Its nearly over...........

Well that is the Scottish Grand National meeting out of the way, Perth festival also and Punchestown has nearly finished - what a lovely jumping season.

There has been some stars on show as well over the last few weeks , DUNGUIB - the best bumper horse I have seen - get it sold though ! HURRICANE FLY - awesome hurdler and of course FIVEFORTHREE winning head in chest (one race too late mind!).

The jumps season's passing is the flat season's start, and the 1000 and 2000 Guineas is the first real meeting of the year with as usual the milers setting the standard for the year.

I have two horses to look out for FANTASIA , my oaks filly and CROWDED HOUSE my Derby horse. So goodbye to the Blog for a few months, with a few sets of notes if I am pushed see you at Wetherby in October.

The wonders of a bank holiday weekend

With Betfair working slower and slower , the frustration of the lack of usability is driving me mad !!! If only the purple one could sort its functionality and lack of in running out then they could nearly get the mrket leader position.

the nap is ROUGE ET BLANC and the 12 /1 is a huge price in the final of te fixed brush handicap series. This horse was only beaten a neck by TRENCHANT who has run well at the festival and Aintree. Its mark of 118 is useful , gets a four yr old allowance and the experience of learning its trade in France will see him run a blinder.

The second bet of the weekend is on CASEY JONES in the Irish Grand National, 14s is a fair price and the way he stays on will see him go close. TRAFFORD LAD is back on Sunday , anything above 11/4 is a good bet.

Aintree Day 3

Its Grand National Day , huge field and you need huge luck to even get round. I strongly fancy BUTLERS CABIN to give A P Mccoy his first National, the key being that he must go to the outside at Bechers Brook as he props jumping the inside. 9/1 isnt a huge price with all the luck required but he would be my main fancy. The interest story is behind My Will who represent the Andy Stewart family whose son Paul had a terrible snow boarding accident which has left him paralysed, he will go off favourite and would by Pauls heroics show the will that is required to win round Aintree. The bigger prices see some classy horses and I still think even with top weight Cloudy Lane can run into a place for Ginger "Red Rum" Mccain's son Donald and last years third Snowy Morning will do similar.

It is a classy day of racing and one of my favourite horses Cape Tribulation runs in the first, he is only 7/2 and I just wonder whether he has left his race at Cheltenham, coupled with the jockey booking and Malcolms horses running moderate at best I might just let him run. The huge potential of Michael Flips will have his mettle tested as he is ridden by the worst jockey I have ever seen in Mark Grant - who is brutal at getting a horse to jump, thankfully Bible Lord survived his spill today. These good horses that he rides for Mr M Tedham need a jockey to reach their full potential.

The second race should see Kalahari King win if the ground stays good and the third race sees FIVEFORTHREE take on the very classy field, he is special and with Jered as saver will be the days nap.

The race before the National sees MALJIMAR seek compensation for not making the cut in the National , he nearly won at Cheltenham and travels really well a saver on DONT PUSH IT will be the cover bet.

The final bet of the week is on CRANKY CORNER who ran a blinder at Cheltenham in the bumper , he travels really well and the hugely eyecatching Premier Sagas would be the saver.

Day Two Aintree

Good job today, really liked the way that Walk On won despite not looking that enthusiastic !!!

RED MALONEY fits the bill in the first, ex flat racer who ran in first 6 at Cheltenham is a good stat, stayed the trip on the flat . SIEGEMASTER fell at Cheltenham despite looking a million dollars, really think at around 12/1 he is a good bet to beat HERECOMESTHETRUTH who is yet another Paul Nicholls shortie!

TIDAL BAY will be spot on for the Melling Chase and can probably beat Vor Por Ustedes if they can keep tabs on him to three out. Bible Lord will be a white knickle ride for Mark Grant in the next, the Sefton sees Karabak at a short price and I quite like KNOCKARA BEAU at a huge price to run in the frame with Karabak perhaps leaving his race at Cheltenham.

The nap of the day is CAPTAIN AMERICO in the handicap hurdle 8/1 is getting shorter all the time.

Aintree Day 1

Walk On is the nap 11/4 is a good strong bet

Faasel is the each way selection in the first race purely based on his Aintree record of 1, 2, 2, from three runs, probably wont win but worth a look at around 25/1.

The second each way double half is on Theatre Knight in the Foxhunters at 33/1 , his record at Aintree rates him a serious bet in a lottery of a race.

I hope Denman wins but at 5/6 cant be interested, the 2 mile chase is really tough and the final hurdle must see Arcalis and also Mumbles Head go well.