Author: John Burke

Hi all,

A nice double on Thursday with wins by Didonato & High Commissioner. I was amazed by the drift by the former, returned at 6/1!  That’s the second day we have seen one drift out markedly and yet win.  Thank the Lord for BOG.

It’s going to be hard to keep the winning run going but I will continue to aim to win one in three races to at least cover stakes or make a small consistent profit. I’m not aiming for doubles or trebles although its nice when they occasionally come in.

Today’s selections are from Doncaster & Dundalk.

Doncaster

3:25 – Zalvados – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a career best effort on RPR’s when winning over C&D 35-days ago. That was his first success over fences at the 10^th attempt. The selection has been raised 7lb for that success but he remains on a workable mark and shouldn’t be far away again.

5:05 – Passing Shadow – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The 7-year-old maybe 0-8 under rules but ended last year with a couple of good efforts on good & good to soft ground. He was beaten just a short head over today’s distance at Huntingdon, off 3lb lower, before finding an extended 2m to sharp at Taunton 85-days ago. Fitness taken on trust but the going will suit and he’s capable of winning off his present mark.

Dundalk

8:00 – Major Power –7/2 – Gen – The selection has returned from a 315-day break with two excellent efforts, was just touched off over a mile here three weeks ago. The drop back to 7f won’t be an inconvenience, as his form figures over C&D are 1361112 and he won this race 12 months ago. He’s been nudged up 1lb for his last effort but looks set for another good run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Paddy’s Poem was a big drifter on the day, but jumped better than his rivals to win, hopefully you were on BOG.

Hollie Doyle rode five successive winners at Kempton on Wednesday evening and you just knew she wasn’t going to make it six although coming to the final furlong I thought she still might hold on to win with Chinese Whisperer in the last.

Today’s selections are from Ludlow and Chelmsford.

Ludlow

1:30 – Didonato – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Better ground will suit the selection who is having her first start since winning a mares’ only novice hurdle at Doncaster 96-days ago. Handicap hurdle off what looks a workable mark of 120 and should stay 3m.

2:40 – Royal Pretender – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Plenty of promise on his first two starts of the season in maiden hurdle company before a disappointing 3^rd of 16 (11/10 Fav) at Doncaster in January. The 5-year-old won a “Jumpers’ Bumper” at Kempton three weeks and looks on a decent mark for his handicap debut.

Chelmsford

7:20 – High Commissioner – 13/2 @ Coral –  Got off the mark at the 13^th attempt when showing a good battling attitude to prevail at Newcastle 121-days ago. Has only been raised 4lb for that success and remains on a workable mark if reproducing his tapeta form here. Has run well off a layoff in the past and capable of going close here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today selections are from Wincanton & Kempton.

Wincanton

2:05 – Paddy’s Poem – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection has returned from over a year off the track with two good runs at Sandown and maintained his record of never being out of the first three on his eight starts over fences. Both Sandown runs came on soft/heavy ground and prior his two chase wins had come on good. The drying ground is in his favour and shapes like he’s worth a try over 2m 4f.

3:10 – Grand Lord – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Put in a career best effort on RPR’s when 2^nd of 6 at Market Rasen last month. The 5-year-old shaped last time like he would be suited by today’s longer trip and has to be respected on his handicap debut. Yard had a winner at Kempton on Saturday which is another positive.

Kempton

8:20 – Chinese Whisperer – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has put in respectable efforts on his last two starts at Chelmsford and when 5^th of 9 over C&D 25-days ago. The first-time visor is added today which doesn’t look a negative, as the selection didn’t sustain his effort here last time.  A decent overall gallop would suit and he’s got a chance in a moderate handicap.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Plumpton & Ayr.

Plumpton

2:40 – Fairway Freddy – 15/2 @ Bet365 – The selection a winner over fences at Kempton back in October, off 2lb lower, hasn’t really built on that success but he’s back on good ground today and if on a going day is on a winnable mark for a yard 2-5 +3 in the past 14-days.

Ayr

1:55 – Darius Des Sources – 9/1 @ Bet365 – Had looked a potential improver over fences when winning over C&D (heavy) back in November. Nowhere near that form when pulling up back here 42-days ago. If you forgive the 8-year-old that poor run he remains on a competitive mark.

4:40 – Skyhill – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was well placed last season to land a four timer. The last of those wins came over C&D on soft ground, off 2lb lower. Best effort this season came when finishing 3rd of 11 over hurdles 10-days ago. The 8-year-old is getting back to a mark he can win off again and can go well here.

Cheers

John

Hi all.

Much better yesterday with all three selections going well. Hooligan came from last in the straight to win at Newcastle. However, just one race later Informateur got mugged on the line. The ‘ups and downs’ of the game were exemplified in those two races.  Mattie’s Mountain also ran well to finish third at Fairyhouse.

Today’s selections are from this afternoon’s Hereford card.

Hereford

2:20 – Hidden Commander – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old won an Irish Point last March. He put in his best performance on his third start over hurdles at Catterick 100-days ago. He’s had a wind-op since and makes his handicap debut what looks a workable mark.

3:20 – Templier – 10/1 @Bet365 – Won here over 2m last season and was still in contention and challenging Ibleo when falling at the last at Wincanton last January. Well below his best on his first starts this season but shaped a lot better when a strong finishing 3^rd of 8 in a “Jumpers bumper” at Lingfield 27-days ago. That was his first run in cheekpieces and they are retained back for his return to fences. Handicapped to go close on the best of last seasons form, if he stays 2m 3f.

4:50 – Banana Joe – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Shaped with promise on his first start for Henry Daly when 3^rd of 14 at Taunton 36-days ago. He steps up to 2m 5 ½ f here but on the evidence of his Taunton run it should. Can race off the same mark today and despite concerns over the yard’s form he looks the one to be with.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newcastle and Fairyhouse.

Newcastle

3:50 – Hooligan – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Made it 2-2 over hurdles when winning at Wetherby on his seasonal return in November. Didn’t fully convince when stepped up 2m 2f at Exeter (heavy) 72-days ago. The return to 2m looks a positive and the lightly raced 6-year-old has the scope for a bit more improvement.

4:25 – Informateur – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Ran well for a long way when tried over 3m 1f at Catterick last time but just didn’t stay on heavy ground. The drop back to 2m 4f looks a good move and the 8-year-old was beaten just a neck off today’s mark at Carlisle (2m 5f) two starts back. Looks set for a big run here.

Fairyhouse

4:00 – Mattie’s Mountain – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – Seeks the four timer after two wins here (2m) and latterly when stepped up 2m 3f at Limerick 60-days ago. Up 9lb for his last win but he doesn’t win his races by much and it’s hard for the handicapper to get him in his grip. Showed a good attitude to prevail at Limerick and can go well again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just two seconds yesterday. Today’s selections are from Exeter and Dundalk.

Exeter

1:30 – Hold That Thought – 13/8 @ Bet365 – The 6-year-old has shaped well on all of three starts over fences and put in a career best on RPR’s when 2nd of 7 at Chepstow 48-days ago. A 3lb rise in the weights for that effort is fine and he’s capable of more improvement. He’s the one to beat in what looks a tight handicap.

2:00 – Elmdale – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Has improved on all three starts over hurdles since joining his present yard.  The 7-year-old shaped last time like he needed a stamina test when 4^th of 13 (2m 3 ½ f) at Exeter last month and a step up to 2m 7 ½ f for his handicap debut looks a positive.

Dundalk

7:00 – Ahundrednotout – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Left a low-key stable debut run well behind when winning here over 6f, 9-days ago. Step up to 7f shouldn’t pose to much of a problem as the selection is a previous C&D winner. Raised 5lb for his last success but has won off higher marks in the past and can follow up.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Eddiemaurice kept the winning run going with a win at Ludlow yesterday but the well backed Aces N Kings could only finish third.  Will it continue today? Today’s selections are from Chepstow, Huntingdon and Sedgefield.

Chepstow

4:00 – Jurys Out – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection remains a maiden after five starts over fences but the 8-year-old has shown promise and bounced back from a poor run at Ffos Las two starts back (5/4 fav) when 2nd of 13 at Wincanton 47-days ago. Nudged up a further 2lb for that effort but there is a moderate handicap chase in the 8-year-old.

Huntingdon

2:35 – Rob The Getaway – 9/2 – Gen – Looks to be getting better with racing over fences. The selection posted a career best on RPR’s when 2^nd of 11 on his handicap chase over C&D 65-days ago. Up 5lb for that effort but if he jumps as solidly as he did last time, he’s a got a good chance of going one better here.

Sedgefield

2:42 – Spirit of Hale – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The 10-year-old looked laboured when well beaten by one of today’s rivals Sigurd at Catterick last month. That was his fourth poor run this season but it’s worth remembering that he easily won this race 12 months ago, off 1lb lower and trainer Jennie Candlish has been among the winners this week. If he’s in a going mood can go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ludlow and Kempton.

Ludlow

4:45 – Eddiemaurice – 8/1 @ Bet365 – The selection has just had the two starts this season but has dropped back to his last winning mark at Newbury (heavy) last January. The veteran is thoroughly exposed but going/distance is fine and he’s always been at his best on a flattish track.

Kempton

7:45 – Aces N Kings – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Outran big odds (33/1) when finishing runner-up to Trixie Waterbury over C&D 8-days ago. That was the 4-year-old’s first start for his new yard and he gets a 5lb pull with winner for a ¾ length defeat. He’s just had the four career starts and provided this run doesn’t come to quick shouldn’t be far away again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Barnay made all to win at Carlisle yesterday to maintain the profitable run.

I don’t fancy anything today so it’s a no bet day for me.

Cheers

John