Racing tips: Racing League specialist Chinese Knot goes for the hat trick of wins

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Flat racing has been a total farce this season. Form hasn't worked out and yesterday proves that. I'm perfectly okay with Caernarfon not winning, nothing is a given in racing, but to finish 3L behind a winner in a Group 1 to then finish like 15L+ in a much weaker race doesn't compute to me. 

Salisbury 4:10 – Mighty Ulysses 3/1 (2pt WilliamHill)

It might appear to be a bit of a gamble to back Mighty Ulysses on the back of his seasonal reappearnce, but I don't see it that way.

It wasn't the best of reappearances, but it was good enough after a layoff to suggest he can bounce back in good style. He needed his first run of the year last year and then he went on to win some races and run very well in some very competitive Class 1 races. He is a smooth traveller, and based on ratings he is still the one to beat, and I think that is accurate. I can pick holes in every horse in this race, and if MU needed the run as much as I believe he did then he could make a fool of this field.

Regal Reality was a winning selection lto for me, but that was a weak field and I don't think he won it with much authority. Embesto is interesting based on the runner-up finish to Nostrum, but I don't think he did too much and was easily put in his place by the winner that day, he can obviously improve but I think he's a bit overrated. Chichester is better on the AW and won a weak Class 1 race lto. Pogo isn't good enough at this moment in his career and the same can be said for Dancing Magic.

I understand that Mighty Ulssess hasn't gone on to hit the heights that many thought he might have when he ran a blinder in the St James' Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, but there's still time to get a decent high level and I think this is a nice stepping stone before some bigger targets.

Leopardstown 6:05 – Thornbrook 3/1 (1pt Bet365)

I put up Alfred Munnings last time out and I was very disappointed in the run by the Aidan O'Brien horse. He has a beautiful pedigree and when he came with a challenge with a furlong or two to run I thought he would run away with it, but he did the opposite and started to go backwards. I don't think he is that good and be anywhere near as good as his siblings, so I'll be leaving him alone for today.

Thornbrook ran a much better race than I anticipated at Ascot a couple of weeks ago when behind my selection Random Harvest in the Group 3. She didn't get the easiest of passages down the inside around the round course, but I thought she did run with plenty of credit. She was putting in a strong challenge on the rail but her efforts did wilt in the final half furlong and that is why I think Leopardstown will play to her strengths more. Leopardstown is a more nippy track whereas Ascot is testing and will make you find every ounce of stamina you have in your body. I think if she can get a prominent position, ideally not too close to the rail as it will be hard to get a clear run, she will be bang there at the finish, as she has the strongest form on offer.

Windsor 5:00 – Chinese Knot 7/2 (2pt WilliamHill)

Windsor is the venue for the Racing League this week and I'm siding with a dual Racing League winner and a winner for me last week at Chepstow, Chinese Knot.

You get horses like this every year who get in the handicap off a low mark and they exploit it and continue to progress, even when they go up a fair few pounds and you doubt them, they find their way into the winners enclosure again and again. I think Chinese Knot is going to continue to progress again even after another 6lb penalty. The reason why I think she is still ahead of the handicapper is that she was still very green, but she still managed to win by over 3L. When a horse can win by any amount they want and still not show their best intentions mentally, it's a great place to be in as there is so much more to be unlocked.

When she got to the front last time out, she had about 2f of wandering around, not running straight and simply not doing much, but she has that much ability and is that far ahead of the handicapper it didn't matter. Today's race will be tougher due to her carrying more weight, but she is a filly going in the right direction and hopefully as each race goes by and the experience she gains she will be learning more. I think she will be tough to beat again.

Saffie Osborne takes the ride and she is the leading jockey for the Racing League so far this season, as well as being in top form outside of the league.

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