Getting on at the right price is probably more important than getting on at all and taking the 2.85 about Zain yesterday was not the smartest move I ever made. Even worse was my failure to realise that the horse was not in on the fact that it wasn't fancied which meant I did not take the 4.1 that was freely available. Before exchanges I would have had no hesitation but it takes a lot of bottle to go against the market these days and I did not have enough to press up yesterday.

If I didn't have an interest in a runner today I would be having a day off as the cards are singularly uninspiring but I am hoping that Bertie Southstreet does well on his comeback run in the 5.20 at Lingfield this afternoon.

I don't think he will win this one but he might be decent on the all weather this winter so here’s hoping. I do think that the JR Best horse in the nursery, Howdigo, could go well but win and place in the 4.50 is the recommendation and save the real money to back him when he steps up to a mile on a stiffer track.

For me today I will be looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with one or two scouse ladies up at Chester this weekend and will be poring over the form book hoping to win enough to pay for their serious champagne habit. Sorry I cannot be of more use today but a bad day's racing is just that - we‘ll have more fancies over the coming few days though.