Well I have just come back from a few days in the North East staying at Lumley Castle in Durham and including an Elizabethan Banquet which I must say was thoroughly enjoyable and of course, it was also an opportunity to get outside and enjoy the great English countryside. I can’t say I am totally recharged but it’s a starting point especially after what my partner and I have been through in the past few months. Anyway, that’s the Trip Advisor review although I do recommend Lumley Castle Hotel if you're ever staying up in the North East.

Newmarket Look Back

I have to say though it’s always nice to return to a few winners; particularly Laurens landing the Bet365 Fillies Mile on Friday for Victor Value subscribers too. She now has to be considered a strong contender for next years first fillies classic but as connections said before the race, the best of this filly may not be seen before she races over middle distances. So the Oaks rather than 1000 Guineas maybe her best chance of Classic glory although no doubt she will probably take in the Newmarket Classic.

Aiden O’Brien got within one of equalling Bobby Frankel Group/Grade 1 winning record when winning the Dewhurst at Newmarket with U S Navy Flag. Whether the colt will train on a three-year-old and win a 2000 Guineas who knows, he has looked a more mature colt than most of his rivals in his last couple of races but that said his full sister Roly Poly proved me wrong by grabbing plenty of Group 1 wins this season. Whatever U S Navy Flag’s fate next year one thing that will happen is that Aiden O’Brien will surely equal the Bobby Frankel record and probably beat it in the coming weeks.

Withhold landed a bit of a punt in winning the Cesarewitch backed in from 12/1 to 5/1 favourite in doing so. It was an old-fashioned coup by trainer Roger Charlton which harked back to the days of his old boss at Beckhampton, Jeremy Tree who was a master at preparing a horse for a big race. The four-year-old was only having the second start for the trainer since moving from Charlie Hills earlier this year. But on the form book his chance was there for all to see as he had beaten London Prize, the runner-up here, and was 8lb better in with his old rival.

One For The Tracker:

Those of you that have been following my weekly tracker horses were rewarded on Saturday as Grand Inquisitor won at York at odds of 5/1.

Many of the winter jumps horses are starting to come out to play now, in particularly Saturday and Sunday at Chepstow. There will be plenty of future winners coming out of this meeting and this week’s tracker horse does come from Chepstow.

Potters Legend trained by Lucy Wadham made a pleasing seasonal reappearance even though the 7-year-old only finished 7th in the 3m handicap chase. He was sent off at odds of just 5/1 but looked plenty ring-rusty in the early part of the race before staying on well when the race was all over. The gelding had finished an excellent 4th in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival. He should prove to be competitive in handicap chases over 3m 1+ this winter.

Today’s Racing

All turf action on the flat today and the weather certainly in the South and East of England is set to be summer-like with sunshine and temperatures of 21c. So the forecaster says.

The highlights of Monday’s racing action is a Class 2 handicap at Musselburgh over 7f, plus an interesting fillies Listed Race over 1m 6f at Yarmouth. But I am off to Windsor for today’s selections.

Windsor

Trainer Ed Walker has a good record at the course with his runners in handicaps. Since 2014 he has had 12 winners from 36 runners 33% +19 A/E 1.79 23 placed 64%. He saddles two runners here today:

4:00 – Miss Liguria – Ran too badly to be true when last on her handicap debut at Kempton but has been given a short break which indicates something was amiss that day. Prior to that she had showed real promise in maiden races at Kempton and Chester to suggest she can win a race. This will probably be the quickest ground she has raced on since her racecourse debut back in April.

4:30 – Abiento – Was a convincing winner over C&D two starts back but ran well below that form when 3rd at Goodwood 19 days ago. Whether his poor run was down to the soft ground, won on good to soft as a juvenile, the course or the fact that he was held up that day I am not sure. If it was the latter, then hopefully we will see the gelding raced more prominently today.

The trainer has his horses in winning form. The only slight niggle with both is his record with runners going off at odds of 7/1 & bigger for which he is 0 wins from 12 runners 5 placed 42%.

Monday Selection

4:30 – Abiento

All that’s left now is to wish you a profitable week's punting.

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