Winning High

You can view our two main services (Handicap Ratings with the Speed Ratings and Select) free for seven days by registering HERE

The Handicap Ratings and Speed Ratings combined top three strike rate for Friday was 69% following Thursday's 75%, Wednesday's 71%, Tuesday's 71%, Monday's 70% and Sunday's 81% (an ongoing weekly average of just under 73%). If a horse isn't in the top three rated of the handicaps or the speed ratings, then it is highly likely it won't win. You can see an explanation of the Handicap Ratings HERE and an explanation of the Speed Ratings HERE. The Speed Ratings are an addition to the handicaps at no extra cost and you can subscribe HERE. There has never been a better time to join us.

The eleven (4) and (5) UK graded races performance dropped on Friday. Three were won by the clear top rated horse, and three were won by the 2nd top rated - one of them joint. The other five races were unsuccessful.

It seems too much racing has mangled my brain. Another blank on Friday. Rumble of Thunder went far too fast early and it was no surprise that he weakened very quickly late on. He was eventually eased down considerably but why jockeys do such things is beyond me. Surely they know they are going too fast....

Bollin Greta is obviously not the same horse this season. I would rather assume she has had problems rather than she is regressing. She didn't hit the heights until autumn last season and maybe it is simply that she is an autumn horse. We'll see later in the year. But I won't be backing her again until she recovers a semblance of last years form.

Only two things can happen Saturday. Either you will be very lucky with the handicaps and big fields maidens or you will be astute and cherry-pick the smaller fields - which don't appear any less competitive than the handicaps.

Smaller fields first: Riggins (5-40 Goodwood) was very unlucky last time. Though many unlucky horses fail miserably the next time they run, that shouldn't apply to Riggins. He finished in a hack canter he was going so well. It was simply that the gaps never appeared when he needed them. Unfortunately, everyone and his dog will have noticed and he may start very short. But 6/4 and above would be a good bet - if such odds are offered, that is.

Higher class Classified races are usually used by trainers when they consider their charges have too high a handicap mark. But Proclaim (3-30 Doncaster) is fully worthy of his mark and has seemingly been found a good opportunity to get back to winning. He has run well all season in competitive handicaps and should win this, really.

Even though he won by only half a length on his seasonal debut, there was a lot to like about the way High Standing (2-20 Goodwood) produced his perfomance. I was very taken with him and I can see him winning this on his way to this season's top sprint handicaps. At this moment, he seems a sprinter to follow.

Have a lucky Saturday.