Author: John Burke

Hi all,

We got a big slice of luck with Young Dev’s win 17/2 (BOG). I’m not sure how he managed to win after his jockey broke a stirrup at the first and rode the horse for almost 3 miles without any irons. If you managed to watch the race yet I suggest you do. It was an incredible ride and probably the best I have ever seen over jumps. Today’s selections are from Carlisle and Wolverhampton

Carlisle

2:40 – Éclair Mag – 9/2 – Gen – Defied odds of 80/1 to win on his stable debut at Market Rasen last month. The 7-year-old seemed to relish the heavy ground that day and there didn’t seem any fluke about his success.  The handicapper has raised him 9lb, for a 4 ¾ success, so he needs to improve again but that’s highly possible.

3:10 – Barnay – 100/30 @ Bet365 – The selection won at Musselburgh (good to soft) two starts back and improved again in defeat when 2^nd of 12 at Market Rasen. Up another 5lb for that effort but he looks to be going the right way and the yard had a welcome winner at Uttoxeter on Sunday.

Wolverhampton

5:40 – Nozieres – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 3-year-old has improved for going handicapping finishing runner-up on her last two starts at Lingfield. Nudged up a further 2lb for last time and stall 11 could be more helpful, but she looks capable of landing a modest handicap like this provided she takes to the new surface.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

You can’t beat an in-form trainer and Laura Morgan had yet another winner yesterday with J’Ai Froid at Ascot. It may have only have been one winner on the day but at 7/1 I will take that any day of the week. Today’s selections are from Newbury and Market Rasen and Navan.

Market Rasen

1:30 – Against All Odds – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The mare won a Catterick novice on her hurdle debut in November before running respectably when 3^rd of 5 in a Listed Mares race at Haydock the following month. Handicap debut here off a fair opening mark and the yard couldn’t be in better form.

Newbury

4:10 – Mill Green – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A useful hurdler the selection, including finishing 6^th in last season’s Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, makes a belated chase debut today at the age of nine. First run since Cheltenham when shaping with promise in a “Jumpers” bumper at Kempton 12 days ago.

Navan

1:40 – Young Dev – 13/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – Won one of his six starts over fences last season and really should have won on his last start over the larger obstacles at Clonmel in March.  The 7-year-old been hurdling this season, placing on his last three starts. Looks on a winnable mark and Hugh Morgan takes off a handy 5lb.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Friday’s two selections were poor. Today’s selections are from Ascot and Haydock.

Ascot

1:50 – Demachine – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Won his first two starts over the larger obstacles, including a competitive novices’ handicap chase over C&D. He was a shade disappointing when only 3rd of 8 at Newbury 52-days ago but he’s had a wind-op since and he remains capable of better.

4:10 – J’Ai Froid – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Has improved for his move to the Laura Morgan yard winning two of his three starts, including his last two.  An easy winner at Ayr two starts back and followed up under a 7lb penalty at Doncaster 22-days ago. The handicapper has raised him 11lb for his last success but the 8-year-old’s progress may not have ended yet, especially given the trainer’s form 4 winners from 9 runners in the past 14-days.

Haydock

3:50 – Farrants Way – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Made a bold bid from the front over C&D last month and looked like he would hold on until the final few strides when he got caught right on the line. He’s been raised 4lb for that effort which makes life tougher but he’s got solid claims of going one better here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The well backed Alkopop showed plenty of guts to win at Fontwell on Thursday. Today’s two selections are from Kelso.

Kelso

3:10 – Vision Du Puy – 100/30 @ William Hill – Had looked set for a bright future hurdling after winning a Perth novice before finishing behind Lady Buttons and subsequent Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Winner Indefatigable in Listed race at Wetherby last season. Has been well beaten on her last two starts though, including down the field on her return to action 28-days ago. However, that was the mares first run for 405-days so she may have needed it. Risks attached but nicely treated if coming back to last seasons best.

3:50 – Thebannerkingrebel – 9/2 @ Paddy Power & Bet365 – Useful over hurdles last season. The 8-year-old made a winning to start to chasing when sole rival crashed out at the first at Plumpton.  The selection suffered the same fate when leading back at the same venue 45-days ago. It was a heavy fall but if his confidence isn’t dented then he remains with potential over the larger obstacles  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I can’t fault the efforts of A Time To Shine & Annabelle Rock who finished runner-up in their respective races yesterday but the other two were dreadful picks.  All in all, a disappointing day for the service. Today’s selections are from Sandown, Fontwell and Chelmsford.  

Sandown

4:50 – Timeless Beauty – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & BetVictor – Built on her novice hurdle promise when winning on her handicap debut at Ayr (heavy) 31-days ago. The handicapper has reacted by raising the mare 10lb for her last win but she going the right way and can go in again.  

Fontwell

3:58 – Alkopop – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection took a big step up on his previous from when winning at Chepstow 29-days ago. It was heavy that day so today’s underfoot conditions clearly hold no fears. He’s been raised 10lb for his last win but the lightly raced 7-year-old looks capable of defying it.

Chelmsford

5:30 – Rebel Redemption – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Has returned from a short break with two good efforts, including being beaten a neck into third at Newcastle 7-days ago. That was in a Class 5 and the previous C&D winner drops back in to Class 6 today. Handily drawn for a prominent racer and should give it a bold show.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Pyramid Place kept the mini winning run going at Catterick yesterday but there was a small Rule 4 deduction which cut the profit. Today’s four selections are from Hereford and Dundalk.

Hereford

3:05 – A Time To Shine – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The Oliver Sherwood yard is going through a quiet spell but the selection looks worth chancing on his chase debut. The 6-year-old shaped with encouragement on both his starts over hurdles in the autumn, including a good third to Albert Bartlett contender Barbados Bucks at Southwell. Has the pedigree to be a better chaser than hurdler and interesting that connections send over fences now off a mark of 115.

3:35 – Kiera Royale – 6/1 @ Bet365 – It took the selection 32 starts to break her maiden tag when relishing the mud to win at FFos Las 13-days ago. Up 8lb but today’s extra furlong should suit and trainer David Rees has an above average record with last time out winners in NH handicaps – 8 winners from 35 runners 23% +25.23 17 places 49%.

4:05 – Trump Lady – 15/2 @ Bet365 – Looks progressive after an all the way win at Warwick 48-days ago. The 6-year-old is open to improvement on her handicap debut but needs to find it off a no more than fair opening mark of 118.

Dundalk

2:55 – Annabelle Rock – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The previous C&D winner could be better drawn in stall 11 but at least the mare comes into the race in form after close-up 2^nd of 11 over C&D last month off two 2lb lower.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It was nice to get a double with Ballymillsy and Nellie French winning yesterday but it could have been even better as Tinteretto was beaten just a neck into second.  Today’s selections are from Kempton and Catterick.

Kempton

4:55 – Zarafshan – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Is up a couple notches in class after his C&D win 34-days ago. He hasn’t really taken to hurdles but he’s looked much happier since returning to the level on his last two starts. The 5-year-old has been raised 3lb for his last success and needs to improve to win again but he’s unexposed over the trip and can go forward again.

Catterick

2:45 – Pyramid Place – 11/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Won a Bangor juvenile on his second start over hurdles before being outclassed (100/1) in the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow. Drop back in class so him return to the winner’s enclosure when winning a Taunton handicap hurdle 24-days ago. He’s been raised up 8lb for that win but looks an improver.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Warwick & Wolverhampton

Warwick

4:30 – Ballymillsy – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has just had the three starts over hurdles. The 5-year-old put in a career best effort when 2nd of 15 to Paddys Motorbike at Huntingdon back in December. He looked a stayer at Huntingdon and should relish this marathon 3m 2f on his handicap debut.

Wolverhampton

4:25 – Nellie French – 3/1 – Gen – The selection put in a career best when breaking her maiden tag at the 13^th attempt when winning over C&D 17-days ago. Handy draw in stall 4 and raised just 4lb for that success she shouldn’t be far away here.

4:55 – Tinteretto – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner at Kempton in 2020 the 6-year-old was only beaten a neck into second over C&D two starts back and followed that up with another solid effort when 3^rd of 9 at Newcastle 23-days ago. Trainer Tom Ward is 2-5 + 15 with his runners in the past 14-days.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Dark Pine ran out an easy winner at Wolverhampton last evening. Just the one selection from Exeter today.

Exeter

Yaltari – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Third in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novice Chase at Ascot two seasons ago he’s dropped to a mark 12lb lower than for that performance. He’s improved with each start this season and last time out finished 4th off 11 at Ascot. A reproduction of his best would make the 10-year-old hard to beat in his first veterans’ chase.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Chelmsford was off yesterday and both Lingfield and Naas must survive morning inspections to see if they can race on Saturday.  Hopefully one or preferably both can race or we will be left with just one meeting across the UK & Ireland at Wolverhampton. However, it’s the Wolverhampton card that provides today’s three selections.

Wolverhampton

7:15 – Venturous -100/30 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 8-year-old has been in the form of life of late winning four of his last five starts, including over C&D two starts back. At his best when coming off a strong pace. He should get that here with the likes of Lord Riddiford and Lomu in the field. Improving last time out Chelmsford winner Tone The Barone is 4-4 from the all-weather but is having his first start on the tapeta and that just edges in favour of the selection.

7:45 – Dark Pine – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection beat likely favourite Arij by a neck at Lingfield last time and although that one gets a 2lb pull here I fancy that Dark Pine can confirm form with his old rival even off 6lb higher mark.

8:15 – Flight Command – 7/1 @ Bet365 – The 4-year-old looked suited by the step up to 1m 4f when beaten a length into second over C&D here 13-days ago. Unexposed over the distance, if he can build on that performance he shouldn’t be far away here.

Cheers

John