Lingfield: Tanojin @ 8/1 Bet365 - 2pts win 

Tanojin is back after a break and that doesn't have to be a problem. If she is fresh, well and fit I feel she could run a big race considering that she's completely unexposed and seems to have a lot going for herself here. She steps up in trip to 7f which should surly suit on pedigree, she is on a pretty fair mark considering what she has achieved so far and she has a decent seven pound claimer on board for the ride. Tanojin was a big eye-catcher on her last start, back in October at Wolverhampton too. She got hampered around 4f out but remained to travelled well. She made a big move on the outside from 3f out and finished her race strongly in 2nd place. The winner wasn't to catch though as having the run of the race from the front. If she runs to that sort of level and with a bit improvement left in her due to the new trip, I think she has every chance to be right in the mix when it matters.

14.30 Lingfield: Speedyfix @ 9/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Speedyfix was quite unlucky in his most recent start at Wolverhampton. He didn't break too well but travelled then strongly while trailing the field. He had loads to do turning for home as a consequence however. He made some promising headway on the inside as soon as approaching the home straight and might have gone pretty close if he wouldn't have got badly hampered around 1f out thanks to a rival racing in front of him. He almost crashed into the rails (good to see in head on) and lost his rhythm. He wasn't able to pick up again with running out of ground. This performance was an indicator for me that Speedyfix is back in form and capable of winning. He is well handicapped on old form. Lat year he won of higher on turf and won over CD at Lingfield's All-Weather back in March last year of a 1lb higher mark. So if he doesn't miss the break too badly this time and get a clear run he should be well handicapped enough to go really close.

Bests on Thursday 23rd Januray 2014

19.30 Kempton: Divine Call @ 9/2 Paddy Power - 4pts win

 Divine Call has been extremely unlucky in his last two runs and really gave me the impression that he is poised to win. In fact if he is not well handicapped, who is? At Wolverhampton on his penultimate start he was trailing behind a big field and had a whole bunch of horses in front of his nose when turning for home with nowhere to go, his headway after approaching the home turn was then stopped quickly when he got locked on the inside rail while it appeared to me that with a clear run he would have won that race. He looked the best horse, no doubt. Switching to Kempton didn't prove a problem, and why it should, he won here already in the past. Again he travelled very well but had a bunch of horses in front of nose when it mattered around 2f out again, while not getting quite a smart ride by his jockey, who steered him in all sort of trouble. He had to wait for bit of room and as soon as this happened he switched to the left and produced a nice little turn of foot to finish a strong 3rd in the end. He is able to run of the same mark again tomorrow, which is a career lowest mark, and while his wide draw isn't ideal he might simply try to get a clear run on the outside this time and then he should really win I feel.

16.30 Kempton: Tammuz @ 20/1 bet365 - 1pt win

 Missed the 40/1 that were offered early on, but still this is a huge price. Tammuz didn't run to the form she showed in autumn when she run two really strong races, one at Wolverhampton where she was unlucky, and subsequently won at Kempton over 1m in really good style. She didn't follow up but I thought her most recent run was better than the result suggested. She travelled well enough until approaching the home turn and in the moment when she tried to make some headway and really find his stride she got badly bumped and lost completely his rhythm. She wasn't able to recover and was eased down. As a consequence she drops down to her last winning mark, when she won so well here at Kempton in October, and the step up to 1m will clearly help tomorrow. 

17.00 Kempton: Ryedale Lass @ 14/ Bet365 - 1pt win

 I thought Ryedale Lass run a big race of a career lowest mark last week when she overcame a wide draw to make all from the front. She travelled strongly approaching the 2f marker and had everyone else of the bridle. She just tired within the final furlong and finished 3 3/4 lengths beaten in the end but she really shaped as if she is back in form and can be competitive of this low mark in these poor class 7 handicaps. She gets another chance of this mark tomorrow and the drop in trip should suit considering the way she travelled last time out. It's an awful race and doesn't take much to win it, so if Ryedale Lass can run to the same form as she did one week ago, she must have a good chance of going really close.

Come Fly with me - Irish Champion Hurdle 2014!

Next Sunday it's time for the Irish Champion Hurdle! One of the great races in any jump season, this prestigious race over 2 miles is held at Leopardstown Racecourse. Hurricane Fly will try to defend his crown for third year running and it appears that he has every chance to do so. BUT it won't be easy. The Fly might be the world record holder if it is about winning Grade 1's, however he'll be facing a tough test. The presence of 2013 Cheltenham Festival winner Our Conor as well as Jezki is going to ensure that it'll be a terrific renewal. It's even more fascinating as these three meat each other at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival a couple of weeks ago, when Hurricane Fly got the better of his rivals - you could make some excuses for them though. Our Conor, who won so impressively the Triumph Hurdle last year, was racing over hurdles for the first time in more than half a year, while Jezki was an unlucky 2nd behind the Fly as he didn't get a clear run in the home straight but finished very strongly. So all is set for a really exciting Irish Champion Hurlde 2014 and another round of "Come Fly with me!".

Some of the best finishes of modern time of this prestigious race, put together in a lovely piece by At The Races. Sit back an enjoy the following moments of glory: 

Two bets for Wednesday 22nd of January

15.05 Lingfield: Munsarim @ 11/2 Coral - 2pts win

Munsarim was knocking on the door lately when he run with loads of credit on a couple of occasions. He was a huge eye-catcher at Lingfield on the last day of the old year when he travelled like a dream of a career lowest mark. He had the widest draw to overcome that day and consequently settled in rear trailing the field. He made headway from 3f out on the outside but lost loads of ground turning widest of all and needed a while to hit top gear. But once he did, he flew home from 1f out and came from an almost impossible position to nearly win it. He stepped up in grade afterwards and run fine in a very hot handicap, but once again could have done well with a bit more in-running luck as he was found out for space around the home turn. Last week then he appeared in a claimer at Kempton and was not suited by the lack of pace and the sprint finish, yet he stayed on very well inside the final furlong. That all suggest he is in good form and capable of running to his current mark without a doubt. Dropping in grade tomorrow will surly help to see him even more competitive. 

16.05 Lingfield: Penbryn @7/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Penbryn ran a tremendous race nine days ago here at Lingfield over 1m when he was beaten in 2nd by a short distance. He trailed the field that day and travelled very much the best but had horses in front of his nose turning for home and entering the home straight. He had to delay his challenge and needed to get switched to the outside in order to get a clear run. It was impressive the way he straightened up and quickened in a matter of strides and looked thundering down the final furlong with a winning run but just didn't get quite there. He can race of the same mark tomorrow and the drop in trip shouldn't cause any trouble. He won at Wolverhampton in November over 6f with loads in hand of an only 3lb lower mark under the same rider as booked for tomorrow.

Jockey Cam - Terrific Queen's Cup perspective

The Queen's Cup Steeplechase, held at Brooklandwood in North Carolina on the last Saturday in April, is one North Americas premier jump races. It usually attracts a huge attendance. I just found this lovely video below by accident. It's a recording of a race from the Queen's Cup day - but a unique recording since it shows the race from the perspective of the jockey. Absolutely terrific stuff! You can really get a sense for the pace of the race and the power of the horse. 

BBOTD - Tuesday 21st January 2014

16.15 Southwell: Orwellian @ 10/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Frustrating sort but seems to be finally on a mark he is capable winning of. In fact it's a career lowest mark now. He was not blessed with luck earlier this month here at Southwell when he had an awkward start, didn't travel at all early on while racing wide all the time and turning widest for home, when he got severely hampered by a lose horse. It was impressive to see him picking up so well as he did again and he really motored home to finish a strong 3rd. Surly Orwellian is not a horse you want to trust too much but if he can repeat this kind of performance and get a better run then he must go close in this weak affair. And therefore 10/1 seems a pretty big price to me.

Racing at Naas

Racing at Naas , a set on Flickr.

It was a grueling day of racing at Naas yesterday considering the weather and ground conditions. Was lashing down non stop. You had to be brave and mad to be there. But a very loyal crowd gathered at the track to watch some pretty decent racing. Two graded races and some potential Cheltenham runners were on offer. Naas is a lovely little racecourse, not pretty but has some character. Three different stands along the home straight is quite impressive, the view is great, everything is so close, you could watch the horses in the paddock, get your bets on and watch the racing without leaving one of the stands for example.

Enjoy the following photo gallery of images I've taking at the County Kildare track yesterday...

BBOTD - Friday 17th January

17.30 Wolverhampton: Arabian Music @ 9/1 Betfair - 3pts win

Arabian Music was massively impressive on her third maiden start while clearly not in the race to win. She travelled best of all in midfield, nicely on the bridle until turning for home. She made headway in great fashion once straighten up while not being overly hard ridden. Her jockey got a bit more vigorous on her in the final furlong when she really responded well finishing like a train, under what would be best described as a light hands and heels ride in the end. She clearly got three maiden starts to learn her trade while brought along for handicaps. Her opening mark may look high enough for what she has achieved to date but the way she travelled and finished last time out suggests she could be up to this or be even better and then she must have a fine chance to go close of a low weight in this class 4 handicap. Considering that she is completely unexposed, lightly raced, gave an excellent impression on her final maiden start, has a low weight to shoulder and probably shouldn't encounter any trouble in-running in this small field, makes her a big chance on my book at her current price.

BBOTD - Thursday the 16th of January

19.30 Wolverhampton: Vale Of Clara @ 5/1 Paddy Power - 3pts win

I have two eye-catcher to run in this race with Vale Of Clara and Chez Vrony and the later one appears to be extremely well handicapped after a huge performance two weeks ago when he had all but surly not the run of the race. However Chez Vrony was at least already in full swing approaching the home straight, this was not the case for Vale Of Clara. She travelled probably best of all in that race but at the crucial stage 3f out when the pace really unfolded, she got stuck in traffic and had to sit an suffer until a gap on the inside opened up approaching the home straight, when in fact she had to quicken instantaneously, which is not what horses at this level are usually capable of. She really motored home though, despite appearing to hang slightly to the right around 1f out, which cost a bit of momentum again. Her third place was quite a fine performance after all though. Chez Vrony finished a close 2nd and was visually more impressive, but taking all into account he probably didn't run a much better race than compared to Vale Of Clara in my mind. He just had a bit less against himself I think. For all of that he is a leading chance tomorrow and despite a 3lb rise in the mark is probably still well in. But he is too short for me to bet on and in contrast Vale Of Clara can race off the same mark again, so in fact has an advantage in the weights. She slipped down to a really low mark anyway, one she should be well capable of winning from. This most recent form works out really well too, since the eventual winner - who had the run of the race from the front - won again, and that really boosts the credentials of Vale Of Clara and Chez Vrony. Because of the better price and the more favourable weight I feel Vale Of Clara is better value though and she really has absolutely no excuses if not running a big race tomorrow.

BBOTD - Tuesday the 14th of January

14.20 Southwell: Illegal Action @ 6/1 - 2pts win

Decent handicap debut at Lingfield at the last day of 2013. Looked a bit outpaced entering the home straight but rallied home. Gets one pound off the mark, and switches to the fibresand. Should be perfectly suited for this and in fact is lovely bred by a multiple Group 1 winner and out of a Listed race winning mare, dam sire won Breeders Cup mile. So plenty of dirt form in there and top class form, so wouldn't be a surprise to see Illegal Action improving allot with time and for the surface. He should be better than his current mark and drops in class too.

BBOTD - Monday the 13th of January 2014

12.45 Lingfield: One Way Or Another @ 6/1 Paddy Power - 3pts win

One Way Or Another was a massive eye-catcher two races back at Lingfield when he travelled best of all while trailing the field, still on the bridle turning for home and than run on well despite not getting an overly hard race over a trip too sharp. He was back over 6f this weekend, what was a the reason why I left him unbacked that day, yet he was producing another decent performance, while clearly not having quite the speed for that trip. In addition he got badly hampered in the closing stages though. He clearly appears to be well handicapped in my mind and stepping up in trip is a huge plus as 1m is perfectly fine for him. He's two pounds above his last winning mark but he won two months ago really well off 61, so I quite fancy his chance as on visual evidence he looks ready to strike now racing over the correct trip. Slight concern is that he needs things to fall right for him, which at Lingfield can be difficult sometimes. But considering his big price it's well worth to take the risk.

Capetown Noir romps home in the Queen's Plate!

Capetown Noir won the Grade 1 Queen's Plate at Kenilworth today, the most important race over 1.600m in South Africa. Last years Cape Derby winner produced a lovely turn of foot from 400m out to win pretty easily in the end. He made the most of his top draw to secure a favourable position inside on the rails and got the gaps when needed, but also got a fantastic ride by Karl Neisius. Odds-on favourite Jackson finished 2nd as he did last year. It seems he simply isn't equipped with the change of gear which is so vital in these races over this sort of trip at this top level in SA. He stayed on as he always does and probably will go off a warm favourite for the J&B Met in three weeks time (7/4 currently) as he did last year too -and flopped though. Jet Explorer ran a tremendous race finishing 3rd, coming from an almost impossible position as the trailer when the field turned for home. Not impossible that these three will fight out the met as well come 1st February. Personally I wouldn't bet on Jackson to be able to reverse the placings.

BBOTD - Thursday the 9th of January

17.10 Wolverhampton: Ewell Place @ 12/1 Bet365 - 2pts win

Big price and too big in my mind. Ewell Place ran a better race than his finishing position suggested last week at Lingfield. In fact he travelled really well turning for home but it was a big field and he not in the best position, pretty much stuck in traffic on the inside rail and the jockey realized he wouldn't have chance to get out there in time, so he was eased down with one furlong out and clearly saved for another day. He ran with credit the two races before, at Lingfield in November he was unlucky when short of room when it mattered, and at Wolverhampton I feel he didn't quite stay the trip despite finishing in 4th. Probably a mile is fine, not sure if 7f is too sharp, but he won over this trip a good conditions race back in 2012, leaving the likes of Arnold Lane and Producer behind him. He never could quite reach this level in 2013, but he is down to a very handy mark now and has the assistance of a promising looking 7lb claimer. So he should go really well tomorrow and has no excuses if not.

BBOTD - Wednesday 8th of January 2014

14.00 Lingfield: Munsarim @ 8/1 William Hill - 3pts win

Munsarim travelled like a dream of a career lowest mark lto at Lingfield. He had the widest draw to overcome and consequently settled in rear trailing the field. He made headway from 3f out on the outside but lost loads of ground turing widest of all and needed a while to hit top gear. But once he did, he flew home from 1f out and came from an almost impossible position to nearly win it. He steps up in grade tomorrow, and a result he is the bottom weight here, while he is allowed to race of the same mark as last week. He also steps up in trip, which is sure to suit since he has one over CD already in the past. I feel he has an outstanding chance off his current mark under these conditions.

Photo Gallery - Irish St Leger 2013

Irish St Leger 2013, a set on Flickr.

A set of photos I've taken at - now - last years Irish St leger meeting at beautiful Curragh racecourse. Check them out on flickr.