Saturday 17th June 2017

Our owners were in the winner’s enclosure again on Thursday evening at Uttoxeter. Aldrin finished 3^rd on hurdles debut whilst Trafalgar Rock was 2^nd on chase debut. Aldrin ran green as grass and didn’t jump great. Despite this, he was still in contention two out and would have been 2^nd if not for slipping upon landing.

Trafalgar Rock ran a belter but bumped into a horse that had won his last 3 races, he also gave the winner a full stone in weight. It was a grand effort from Trafalgar Rock whose raced seven times since we purchased him and never finished out of the prize money!

Mountain Rescue was beaten 3 lengths in another valuable handicap at Haydock, his draw 12 of 12 did for him. We had no choice but to go forward from the break and that resulted in saving nothing for the finish. It was still a very good effort from an impossible task.

The Value Racing Club horses hold a 72% strike rate of finishing in the first 3 every time they run. That’s an outstanding record and one we are very proud of. We buy nice horses that get their owners into the winner’s enclosure.

With Royal Ascot taking place next week I’m going steady today but have backed one horse.

I noted Ekhtiyaar after he won last time out at Newmarket. I thought the effort could be upgraded further as Ekhtiyaar didn’t get a clear run and didn’t look to be in love with the going that was good to soft. A 5lb raise might not stop him and today's quicker ground should be ideal. I’m hoping Ekhtiyarr might be a Listed horse running in a handicap.

A few bookies are paying 5 places, the price of 7-2 could be a bet to nothing EW in the 3:30 at York.