Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Walton Street saved the day with an all the way at Meydan on Thursday. Today’s selections are from Lingfield and Dundalk.

Lingfield

3:40 – Ritchie Valens – 15/2 @ William Hill – Last win came at Chelmsford, off 1lb lower, back in June over today’s distance. Returns from a short break after a disappointing run under a big weight back at the same venue in November. Last year’s win came off a longer lay off and Laura Pearson takes off a valuable 5lb.

Dundalk

5:00 – Bobby K – 7/2 – Gen – A three-time winner when trained at Newmarket by Simon Crisford, has ran well on both starts since switched to the all-weather by his present trainer. Can race off the same mark as when beaten ½ length into third over C&D 51-days ago. Handy low draw and shouldn’t be far away again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newcastle, Ludlow & Meydan.

Newcastle

6:30 – Silent Queen – 3/1 @ William Hill – Trainer George Boughey has a great record with his last time out winners – 11 winners from 24 runners 46% +21.89 16 placed 67%. The filly returned from a 112-day break when making all to win at Southwell 20-days ago. Back in handicap company and up to 6f today but the top-weight has a good chance of following up here.

Ludlow

2:10 – Enzo D’Airy – 5/2 @ William Hill – The 7-year-old made it 2-3 since going chasing when winning at Ascot last month. Raised 8lb for that win shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience as he looks capable of more improvement for the step up to 2m 4f. This is a slightly deeper race than last time but he’s decent enough price given his progressive profile.  

Meydan

3:05 – Walton Street – 7/2 @ Bet365 – A previous C&D winner he beat five rivals in a Listed race over today’s distance at Newmarket in September. The handicapper has only raised him 2lb for that win so the 7-year remains on a competitive mark, if ready roll after a 118-day layoff.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newbury, Chepstow and Dundalk,

Newbury

1:25 – Birchdale – 100/30 @ Bet365 – The selection was sent off 30/100 favourite for his chase debut at Catterick but unseated his rider. He’s been given a 66-day break since that mishap and is on a good mark based on his novice hurdle form from two seasons back.

Chepstow

4:20 – Kingsmill Gin – 11/1 @ Bet365 – The mare bounced back from a poor seasonal reappearance when 4^th of 17 at Wincanton last month. Not the quickest and she shaped like a good stamina test would suit last time.

Dundalk

5:15 – Latchet – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The mare’s sole win came over C&D in October 2019, off 12lb higher. She wasn’t disgraced when 5^th of 14 over C&D 12-days ago. Sam Ewing takes off a handy 7lb which could prove significant at the finish.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Exeter

3:45 – Don Herbager – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A maiden after eight starts under rules but he’s only had the two starts over the larger obstacles. A ½ length runner-up at Lingfield on his chase debut, before finishing a close-up 3rd of 14 here over 2m 5f, last time out. He’s up 5lb for that effort but still looks competitively weighted. The step back up to 3m should be fine and he goes well on soft/heavy ground. There is a race like this in the 7-year-old.

Clonmel

2:35 – Stand Off – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Got off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles when winning here over 2m. 47 days ago. That win came on heavy ground and today’s extra three furlongs shouldn’t be an issue for a yard who had a winner at the weekend.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Ayr

2:30 – Darius Des Sources – 100/30 – Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection built on a promising debut over fences when winning here over 2m 4 ½ f, 49-days ago. That win came on heavy ground and today’s extra furlong should suit. Up 4lb for his last win but is open to further improvement with more experience in the sphere.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just two selections today from Punchestown.

Punchestown

12:50 – Asterion Forlonge – 5/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – If Envoi Allen is going to be beaten this season it will be today. He must give 11lb to Asterion Forlonge who goes well right-handed and will probably prefer the forecast heavy ground. That said he did blot his copy book when falling five out in a Grade 1 at Limerick over Christmas. I think the favourite will win but the 5/2 available about Asterion Forlonge is tempting.

1:20 – Magic Tricks – 11/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Gordon Elliott bids for a third successive win in the race, relies on Magic Tricks, a half-brother to stablemate Abacadabras. The 5-year-old made an impressive hurdle debut when winning a Navan maiden last month. The ground will be more testing today but he looks a smart prospect and probably should be favourite.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

We had a non-runner at Dundalk yesterday so I’m going with a rare four selections today.

Fairyhouse

1:40 – Minx Tara – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – Put in a career best when winning a Limerick handicap hurdle three weeks ago. She’s been hiked up 9lb for that success but she goes well on heavy ground and if she stays 3m can go in again.

Lingfield

1:25 – Intuitive – 4/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – All fourof the 5-year-old’s career wins have come on the all-weather and he wasn’t beaten far off today’s mark at Wolverhampton three weeks ago. Respected on his first start over mile.

2:00 – Dutugamunu – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a much-improved effort when winning over C&D in the first time cheekpieces. Up 7lb here but has a handy draw and is the one to beat.

Kempton

7:20 – Broughton Sunpearl – 3/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The filly put in a career best on RPR’s when running out a convincing winner over C&D last month. She’s up 8lb and in a better race but looks an improver.

Cheers

John

Hi all.

Today’s selections are from Dundalk & Newcastle.

Dundalk

6:45 – Miss Sassyboots – 10/1 @ Bet365 – A winner here two start back over a mile and ran to a similar level according to RPR’s when 6^th of 13 last month. The first-time blinkers replace the cheekpieces for her drop back to 7f.

7:15 – Indiana Grey – 12/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection looked to be on a winnable mark when a close-up 2^nd of 13 over C&D two starts back. Lost her race at the start last time and provided she doesn’t the same here has to be respected from a handy low draw.

Newcastle

1:40 – Al Ozzidi – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Last win came here 12 months off 3lb higher. Hasn’t been at that level of form during the autumn. On a good mark and looks worth another go at 1m 2f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just two seconds yesterday. I’m off tomorrow so let’s hope we can sign off on a winner. Today’s selections are from Naas & Kempton.

Naas

1:50 – Allardyce – 6/1 @Bet365 – Won this race 12 months ago off 2lb lower. Not in the same form on his three starts this season and the ground is more testing than last year but he looks capable of a big run.

7:20 – My Boy Sepoy – 4/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill – On a losing run that dates to May 2019 but he’s been running well of late and was only beaten a neck here over 1m 3f two starts back off 2lb lower. Today’s extra furlong will suit and the yard is 8-22 36% in the past 14-days.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Pempie was a good winner for us yesterday and provided a solid profit on the day. Today’s three selections are from Wetherby & Fairyhouse.

Wetherby

2:05 – Billingsley – 13/2 @ Bet365 – The 9-year-old won three of his four starts over fences and looked an improving handicap chaser. Ran well for a long way and was still in contention when falling four out on his seasonal return at Doncaster 31-days ago. It was good to soft last time and he’s a better horse on even deeper ground. He’s 4-6 on heavy and he’s likely all the better for his seasonal return.

3:10 – Commit Or Quit – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The selection showed a good battling attitude to win over C&D two starts back. That was a much-improved performance from the 6-year-old. He had just taken the lead when falling six out. It was to early to say where he would have finished but if his confidence hasn’t been dented, he looks interesting back here.

Fairyhouse

3:30 – Memory Of Youth – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Remains a maiden after nine starts but the made a very encouraging return to action when 2nd of 19 at Naas last month. The mare gets the first time cheekpieces and if she builds on her reappearance effort looks capable of winning a race like this off her present mark. Sean Flanagan takes over in the saddle which looks a positive. 

Cheers

John