Willowdale, PA, May 11, Preview
A nice afternoon's racing at our local track, Willowdale. The first race, the Landhope Timber race, we go for Northern Thinking, who was unlucky at Foxfield when his reins broke jumping the third. Assuming new tack, we like his chances! Punchino, from the Boucher stable will run him close. The second race, a Maiden Claiming Hurdle, we like Happy Hero, trained by ex-jump jockey Ross Pearce and ridden by Robbie Walsh. River Bed may run close as he seems to be getting his act together. The third, the Willowdale Steeplechase, Darn Tipalarm, fresh of his recent victory in the Steepleton last week on Virginia Gold Cup day looks set to repeat, but watch out for Bavario, one of our picks last week, he may yet be ready to win. The fourth, Ranahan, our nap of the day at Block House, looks like he will make a quick return to the winners circle moving up a condition under the stylish Dave Bentley. The fifth, the Foxhunters Chase we are picking Holzmann, we are not to sure about this, but he comes highly recommended. Sixth and the Seventh, the Amateur Flat races we pick Salaverry (Tina McDaniel in the irons) and Regal Again with Stuart Strawbridge.

Nap of the day is Ranahan to be our first double nap winner.

Iroquois, TN, May 10, Preview
A great card for us today at Iroquois to pick and choose our winners. Starting off in the first race, the Maiden Claimer Flat race, with the scratch of River Bed we will have to select Armsofanangel, trained by Bruce Miller with Tom Foley in the irons. The second race, a Grade 3 Hurdle race, we look to see Tom Foley continue his fortune on Najim, with Tres Touche coming second, while Snowball Flannagan will finish with a flurry! The third, the Allowance Hurdle, Brinton Bridge and Dave Bentley look to be the pick, Understood will likely be close if he can repeat his Atlanta win. The fourth race, a Maiden Hurdle, looks wide open, Orfino, a good horse on the flat, may be able to come to form for his first win. The fifth, Snuggles, who looked to be going very well at Atlantic City when unseating his rider, looks set to make amends. Ethical Actions will surely not make it an easy race 'though and will be very close. He is a recent claim by Ricky Hendricks. The big Timber Stake, we still pick Sam Sullivan, a pick from last week who did not run. Not sure who the rider is, but sure Tom Voss has him ready. Secret Impression will make it an interesting race. The final race, the Grade 1 Iroqois, looks like a great spot for Praise The Prince with last year's champion jockey Dave Bentley in the irons! Pelegos may run close, but not quite close enough.

We take two naps on the card, Sam Sullivan and Praise The Prince.

Brookhill Review, May 3.
Ranahan took the first, the Maiden Claimer, under Dave Bentley. This was our nap of the day and a great recovery after drawing a blank on the Virginia Gold Cup card! Trained and owned by Ricky Hendricks, Ranahan is on the market for anyone interested (a very consistent runner)! Barrington took the second race, under apprentice rider Danielle Hodsdon for Tom Voss. Chaco Primo took the third for Michael Traurig and Toby Edwards. Green Station took the Capital Cup, under Robby Walsh for Bruce Haines. Dave Bentley was second, beaten only a half length with Vingt Sept. A thrilling finish that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. First to cross the finish line in the flat race was Earmark, who lost the race in the stewards room to Fields of Omagh (Neil Morris' third winner of the day). Dave Bentley's horse was drifting over Danielle Hodsdon's hence the stewards tough decision.

This ends a busy weekend of racing, where we managed to tip one winner ... but will have better luck next weekend, as we preview Nashville and Willowdale. This will be available wednesday night at the latest, perhaps tuesday, depending on the my schedule and a doctor's appointment!

Virginia Gold Cup Review, May 3
The first race was won by Sur La Tete, trained by Neil Morris for Kingross Farms. This horse has been particularly unlucky not to officially break his maiden up to this point. Iron Orebid made all the running in the Maiden Timber race for Jack Fisher and Blair Waterman, this turned out to be an easy victory parade. The Steeplethon scratched down to a short field, and was won easily by Darn Tipalarm, ridden by his trainer, Jack Fisher. Senor Melchor won the Allowance Race, this horse is now three for three this year having won at Strawberry Hill and Foxfield. Certainly looks to be one of the more promising horses of this season. The Eddie Graham trained Corruption was a good second in this race, just unlucky to have to meet Senor Melchor when in such good form. Richard Boucher picked up the ride on Dynamite Vick, and with a typically stylish ride, got up to beat Our Thunderbolt by a nose.

The Virginia Gold Cup was won by Lord Kenneth, Neil Morris and Matt McCarron. This is Neil Morris' first winner of the big race, and second winner on the card today. We celebrated the occasion at Magpies after the races. Maipo fell early in the race, Blair Waterman suffered a broken collar bone and will be on the sidelines (like me) for a little while. Tom Foley won the Maiden Claimer with Say the Word, trained by Bruce Miller, in nice fashion. The last race of the day was the two mile amateur flat race, there was some confusion as to the direction of the course, but Janet Elliot's How Goes won in the intelligent hands of Joe Hansen.

We drew a blank on the day with the tips, caused by a few scratches and just bad judgment.

Churchill Downs, KY, Review, May 1 - 3
Hard Scuffle: Trebizond (IRE), under Robert Massey just got up to beat Naughty Prince with David Bentley in the saddle, third was Fighting Star. Trebizond is a horse by Saddlers Wells and seems to prefer the race track as he won at Saratoga last year. He seemed to come from nowhere, under a strong ride by the in-form Robert Massey. This takes nothing away from our selection, and recent stakes winner, Naughty Prince, who ran a superb race. Major Hero and Ceryl Murphy fell early in the race, which knocked Preemptive Strike a little, who was never going his usual self thereafter. We might well see a similar field in the novice stake at Pimlico, the thursday before the Preakness.

Later in the week, the Kentucky Derby was won by ex-steeplechase trainer and jockey, Barclay Tagg, with the gelding Funny Cide. This was a popular result for the jumping circuit, as well as those at Fair Hill, waiting for Barclay to ship into his new barn.