This is my first post on my brand new blog, it's a Horse Racing based blog and I will hopefully be sharing my limited knowledge with anyone who wants to read. My selections are based on a points stake; 1 point being low and 5 points being the highest.

Cheltenham is over and it's time to look ahead..
..The Flat racing season is upon us in Ireland and the Curragh opened the show.

An eventful first race saw the stewards amend the result in the very first race. The aptly named Tough As Nails proved so when holding off the persistent challenge of the Jim Bolger trained Whip Rule only to lose the race in the stewards room due to drifting right-handed into the second past the post. The big race of the day was a Group 3 event won by Tommy Stack's Lolly For Dolly, she picked up well in the straight and though she also drifted right-handed close home she won well enough. The best finish was undoubtedly the Irish Lincolnshire in which Drombeg Dawn (1st) and Toraidhe (2nd) went head to head up the run-in, seperated by a short head at the line. There were two big disappointments in that race with both Photo Opportunity (2/1 fav) and the English Lincoln bound Our Joe Mac (3/1 2nd fav) failing to land a blow.

Tommy Stack proved the well being of his runners early season sending out 2 winners on the 7 race card but Jim Bolger was in as good a form as he had one winner, two seconds and a third. They are both worth watching out for in the coming few weeks.

On to tomorrow and the racing comes from the UK. Kelso hosts a 7 race card starting at 14:10 though to the last race at 17:10. Lingfield has it's first race at 14:30 with it's 7th and final race of the day at 17:30. Wolverhampton (A/W), also a 7 race card opens up at 14:20 and ends at 17:20.
I'm sticking to Kelso tomorrow, below are details of my two main fancies.


14:10 Kelso NSPCC School Service Novice's Hurdle
Wyse Hill Teabags was placed in a graded event last time and dropped in class he has to be respected but he was readily outpaced over this CD last time out and will be seen at his best when sent back over further. Jim Goldie has his runners in good form right now and Richie McGrath is booked, he has to have a good chance but at the likely short odds he is worth taking on. Another trainer who has his runners in fairly good form is George Charlton, he teams up with Jan Faltejsek on Freddie Brown. He showed ability in two bumper starts before winning at his 3rd attempt. He has been an interesting hurdle recruit but has thrown away his chance over jumps on both occasions by pulling hard early. He showed a bit of a temperament last time out when flashing his tail late on but he's showed signs of a fairly useful horse that day. He pulled hard for over a mile but he was bang there jumping 2 out and just started to get tired up the run-in. He's the type to learn with experience and hopefully he will be more settled over this extra furlong. He is not one to go in heavy on based on his attitude so far but when he's learned to settle there is definitely a race in him. He's one to watch out for in the near future but for now is worth a small bet.

Selection:
Freddie Brown 0.5pt e/way @ 8/1+

15:10 Kelso Arpal 120th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle
King Mak is one that deserves a victory, he battled on well from the front last time out and was only beaten by the held up and late on the scene Won More Night, the winner was well backed before the off so plenty was expected. The drop in trip is the main concern about King Mak's chances, he's shown his better form over 19f and further though the slight slower going will help make it more of a stamina test. Kye James rides again and can claim an extra 4lb this time but this race is almost a stone stronger than the last race he contested. Pokefulham beat a rival rated 6lb higher giving him 7lb too last time out so he may be 'well-in' but that rival has never ran in a handicap over jumps so it's hard to assess how well Pokfulham handicapped, based on his old form I'd say not very as he's been beaten off 109 on his last two handicap starts. Now rated 115 and having to shoulder 11-12 round here he may be vunerable to a better weighted rival. That better weighted rival may just be Howard Johnson's County Colours, he's a free going sort who hasn't always been the easiest of rides but this is his easiest task for a while and it'll be disappointing if he can't make an impact in this. He's been chasing for his last two starts but his jumping hasn't convinced and will need this return to hurdles to be seen at his best. He has some form that makes him look easily the best handicapped in this race - beaten just 2 3/4 lengths by recent supreme novice hurdle 5th Recession Proof. County Colours raced of level weights with Recession Proof in that novice hurdle, Recession Proof is now rated 137 having won the highly competitive Totesport Trophy off 134. Back in 3rd in the novice hurdle was Flinty Bay who is yet to be out of the first 3, second in a handicap off 115 since in which Fujin Dancer came 3rd, that one has gone on to win twice since and is now rated 11lb higher. County Colours has Paul Gallagher taking over, he's been riding well lately and claims a valuable 5lb leaving County Colours off a mark of 102 and just 10-13. The return to 16 furlongs will suit as it'll help him settle with King Mak setting a likely strong gallop upfront.

Selection:
County Colours 1pt e/way @ 9/2

I wish you the best of luck with your bets today.