2:40 Lingfield Racing Tips (16th February)

LINGFIELD 2.40 

On paper this looks a nice class 2 race but its bloody hard to be confident when I'm trying to pinpoint the winner and there's 4 of the 8 runners that I think could win this race, Alsvinder is 3rd top rated on c/d times but this one's trainer has another runner in the race which could do better if the trier of the pair, Merhoob is 2nd top rated on c/d times and top-rated using a time from Chelmsford last year but the jockey is 0-14 for the stable on its older horses, Raucous is 2nd top using a Chelmsford time and hasn't run here before and this one's trainer has a good win record here but the jockey is 1-25 for the stable's runners and 0-14 on their older horses, the top rated on this c/d is GULLIVER 6/1 who looks the safest option in the race but does have to break a fairly long, 14, losing run. I do think the winner will come from the 4 I've mentioned and it could pay to dutch all of them but whatever way I go my stakes will be kept low. 

Gulliver 6/1 3rd

LINGFIELD 3.15 

With 6 runners the prices won't be great but the 2 in the race that have been known to lead look as though they will be setting it up for a finishing type and the 2 I will be looking to back are SOMETHING LUCKY who is my original top rated but only 1lb above ITS ALL A JOKE 5/1 and this one's trainer has a good 21% win rate at this course who could be the strongest finisher in the race and becomes my top rated when you take into consideration the apprentices 7lb claim and an 11% win rate for an apprentice is quite good, i will be backing the latter as my main bet but will have a covering bet on the other selection just in case the apprentice doesn't get things right. 

It's All A Joke 4/1 1st + EX £20.40
Something Lucky 5/1 2nd 

KEMPTON 6.15 

Only 7 runners with a couple of known front-runners, the bottom weight Rock Of Estonia is my joint 3rd top rated but can find this distance too far if there's a fast early pace, Treacherous is the other joint 3rd top rated and likes to track the leaders, the topweight Rose Berry is 2nd top rated and its another that can find the distance too far if the early pace is really fast and I think my top rated LITTLE PALAVER 5/1 can set a pace fast enough to cause the rest of the field problems to catch it and hopefully it will lead all the way and the booked apprentice jockey who claims a valuable 7lb’s has a good 20% win ratio for this stable with a 6-30 record and an even better, 22%, record with the stables older horses at 4-18 and will be my nap bet of the day.

Little Palaver 10/1 6th

6:45 Newcastle Racing Tips (15th February)

NEWCASTLE 6.45 

Not a great race with just 7 runners, especially with no known frontrunners in the race but I, 've got two horses that are a good few spots above the others, Lucky Lodge is my 2nd top rated just 3lb below my selection EPEIUS 3/1 who won last time and has been found a good opportunity to follow up here and it has good trainer stats at 21% and the jockey with a 28% win ratio which makes it the one I have to back. 

Epeius 100/30 1st + EX £20


NEWCASTLE 7.15

This class 6 race has only 3 horses with fast enough times to register on my graphs, I've got joint 2nd top rated with Ginger Jam who won last time out so is in good form, the only known pacesetter in the race is Queen Of Kalahari who is the other joint 2nd top rated so this one should do enough to at least make the frame but I'm hoping STAR CRACKER 4/1 can catch it before the finishing line appears and go one better than when it finished 2nd last time out.

Star Cracker  7/1 5th

NEWCASTLE 7.45 

Back to 7 runners here at least though we have a couple of likely pacesetters and my 3rd top rated Archimedes is one of them, the top weight Tathmeen is my 2nd top rated and usually likes to track the leaders but my top rated is GOWANBUSTER 5/1 who also likes to track the early pacemakers and from stall 2 it should be able to sit just behind the leaders from where it can launch its attack in the final furlong and stay on the stronger at the finish.

Gowanbuster 9/4 4th 

2:00 Southwell Racing Tips (13th February)

SOUTHWELL 2.00 

Only 8 runners and its certainly not a great return to racing in terms of sprints also its an apprentice jockeys race but hey ho something will win it, LIAMBA is my 3rd top rated and the only known frontrunner in the race so it could possibly lead all the way if other jockeys allow it to dictate and then kick entering the home straight, Sir Geoffrey shows glimpses of form whenever its in the right mood and could make the frame but I doubt it will win unless others falter but with the 8 runners my selection will be DREAM ALLY 14/1 who is a hold up type and from stall 1 should take the shortest route and then stay on strongly at the finish but my stakes will not be at full strength. 

Liamba 6/4 2nd
Dream Ally 33/1 3rd



SOUTHWELL 4.30 

I moaned about 8 runners in the first sprint but there's only 5 in this affair but 3 of them have been known to lead before and they are my top 3 ratings, the favourite Point Zero is priced at 13/8 which is way too short to appeal to me and with 2 rated higher I might even be tempted to lay it, Spirit Power is 2nd top rated using a time from Kempton but hasn't raced on this surface before and would need to improve for the switch to actually win the race so I will go with backing ARCHIMEDES 5/1 and this ones 3lb claiming apprentice jockey could tilt things even more into its favour but again I won't be going in all guns blazing.

Archimedes 5/1 2nd 

Do You Use Your Brain to Bet?

It's a topic of interest. 

What's that you ask? When betting, what is the first thing you do? Because from my experience far too many punters don't use their noddle when it comes to making their betting pay. 

For instance, you are going to place a wager with betbrain.co.uk. You have a horse in mind because one of the pundits on Racing UK spoke of the horse in glowing terms. Compared with many platforms the likes of Lydia Hislop and Steve Mellish know their horses. In fact, Mellish is quite a gambler and isn't afraid to put his money where his mouth is. 

However, I would always advise punters to do their homework and appreciate the background to why they fancy a horse to win. The problem with following a major name on TV is that they are unlikely to offer much value because they have a loyal crowd of backers.

One successful tipster who exemplifies this notion is Hugh Taylor. You don't need me to say that his tips are often backed off the boards. If you get on early you can make a profit but if you miss the boat you are very unlikely to achieve value. Without value, you are going to lose money. 

 So it pays to keep your distance from the crowd. 

The strength of any gambler is to know their niche. It could be following a handful of horse trainers, horses, race types or even bet on a new apprentice jockey who takes off a valuable 7lb allowance. In truth, it could be any number of things. To find your angle, you need to do your own research. I'm not saying to look at the last five years of data which can be viewed by using the Racing Post. You may glean a few pointers but you need to dig a little deeper to find information that sets you apart from the crowd. I can tell you this, very few gamblers put in the hours to reveal that seam of gold. I know a friend who has worked hard to find an edge and believe it or not he has won a lot of money and continues to do so. He didn't find it by listening to a punter on TV.

These simple pointers will help focus the mind:

• Do you want to know a bit of everything or know one subject like you are a contestant on Mastermind? 
• How much time do you have to research?
• Don't work so hard that you get feel stressed out by the process. It is important to enjoy what you are learning and bet with confidence. 
• Start by paper trailing and then bet small stakes when you are confident you have found a winning edge. 
• Keep your information to yourself. 
• If you can't make your betting pay, then either work harder to find a winning angle or give up. 

Being a successful gambler is like being good at your job. You didn't just wake up one morning and be an expert in your field. Imagine trying to make a clay pot on a potter's wheel. Somehow, I don't think anyone would be interested in buying your ''pot''. But with time, effort and talent someone may call you an expert in your field.

Good luck. 

8:15 Wolverhampton Racing Tips (6th February)

WOLVERHAMPTON 8.15 

MIDNIGHT GUEST (63) usually runs on at the finish but maybe too late here. 

MIDNIGHTLY (63) is a possible pacesetter and has good trainer/jockey stats.

TIME TO REASON (72) could stay on strongly to make the frame.

FETHIYE BOY (60) early paced sort but maybe not able to lead here.

KRYSTALLITE (66) a front running sort but needs to improve.

COME ONE DAVE (62) likes to track the pacemakers but needs to improve timewise.

TAVERNER(NF) hasn't any course form and may need further to show its best.

SECRET POTION (65) is usually found running on at this distance but maybe too late.

ROYAL MEZYAN(75) hasn't shown much lately but is capable when in form.

TONIS A STAR (69) another possible pacesetter and could make the frame.

SWENDAB (76) a versatile type and the apprentices claim could swing things its way.

SUMMARY: A run of the mill class 6 dash over the minimum trip and only 10lbs difference in the ratings so nothing should be outclassed here, as happens frequently at this distance there's several that have been known to lead before, as you can see by the figures after the horses name Time To Reason is my 3rd top rated and could do best of those not known to front run and it ought to be able to get a decent early position from stall 3, Royal Mezyan hasn't shown much recently and the jockeys 0-8 for this stable puts me off a little, SWENDAB 25/1 is a horse that can spring back to form without warning and is well weighted, and top-rated with the jockeys 5lb claim, in this race on its best time from 2018 and I hope this will be its day but I will admit my stakes won't be at full strength but I cannot let it run without having a small each way bet on it at the price available.

Swendab 40/1 9th 

5:45 Newcastle Racing Tips (5th February)

NEWCASTLE 5.45

I'm not completely sure what to make of this dash over the straight 5 furlongs at Newcastle, Another Angel is one of only two known front-runners in the field and it's my 4th top rated so could do enough to make the frame, Orient Class comes out 3rd best so should be staying on at the finish, its very close at the top of my figures between Katheefa who looks as though a longer trip would suit it better and its on a 17 times losing run since its last win , it hinted at a return to form when 3rd last time out but its done the same 3 or 4 times in its losing run, I think the trainer of ARCHIMEDES 4/1 has found an ideal opportunity for it here and the horse has been in decent form recently and only beaten in a photo last time out in at this class of race but because of the jockeys 1-31 record for this stable my stakes will be kept on the low side. 

NEWCASTLE 7.15 

This is a dire stakes race and none of the runners has done a time fast enough to register on my figures during the whole of last year and so far this year so my stakes will be kept very low and I would need to find some value in the price of STAR CRACKER 3/1, it can find this distance a bit too far at times but there's no out and out speed merchants in this race so it might be able to coast a little earlier in the race and save something for the finish and the booked jockey does have a 15% win ratio for this stable so I hope that's a good omen, it looks as though I'm not the only one to think it has a good chance here and there's not much meat on the bone at the price on offer so I can only hope it drifts in price.

3:30 Chelmsford Racing Tips (4th February)

CHELMSFORD 3.30 

A run of the mill class 6 race with 11 runners but only my selection has been known to lead, Mother Of Dragons, Foreign Legion, Dark Magic and Knockout Blow could go reasonably well in this race, Le Manege Enchante is my 2nd top rated but its been quite a while since this one last won so would need to bounce back to form from its last run to win this race, Fareeq a hold up type is my 3rd top rated but its trainer also my top rated BILLYOAKES 7/1 and if this one does lead as I hope it could then fend off any challengers. 

Billyoaks 7/1 5th

CHELMSFORD 4.00

A nice little 5 furlong dash with 12 runners but once again I've only got 1 known frontrunner in the shape of Red Stripes who is my 3rd top rated but its on a 28 losing run and usually finds one or two too good for it but it could be an each way or place the only wager in this race, price permitting, Skip To My Lou is 2nd top rated and usually stays on strongly at the finish but may need a degree of luck being drawn in stall 11 and its also making its debut at this course so lets hope it takes to it and runs a good race but I've got PROMINNA 8/1 rated top and this one likes to track the leaders and from stall 8 it could track the pacesetter across towards the rail and gain the all-important prominent position from which to attack nearing the finish.

Prominna 8/1 6th

1:35 Southwell Racing Tips (3rd January)

SOUTHWELL 1.35 

A maximum field of 14 here with 3 front running types, Muatadel could be a bit of a hidden danger as its never run on the c/d before but its 0-10 record on the all-weather puts me off a little it cannot be ignored completely being the nearest to the rails of the possible pacesetters in stall 5, I've got Newstead Abbey as my 4th top rated and Liamba my 3rd top are both possible pacesetters so they could make the frame, First Excel is 2nd top but in this race it might need some luck from stall 3 but if getting a clear run it could go well, top of my list is KOMMANDER KIRKUP 6/1 who hopefully from stall 6 can follow Muatadel across to the rails and then get a good early position just behind the leaders and then stay on the stronger at the finish. 

Kommander Kirkup 12/1 Unp

SOUTHWELL 2.45 

Not forgetting this 5 furlong distance here is on a straight course so the draw makes very little difference and this race is strange in the fact that most of them are running in a higher class than they do usually, there's a few that are capable of doing good times in their own class I think here they may get outpaced and struggle to get involved, Crosse Fire is a possible front runner who is capable of doing a fast time but may not be able to lead here, others that could go well are Moonraker, Erissmus Maximus, and Samovar but if ORNATE 5/2 leads in this race I think they will struggle to catch it and is, therefore, the horse I will back in this race.

Ornate 5/2 2nd

1:45 Lingfield Racing Tips (2nd February)

LINGFIELD 1.45 

A lovely Listed class race with 9 runners, Sir Thomas Gresham hasn't any form on the all-weather at this distance and could be dangerous if allowed to dictate but I hope Gorgeous Noora another front running type will make sure its an honest early pace, in betting terms I will be backing 2 horses in the race, they can both be held up or track the leaders so I expect LANCELOT DU LAC 18/1 from stall 2 to take a prominent early position behind the leaders on the rail and then try to stay on strongly while KACHY 8/11 from stall 8 may have to be ridden a little more patiently and then attack in the home straight with a late burst as I've only got 1lb separating the, its not my sort of odds to back so I will probably look at an each way bet on my bigger priced selection and then do the forecast as well. 

Kacky 10/11 1st
Lancelot Du Lac 18/1 9th 

LINGFIELD 2.20 

A nice looking class 4 affair with 10 entrants and 4 horses that have been known to lead before, National Glory in stall 3 could feasibly get control on the rails, it's my 5th top rated so could go well but would need to improve to win this race, Ballyquin recorded a time when it won last time out which would see it make the frame here but in the make-up of this race it might need some luck from stall 1 to get a clear run especially in the early stages of the race, Mont Kiara is a versatile type with its racing tactics and another that could make the frame, Highland Acclaim usually likes to track the leaders but may need to tread carefully in the early stages from stall 6 but my money will be going on LITTLE PALAVER 8/1 who has decent trainer stats and good jockey stats and from stall 7 it could get to the front or at least contest the lead with the other front runner drawn on its inside and if getting to the front it could prove hard to catch and the apprentice 7lb claim could swing things in its favour. 

Little Palaver 12/1 4th 

CHELMSFORD 3.20 

Only 7 runners in this hurriedly arranged sprint and the top 3 in the weights are all capable of leading, Green Door hasn't shown much for quite some time now and may need to drop in class to have a chance of winning, Captain lars comes out 4th top rated while BOOM THE GROOM 5/1 is my 2nd top rated and if getting to the front it could prove hard to catch. Foxy Forever is another that hasn't shown much recently timewise, Saaheq runs on at this distance as though further would suit it better, Excellent George is 3rd top on my figures so could go well but I'm doubting whether it can win here as my top 2 would both have to underperform for it to do so, my top rated is DYNAMO WALT 11/2 who will be staying on at the finish and the trainer does quite well here with his older horses.

Dynamo Walt 7/1 2nd
Boom The Groom 5/1 3rd 

7:45 Newcastle Racing Tips (1st February)

NEWCASTLE 7.45 

There are 3 all-weather meetings today and this is the only sprint for the whole day the last race of the day and to add insult its a class 7 race, I was going to write about every horse but I couldn't find much to say about most of them. Theres three 3-year-olds at the bottom of the handicap and they would need to make rapid improvement even to win at this level but never say never, Dodgy Bob 11/2 is the only known frontrunner in the race and its been running quite well but the times have all been slow but this race won't take much winning so cannot be discounted completely if its allowed to dominate the race but I have had 12 previous races on the allweather tracks without winning, Dream Ally 16/1 likes to track the leaders and is my 4th top rated but on a Wolverhampton time as is Foxy Boy 5/2 my 3rd top rated but this ones a hold up type but im surprised how short the price is, I've got FRENCH 12/1 as my top rated on a time recorded here in 2018 and its top rated using a time from Wolverhampton, STAR CRACKER 10/1 has a time recorded over this c/d in 2017 that makes it the fastest here, I will go with the 2 each way bets in this race but my stakes certainly won't be at full power but I will be surprised if the winner doesnt come from the 5 horses ive mentioned and it could be wiser to dutch them all to make a profit.

Abandoned