Racing Nerd

Having found it difficult to find anything of value against the favourites today, tomorrow's card at Goodwood has a different look to it. In the 2 and 1/2 mile handicap, I think the Ascot Stakes form could come to the fore in the shape of Coeur De Lion and Smart Champion . While Coeur De Lion did us a favour on that occasion, I am coming down on the side of Smart Champion this time. He was unlucky not to win at Ascot, he certainly would have gone very close with a bit of luck in running and everything that could go wrong did go wrong last time at Newcastle. He did remarkably well in the circumstances to finish 9th as he could have been forgiven for trailing home last given the way the race fell for him. The long straight at Goodwood should suit, provided he doesn't get too far behind and hopefully they will get racing early. Stamina is not an issue given the Ascot race was his first try at a marathon trip.  At Galway tomorrow, the feature is the Galway Plate and I'm sticki

What a performance from Enable in the King George! She just oozes class and loved the strong pace set by Sovereign. The time was really good too and there is nothing to suggest she is not as good as ever this season, even at the ripe old age of 6. Japan, on the other hand, has now become an extremely disappointing horse and appears to have regressed this season. I can't wait to see Enable take on Love, amongst others, in the Arc and hopefully they will all make it.  After taking a short break from racing over the past week or so, I was going to wait until Goodwood and Galway to get involved again but I can't resist a couple of horses today. Firstly, there is an obvious case for a small interest in Firmament  at York in the 7f handicap at 2.10. As an eight year old, it would be hard to say he is progressive but that doesn't mean he isn't well handicapped off a mark of 93 at a course he simply loves (only out of the first 4 once). He was extremely unlucky last time here w

I was delighted to see Nazeef win the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes yesterday at Newmarket having marked her out as a Group horse in the making before she won her Kempton listed race on reappearance this year. Admittedly I should have kept the faith and kept following her but hopefully some of you did. Thursday wasn't as satisfying as Dancin Inthestreet was unlucky again when racing alone for the second half of the race and could only finish third. Moving on to today's action and it isn't a card that particularly jumps out at me from a betting point of view. When the races were priced initially, I found it hard to find something that was over-priced. That is always my first instinct as you have then got the percentages in your favour.  As a result, I have reverted to plan b as such - find a horse that I think will be solid and give a good run for investment. That then turns the percentages in your favour again, while also having the option of taking a profit or covering your stak

There are two excellent meeting's tomorrow at York and Newmarket to start off three days of really good quality fare on show. At York, I'm really looking forward to seeing Highest Ground again as I think he could be a top quality colt. However, he represents little value now and we have to look elsewhere for the selection.  Admittedly, the selection isn't great value either at around 3/1 in a big field handicap but Dancin Inthestreet is worth an investment in the 3.35 at Newmarket. I have no doubt she is still very well handicapped off a 2lb higher mark than her Ascot third behind Art Power. The winner was in a different league but Dancin Inthe Street actually covered the last two furlongs in the exact same time (once in the clear) and Art Power is surely a Group 1 winner in waiting. Cieren Fallon's claim will offset the slight rise and the Haggas horses could hardly be going much better (32% for the last 14 days). The only slight concern is that if she is held up she m

What a weekend of racing we have in store!! As if the Derby and Oaks at Epsom is not enough, we have a brilliant renewal of the Eclipse tomorrow as well as some top quality action from France and Ireland!! It is one of those weekends that there is so much racing it is easy to get carried away and have more attempts than one normally would. As always, patience is so important when looking at making a profit in the long-term. The Derby is a prime example of people putting up selections for the sake of it. There are reasons why every horse in the field can't win (in the case of some, quite a few reasons) from the draw to stamina doubts or their form not being to the required standard. There seems to be a huge amount of guesswork involved and for me it is impossible to be confident about anything hitting the frame, let alone winning. I don't think Kameko will stay as he beat two horses who barely get the mile at Newmarket as was proven at Ascot when Palace Pier put them both in the