I DON’T often look at Newcastle races as a place to bet at as there has been a serious amount of my money left up at that track over the years, but I had been away a week and the first race of the day was at Gosforth.

I must have been inspired by the sea air as amazingly I managed to include the winner Dunn Deal, who was winning his first race for three years. A 16-1 winner for my first bet back was a good start and I started to feel pretty confident about things at Newbury. After that start I cannot believe I didn’t make a fortune this weekend.

The first race was for newcomers and the professional approach I have been cultivating while on holiday meant I was not going to have a bet.
I would definitely have included Regal Royale if I had, simply because there was too much money around for him and he was certainly not going to be there for a quiet run

Sir Michael Stoute is very careful where he runs his good two-year-olds and there is a theory on the track that he does not bother too much because of the fear of them going to Godolphin. That may or may not be true, but horses running in the Cheveley Park colours are probably not going to be going anywhere so it is safe to back them with confidence.

He certainly looked worthy of his 33-1 Guineas quote after this impressive debut, but one thing I have decided after backing Shamardal heavily for this year’s Classic is that I will be resisting furiously the temptation of getting involved ante-post.

I backed the two horses who were stepping up in trip in the first handicap of the day and fortunately one of them was Star Of Light, who I have thought for a long time needed ten furlongs.

Watching the pair I felt sure it was Royal Prince, my main bet, that was going to win but this one seemed to find it a step just too far