The best racing this weekend would appear to be at the Curragh in Ireland for their Guineas Meeting which starts on Saturday the 24th. The Irish 2000 Guineas would seem to be a rematch between New Approach and Henrythenavigator. On Sunday Nahoodh (pictured) is among thirteen runners in the Irish 1000 Guineas. Lets hope she shows the same form as at Newmarket and has more luck in running. Both the Guineas races are worth 400,000 Euros. Also on Sunday's card is the Tattersalls Gold Cup worth 300,000 Euros. Duke of Marmalade will be a hot favourite to win this. Saturday also sees the start of the Totetentofollow competetion. The blogger is hoping for three Group 1 winners over the weekend. No harm in dreaming! Enjoy the holiday. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

After watching two days of the York May Festival Meeting the classic picture still seems a bit blurry. Lush Lashes was a very impressive winner of the Musidora Stakes and franked the 1000 Guineas form where she was running on well at the end of that race to finish sixth. However she is far from certain to line up at Epsom and more likely to go for the Irish Oaks. The Dante Stakes this afternoon was very disappointing for the connections of Twice Over the hot favourite. This years Derby looks a wide open affair at the moment. Tomorrow sees my favourite race of the Meeting, the Yorkshire Cup. The race appears to lie between Honolulu and Royal and Regal. Honolulu, pictured just being beaten by Purple Moon in last years Ebor, should win if he reproduces a similar performance. He looked a high class stayer in the making that day but subsequently disappointed when beaten into third in the St. Leger. Royal and Regal won the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket on Champions Day last year and opened his account this season conceding weight all round in the John Porter Stakes at Newbury. After that victory his owner, Peter Savill, was bullish about winning the Yorkshire Cup. It should be an interesting race. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

We travelled the 15 miles to Great Leighs Racecourse last Thursday (8th of May) to blacken our noses and have a look at the setup. The racing surface and facilities are great for the horses but there is still much work to do to accomodate the spectators in comfortable surroundings. No doubt when they open to the paying public and start to generate some "cashflow" they will be able to press on and complete the job. The racing was good and well supported by trainers from all quarters especially Newmarket. Newmarket's plans for an all weather track were abandoned once Great Leighs was announced, so I am sure there will be plenty of runners coming from that direction. Luca Cumani was there to supervise his runner Swop in the fourth race. He was runner-up when the book told us he was expected to win. Perhaps Boz will do the business at the meeting tonight when he will be ridden by Jamie Spencer. The photograph shows Art Man getting up to beat Indicible in the third race. I doubt if we will ever get any clues for Derby horses but this course is going to prove very popular for a good night out for us Essex boys, young and old alike. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

I had to record the 1000 Guineas as I was at Portman Road to see my beloved Ipswich play their last game of the season. Entertainment has been great there this season, if only they could have produced the same form away from home, then they would have gained promotion to the Premiership. Natagora was a gutsy, if lucky, winner of the 1000 Guineas. Nahoodh, whom the blogger had backed at 33/1, could find no way through when full of running. I would expect her to beat Natagora next time, but I doubt she will be 33/1 again ! Eight fillies were involved with the finish and I would expect there will be some intriguing races this season between Natagora, Spacious, Saise Abu, Infallible, Nahoodh, Lush Lashes, Royal Confidence and Muthabara. The Flat season is well and truly underway now. Off to have a look at Great Leighs tonight and will report back at the end of the week. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

We disembarked Constellation at Harwich on Saturday 3rd after another very enjoyable cruise with Celebrity Cruise Lines. We called at Edinburgh, Invergorden, Belfast, Dublin and St. Peter Port. We were able to watch the 2000 Guineas on Channel 4 before going off to help Jon celebrate his birthday with the outlaws, sorry inlaws, who were over from Brazil. It was a great race between HenrytheNavigator and New Appoach. HenrytheNavigator got his nose in front right on the line but New Approach was in front again a couple of strides after the line. I hope they take each other on again. Ravens Pass who did not have the best of draws clearly does not stay the mile but could become a July Cup horse where the 6 furlongs should suit him ideally. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".