Declan Rix

The bones of 40 horses to follow for the 2026 Flat season from a range of thoroughbred industry professionals. As ever, thanks to all those who contributed. attheraces.com/flat-season/20…

@Goonyella_ Of course you could; it just takes a small bit of thought from the racecourses and the BHA. The National Hunt season ending at Aintree would help with the general fixture list issues. That Sandown Jumps Finale is the pits; should be gone in its entirety or be handicaps only.

@HawkWing2002 I do feel like the second weekend in May is better than the first for the Guineas. Couldn't really push the trials back could you?

The performances of horses that ran in the recognised British Guineas trials left a bit to be desired over the weekend. Appreciate multiple factors will be at play, but giving trainers ~two weeks after trials is not long enough. Needs to be at least three weeks.

@quevega Every horse is an individual & will be treated as such by their trainers; but the current fixture list forces them to back up; it's utter madness. Ascot's Clarence House meeting is also too close to Cheltenham. The BHA and the racecourses need to give home horses a better chance.

@HawkWing2002 Does seem a bit mad that there's two weeks from the Trials to the Guineas but in 6 weeks or 3 months time we'll be told "x will come too soon" after a 3 week or so break.

🚨 Ascot has decided to leave the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of the year, raising major questions about the future of the body and the way British racing is governed

@Ian31280 Never had a conversation with the man; I don't know him. Did he advise them to "take on" the Guineas one-two or comment on their physical appearance? Both views which were supported by the horse's respective trainers by the way.

@HawkWing2002 I understand he's obviously a pal of yours and your going to bat for him with his fair enough. The fact is, he advised the TV audience based on his judgement to take on Bow Echo & Gstaad. They finished 1st & 2nd 8 lengths clear of the rest you couldn't be more wrong !!

Really don’t get the weird obsession with knocking Ken Pitterson on here for what are brief opinion segments. People go on like they’ve never ever backed a loser in a sport that essentially EVERYONE loses more than they win. Paddock watching is a specialised talent; it’s hard.

@SplitEights @AtTheRaces Send on a pic of you in a Celtic jersey and I will.

@DaveDeer2 Aye, 'multiple factors' at play. It's actually a farce, but then again, so is the fixture list.

@HawkWing2002 It may just be that they weren’t good enough but it’s not a situation to encourage trainers to give their horse a run in a trial as a prep.

@SplitEights @AtTheRaces I do.

@HawkWing2002 Do you have a profit and loss on your tips from your @AtTheRaces appearances?

Oxagon (6th), Needle Match (13th) and Avicenna (last) well-held in 2000. Touleen (6th), Inis Mor (12th), Silenciosa (14th), Domina Ignis (18th) and Azleet (last) in 1000. Winner and runner-up in 1000 had an extra week on the likes of Touleen.

@dave2482 @SimonNott Ta. Will give it a watch later.

@HawkWing2002 @SimonNott did a Betting People interview with Ken some years back. youtu.be/qrynqV5qxGY?si…

@Mcfcok67080577 And you. Hopefully; then again, thought yesterday's 2000 looked pretty average going into the race and we got what is maybe a superstar winner. Silly game, this! Good luck!

@HawkWing2002 Good luck with your picks mate, should be a strong renewal this year I like a good few of them going forward.

Interesting Aidan O'Brien tells the trade paper that 'Precise missed a bit of time a few weeks ago'. That's two known setbacks now having also spiked a temperature in March. Wonder could she run like Lake Victoria did a year ago before taking a big step forward at the Curragh.

@Mcfcok67080577 That's what I'm thinking too. Ah yeah, always feel a run can be huge, esp after a cold, damp winter. She just seems a filly that's hard to keep healthy, as opposed to physical issues, missed the Breeders' Cup too. On her too. And Inis Mor. Going to be rapid ground, too.

@HawkWing2002 Hard to take that price with all the noise isn't it. Though if she'd been out in Ireland and won easily like True Love she'd be odds on today wouldn't she? I've chanced Touleen today but small stakes tricky race. Diamond Necklace beats em all anyway 😝

@kieren22039552 I have no idea if he is or not, but he's an experienced man in the game. Don't always watch ITV and like you, don't listen to WH, but constant criticism on here of him is just strange and sometimes unfair, from people who back a more losers than winners.

@HawkWing2002 Is Ken Pitterson great at his job, no. However, he puts himself out there to be shot at so to speal,so fair play to him for that. I personally do not listen to him as I don't watch ITV racing or William Hill coverage, but good luck to the bloke.

@Mcfcok67080577 Hard to know if she's that short because others around her in the market also have questions to answer. Coolmore/O'Brien/Moore factor huge re pricing, but gut is saying we could have a shock. Not sure; think she was coming back, but then had another setback late last year.

@HawkWing2002 She wasn't with the main group during the open day. They've absolutely hammered her off the boards though. What happened to LV BTW? Thought she was coming back at 4

@Recpunter Exactly and what he eluded to re Bow Echo was correct too; both views don’t mean the two horses can’t run well still; the thing is bloody nuanced.

@HawkWing2002 He was right about Gstaad. Suggests the horse has some future.

@Ian31280 Your take is miles worse. APOB said after the race the horse would improve and GB eluded to Bow Echo’s size in comparison to others too. You seem to think it’s some kind of tipping segment, it’s not and he was analysing horses who hadn’t been seen in months, from two to three.

@HawkWing2002 With takes that bad people will just stop listening to him if they already haven't and then it becomes well what's the point of having the segment.

@Denmania2008 Don't have a view on that yet. Not sure.

@HawkWing2002 Would she stay the Oaks trip?

@Markmcevoy1982 @kimbaileyracing Of course he didn't, but all these people gaslight the public to get into power and go back on promises. Ireland is no better than America or Britain and part of that is thanks to the likes of Harris.

@HawkWing2002 @kimbaileyracing Most probably, but I doubt he joined politics to hurt people with scoliosis.

If only we had politicians with that enthusiasm for the sport of horse racing

@willstott70 And he "put up" a 40/1 second later in the day. He's got the briefest segment to go into any detail. Whenever he does good work on ITV, I've searched his name and he gets no credit.

@HawkWing2002 It really isn’t!!, I bet in Hills, he tells you 2 or 3 look good, couple not so good, no detail, few weeks ago he picked one he just said he didn’t impress him out of 13 runners, won by eased 2 lengths