At our local nursery school (up to age 7) the highlight is the marathon - once round the field for year 2, the oldest class in the school.  Sebastien Coe’s children went to the school, and the first year I went along his little daughter Alice was allowed to run in the marathon even though she was only in year 1.  They set off, and a small group of boys forged quickly clear, leaving the others in the main pack - at around the half way point Alice came out of the pack and started to cut the boys down one by one.  There was a moment when it looked as if she might win, but the leader was too strong and it wasn’t to be.  It was great entertainment  on a small scale.

My children generally make up the numbers.  The girls both ran creditably but always down the field.  Eddie didn’t seem to get the concept of racing and was a comedy show last time - as the other boys raced to the line he cruised in behind with a strange exaggerated running action staring at the crowd with an ear to ear grin.  He was more like a synchronised swimmer than anything else - it makes me laugh just thinking about it.

Ollie, my youngest, made his sports day debut today at the age of 3 - from a very early age I’ve suspected he might be sporty.  As a baby he’d stick his chin and strain to pull himself up or move around - he’s incredibly cheerful and energetic, but has a fierce temper on occasion.  He’s fearless - recently he leapt off a table about four feet onto my shoulders while I was looking the other way.  He’s the youngest in his year group and is dwarfed by most of his friends, but he showed them the way to go today - three races, three wins. 

This was great news - as a supportive dad I feel I have something to look forward to on the sports pitch now.  It’s a strange mindset, not at all dissimilar to breeding horses.

With three races in the bag already today it seems rude to ask for more, but I have a runner with a decent chance - Peintre D’Argent goes at Hamilton in the 4:15.  I think she got there too soon last time - she would also have benefited from the run.  She should go well today.

Three runners today.  Pete saddles Winker at Newmarket.  He’s been looking a little fat and after his last showing I’m worried that he might sweat up beforehand.   At least Winker is fit and well though, and if he tries he should win easily at this grade - the fact is he hasn’t put his best foot forward for a while now, so it’s just fingers crossed. 

Tikka Masala goes at Windsor, and at 14/1 I rather fancy her.  We think she has a touch of cless - so much so that we had her entered in a listed race two days ago.  She’s not an easy ride and you wouldn’t want to back her at a short price in any race - she’s interesting at long odds though.

Where’s the Soap comes out at Lingfield tonight.  She’ll come on for the run, but she’s got plenty of speed and she could easily be up to dealing with this field.  She looks like the best chance of the day - whether she’s goes off at a backable price remains to be seen.

Bert’s only runner in recent days was Lilac Moon at Haydock on Saturday. A cheapish claim as a 3 year old, she was a star last season - finishing with a hat-trick of wins. She picked up a problem on her return at Lingfield in March and, though only 4th of 6, will probably have benefited from Saturday’s outing after over 3 months off. We hope to find an opportunity for her over the next 2-3 weeks. She was dropped a pound by the handicapper this morning.

Bert is involved with five Tom Dascombe trained two year old fillies that run in the colours of the Timeform Betfair Racing Club. Only one, Quaker Parrot, has seen the track so far and she has already broken her maiden. Another, Open Glory (by Lando, Lando Open Glory …) runs in the 7:20 at Newbury this evening. Tom thinks a lot of her. However, the race looks competitive enough, with several more expensive purchases in the field. Whatever the outcome, she should improve for the experience and Newbury is a nice track for youngsters, with the added advantage in her case that it’s just down the road from Lambourn.

Another TBRC filly, Where’s The Soap (by Country Reel), should be making her debut at either Chester or Lingfield on Saturday. She would have been in the 6 furlong race at Newbury tonight but missed the cut by one. This was made all the more annoying when a non runner was declared first thing yesterday morning.

That’s all for now - Bert will hopefully be returning to cyberspace soon.

Today Yogaroo goes for the Norfolk, and although it’s anybody’s guess I’m expecting more of the same.  Monsieur Chevalier will be no pushover and he’ll make a race of it but for now I can’t get away from the American horses.  I’ll go with Brief Encounter in the Britannia and Brunston in the George V.

I’ve made a decision today.   I’m changing my daily paper - I’ve been taking the Telegraph for years, but I’m switching to the Times.  I’m just so fed up with this neverending MP witch hunt - the whole thing is sick.  My grandfather was an MP for over 20 years - in that time he never drew a penny in salary or expenses as it wasn’t his way.  He was a hardliner, but there’s no way he would have approved of a generation of MPs being bullied and pilloried like this.  No good will come of it.

Pansy Potter was no good at Yarmouth in the evening - the commentator described her as “very very average” after the race, which had Jane laughing.  I think we need to get her off the books.

I’m only having two bets today. 

Tartan Bearer is a consistent performer and I think this is his trip - he appeared to get the trip well in the Derby but it wasn’t a true run race and it feels like he has too much pace to truly get a mile and a half.  There’s plenty of oppo today but he’s an obvious favourite and it feels like he should be winning this race more than the 35% of the time implied by his price.

Tom is running Don’t Tell Mary in the Queen Mary - she’s got real class and I’m surprised she’s not favourite.  I’ll be happy if she wins as I’ve got pieces of seven 2yos with Tom this year.  Rose Blossom has strong claims, and Richard Fahey is a man to be reckoned with.  I’ll oppose them both with Lady of the Desert though, who looked special when she trounced what looked like a decent field in a Leicester maiden.  I like the breeding - her dam was Queen’s Logic who won this race in 2001.

On to Ascot;

I’ve been on the phone all morning, and I can’t remember a day when I’ve been so heavily in agreement with all my correspondents on the days racing - we’ll either all be right or all be wrong.

The Queen Anne feels like the most interesting race of the day.  Gladiatorus might be a superstar, and drawn nine of nine it’s possible he could blaze a trail down the rail, slip the field early and win by a number of lengths.  I’ve got more questions than answers though, and I can’t have him.  Paco Boy has talent but a mile on this ground may not be his ticket.  With lines through most of the remainder I’m left with Main Aim to justify Michael Stoute’s faith in him - Alexandros to take second.

In the King’s Stand I’ve heard Scenic Blast is a warm order - he’s been working with Pete Chapple-Hyam’s string.  Backing Australian horses at Royal Ascot has been a licence to print money in recent years so I’ll stick with the strategy.  In the St. James Palace I’ll side with Intense Focus, who at least has conditions in his favour.  In the Coventry I can’t get away from Canford Cliffs, but I’ll have a saver on Rakaan who is a forgotten horse after two defeats but may have more scope to improve than most in this race.  I’ll leave out the Ascot Stakes, which is a funny race that I never get right. 

In the Windsor Castle I’ll go confidently with Angel’s Pursuit, who gets the nap vote.  Richard Hannon has incredible strength in depth in his 2yo string this year - if Angel’s Pursuit was with any other trainer he’d probably be having a go at one of the group races, but Hannon has them covered with the likes of Canford Cliffs and Monsieur Chevalier.  Angel’s Pursuit, an imposing specimen and clear 2yo type, pitches in at listed class - he might be a cut above in this race.

I have a runner tonight.  Pansy Potter goes in the last at Yarmouth - she should have a chance at least and she’s a decent price.

The Derby winner looked like quality - I spent a while going through his breeding after the race, although it was pretty familiar stuff.  Urban Sea, who died last year, is amongst the greatest broodmares of our generation - not only has she produced two Derby winners (Sea the Stars and Galileo) but six other top class performers including two G1 winners from a variety of stallions.  In recent times in Europe perhaps only Height of Fashion has a record to compare with this.

I’ve had bad news on Princess Aurora, my Mr Greeley filly from America.  She has EPM, a neurological disease that doesn’t occur naturally in the UK - she’s been on a course of drugs but unfortunately she had a sudden relapse on Sunday and we’re back where we started.  It’s not great - right now there is a high likelihood that she’ll never see a racecourse.

On a positive note Veiled Beauty has been scanned in foal to Singspiel.

I have a few entries coming up.  Bea Menace goes at Chepstow tomorrow and she must have a great chance.  Earlier in the evening I’ll be backing Sweet Hollow, who could be a touch above this grade.  Tom Dascombe gets married on Saturday at 3:00, but he’ll be back at work on Monday morning - Tikka Masala goes in the 4:30 at Bath and she has a great chance of following up her win last week.

If there’s a horse out there with the wrong name then it has to be One Cool Cat - his progeny seem to be as fiery as any out there, Tikka Masala being no exception.  She broke fast and rushed to the front - Richard managed to reel her in but she came through again with two furlongs to run.  Again Richard pulled her back - her third run was well timed and she got there with no time to spare, winning by a neck.  If ever she learns to do as she’s told then there’s plenty of room for progression, possibly over longer distances.  We’ll try a mile next with her.

Bea Menace ran again yesterday, and she looked good.  She broke well but she got herself mugged after 50 yards and was hustled back to last place.  Looking as if she had no chance at all, she came with a late rattle finishing a close fifth.  It was very encouraging - I like the look of her physically, she looks as if she’s progressing and I think she’ll win races.

Not much in the way of upcoming entries - Bea Menace may come out again quickly on Monday but that depends on how she is.  It’s the Oaks today - Tom Goff bumped into Henry Cecil at the petrol station yesterday and he thought that Henry was particularly sweet on Midday’s chances.  At the Derby Dinner on Wednesday I bought the Rip Van Winkle ticket in the auction - I collect a prize if he comes first, second, third or second last - so I’ll be cheering him on.

My bets fared poorly as well and it felt like I’d had some bad luck - Rakeen traded large amounts at 1.01 and Mr Macattack missed the break before finishing like a train.  It hasn’t been happening for me on any fronts recently.  I’d be thoroughly depressed were it not for my one successful call - Susan Boyle to get turned over in BGT.

Unfortunately the comparisons are continuing, now compounded by accusations of insider trading.  As I have already explained, I am not Susan Boyle and she is not me.  Anyone requiring further guidance should inspect the images below;  

 .                  Boyley                                                Bertie

Two runners at Leicester, both fillies running over 7f, and both with fair chances.  Max One Two Three found 6f on firm ground too quick for her recently, but 7f might be the ticket.  Tikka Masala ran poorly last time but she wasn’t right afterwards - we never got to the bottom of it but she seems to be ok now, and the form of her first run this season was decent.  My current run of form is not great but it has to change some time - fingers crossed.

I’ll be disappointed if I don’t get something out of today’s lot.  Major Eazy carries top weight in a handicap - he’s big enough to shoulder top weight and there’s a general feeling that he’s the type to go well first time up.  The form of Marine Boy’s last race has been franked, with the winner winning again on Thursday night.  Both are big prices and I’d expect them both to go better than their prices suggest.  I think Pansy Potter is on a good mark and will go well.

There were a couple of second placers from the last Newbury meet I attended coming out today - Alrasm at Donny and Rakeen at Goodwood.  They should both go well.  I’ll save the nap for Mr Macattack at Doncaster - I thought he was unlucky last time and Nicky’s have possibly been needing the run of late. 

My last blog sparked a furious email exchange about Susan Boyle.  Stemo suggests that she may be the “best even money shot of all time” given the fact that her Youtube has been viewed 60 million times.  I accept that it’s a big number but I don’t accept that it will translate into votes.  I repeat and reiterate my posting - SuBo will not win tonight…