Jockeys' title
The race for the jockeys' title looks certain to go down to wire and we're really hopeful that Paul (Hanagan, stable jockey) can hang on but as a yard we're struggling a bit.
We've had 157 winners and we're more or less winnered out now which isn't any help to Paul.
Mark Johnston's horses are running very well and Silvestre (de Sousa) is on a roll so the title race is far from over yet but obviously we hope Paul hangs onto his crown.
King of the castle
I was very impressed by Camelot in the Racing Post Trophy last weekend, and he looks the real deal - it was like an exercise canter for him!
I don't know what he beat but he certainly beat them well. We've been lucky over the last few years with Sea The Stars and then Frankel and it looks like racing might have another superstar on our hands once again.
Horse in training sales
It's been very very tough at the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sales down at Newmarket and we've sold eight and bought just one. There's been a lot of foreign interest from owners in Australia and Dubai which is good for the sales but it does make it harder for buyers.
The main one to go for us was Harrison George and we'll miss him - he's part of the family but you've got to be realistic and at the end of the day business is business. I don't blame the owners at all; he made £20,000 and it means there's room for new stock.
Easy as one-two-three?
Sky Bet are running a competition on their Racing UK week to win tickets and plenty of free bets to Cheltenham on New Year's Day. To win you have to predict the 1-2-3 in Saturday's Charlie Hall Chase. I'll go 1 Time For Rupert, 2 Diamond Harry 3 Nacarat. You can enter right here and it's completely free.
Saturday team
We kick off at Ayr with Docs Legacy in the John Smith's Nursery at 1350. It's very soft ground up there and it'll be tough on all of the horses, whether they like the ground or not. He's got a chance as he won well the other day and he's got some soft ground form at Beverley to fall back on.
Avison runs at 1425 in the Miss Ellie Maiden Stakes and I'm still learning about him a bit but he's got a bit of a knee action and he shouldn't mind the ground at all. It looks a bad race but it could take a 70-rated performance to win it. He could get up to that level so we're hopeful.
I run Justonefortheroad and Mull Of Killough in the Home Of Racing Handicap down at Newmarket at 1515. Justonefortheroad had a little setback and although it was nothing serious he might just need the run a little, but we're very happy with Mull Of Killough. He's been working nicely at home and he's arriving there a fresh horse. I must admit I'm a little worried about the draw - they're both drawn high - and I'm not sure where the best place to be is down there, but Mull Of Killough should run well.
Goldenveil runs in the John Smith's Handicap at 1530 and she'll face extreme conditions up at Ayr. We think she likes soft ground but this could be something else altogether. She worked very well last week, it doesn't look a good race and we're hoping she can win. She's had a tough enough year but we're more than hopeful of a very big run.
Arabian Spirit has top weight in the John Smith's No Nonsense Handicap at 1605. The handicapper has got him just right, but he's run some solid races without winning including at Newmarket. We're going to try some cheek-pieces with him, he won't mind the ground and we think he'll run well but he just doesn't have anything in hand.
We end with Sunrise Safari for the same owners in Newmarket's 1700, the Racing UK Handicap. He is what he is really and he doesn't mind the track - he was second here this year and I'd like him to win for the owners.
Richard's best bet
I'm going to put up MULL OF KILLOUGH each way although I was tempted by Goldenveil. The selection been working really well at home and could just be that bit fresher than his rivals which can work in his favour.
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