Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Dundalk and Hereford.

Dundalk

3:00 – Pempie – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The mare returned from a 117-day break when 5^th of 13 here over a mile last month.  Steps up to 1m 4f here but did win over 1m 2f when trained in England. Handy draw in stall 3 and should go close if seeing at the trip.

6:00 – Sideshow Bob – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The lightly raced mare looked one to keep on the right side of when seemingly suited by a strongly run mile when 4^th of 14 here, 47-days ago.

Hereford

1:20 – Le Tueur – 3/1 – Gen – Made a winning handicap hurdle debut at Ffos Las (soft) 43-days ago. He needed every yard of the 3m that day so today’s extra 1 ½ f should bring out further improvement in the 6-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Saturday was a disappointment after Friday’s profit. Not much racing today and it’s not of the highest quality either. I have three selections from Exeter.

Exeter

2:10 – And The New – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Ran really well when 2^nd of 13 at Wincanton on his first start for 530-days back in November. Ran just as well on RPR’s when 6^th of 12 in a better race than this, at Cheltenham last month. Kevin Brogan takes off a handy 7lb and trainer John Farrelly is 3-6 +8.50 with his runners in the past 14-days.

2:40 – Eclair Surf – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 7-year-old built on the promise of his chase debut second at Hereford when showing a good attitude to win back at the same venue 24-days ago. A winner of a heavy ground point he showed again at Hereford that’s he’s well suited to testing ground. Up 8lb for that success and drops back 2f in distance but remains the one to beat.

3:40 – Amzac Magic – 9/2 – Gen – Second of seven in a Lingfield claimer before winning over C&D (heavy) last month. Up 5lb for that win but remains on a competitive mark based on back form. The softer the ground the better he travels and jumps.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It was good to return with a well backed winner in Just Brilliant at Dundalk yesterday. Just the two selection today from Wincanton & Lingfield.

Wincanton

3:45 – Gardefort – 4/1 – Gen – The 12-year-old showed he was no back number when chasing home Bennys King at Ascot 21-days ago. Same mark today but this previous C&D winner is a well handicapped horse based on his best form. Provided he doesn’t bounce, Ascot run came off a 588-day layoff, he won’t be far away here.

Lingfield

1:40 – Sheila – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power In good form on the synthetics in the autumn winning at Chelmsford, before placing back at the same venue and then finishing 2^nd of 12 here over 1m 2f, 49-days ago. The 4-year-old is lightly raced, just the six starts and looks interesting on her the step up to 1m 4f for the first time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s been quiet on the selections front as I don’t want to put up selections for the sake of it.  Friday isn’t much better but I have hopefully found one.

Dundalk

5:00 – Just Brilliant – 6/1 – Gen – The 6-year-old ran his best race since joining Sarah Lynam when 2^nd of 13 over C&D back in November. Nudged up 1lb for that effort but there are races to be won off his present mark. Not sure why we haven’t seen him for 51-days but if in the same form as last time won’t be far away here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

No luck yesterday so here’s hoping for better today.

Fakenham

2:55 – Le Sacre – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has failed to complete on either start but the 12-year-old will like the soft ground and is just 2lb above his last winning mark. Trainer John Flint had a winner at Newbury last week so the yard are in form and the top-weight should give his backers a good run for their money in this 3m 5f handicap chase.

Wolverhampton

5:50 – Grey D’Ars – 9/2 @ Bet365 – A three-time winner in France but the selection has yet to taste success after 16 starts for his present yard. The 5-year-old has been running well enough this autumn and was only beaten a head into second over C&D last month. Hollie Doyle takes over from an amateur today and he shouldn’t be far away from 1lb higher.

7:20 – Nezar – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won this race 12 months ago off 6lb higher and was only beaten ½ length in to third here two starts back. Nowhere near that level of form at Lingfield two weeks ago but better can be expected from this well handicapped 10-year-old back on the tapeta.

I’m off tomorrow so see you on Wednesday

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the two selections today.

Catterick

12:57 – Thirsty Farmer – 11/1 @ Coral & Bet365 – Shaped with some promise when a staying on 4^th of 12 at Exeter 42-days ago. Step up to an extended 3m 1f could bring out some more improvement in the 7-year-old.

Fairyhouse

1:45 – Optum – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old put in a career best effort when runner-up on his handicap hurdle debut here two starts back. Ran like something was amiss when beaten favourite at Thurles on his next start 45-days ago. Won’t be far away here if back to form here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Sandown & Wolverhampton.

Sandown

12:40 – Robin Gold – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Is a mare on the upgrade having won her last two starts in handicap company, both on testing ground. Takes a step up to Listed company but provided they go a good gallop, needs to be held up and be produced as late as possible in her races, could surprise some higher rated mares here.

3:35 – Monsieur Lecoq – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won this race two years ago off a much lower mark but he improved after that and can race off the same mark as when 3rd of 14 in last season’s Greatwood Hurdle and 5lb lower than when runner-up to Not So Sleepy in that seasons Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot. The 7-year-old hasn’t looked in the same form on either start this season but he’s a classy hurdler when at his best and the yard had a winner at Warwick on Thursday.

Wolverhampton

5:40 – Michele Strogoff – 3/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selections last three wins have come here although you must go back two years and 30 runs for the last of them. If a return to the venue sparks him back to life the 8-year-old is too well handicapped to ignore here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another winner yesterday to keep the profitable run going. My final selections for 2020 come from Lingfield.

Lingfield

1:30 – Ventura Vision – 9/2 – Gen – The selection won a Chelmsford nursery (7f) two starts back and wasn’t disgraced when 4^th of 6 back at the same venue three weeks ago. Shaped last time like she would be suited by the step up to a mile.

3:35 – Come On Girl – 7/2 – Gen – The previous C&D winner ran better than could have been expected, from 7lb out of the handicap, when 4^th of 5 here last time. That was a Class 3 race and she drops into Class 6 company today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the one winner yesterday. Today’s selections are from Wolverhampton and Taunton.

Wolverhampton

5:10 – Blue Dawn – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-old is bred to be better horse than her official rating of 59 suggests. She’s is 0 wins from 6 runs but has shown enough ability to think she capable of winning a moderate handicap off her present mark. Has been keen on her last two starts but provided she settles better she shouldn’t be far away on her first start on the tapeta.   

Taunton

3:15 – Sandford Castle – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A 10-year-old 19 race maiden hardly shouts winner but the selection put in a good effort when 2^nd of 10 at Wincanton 15-days ago. Nudged up 2lb for that performance but if he can back that effort up will be in the mix.

3:50 – Time To Tinker – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Given the form of the Paul Nicholls yard I’m happy to take a chance on the selection here. The 5-year-old looked a horse with a future jumping when finishing runner-up on his bumper debut at Exeter last season. A poor run when the 11/10 favourite at Wincanton in March and only slightly bettered that effort when 6^th of 12 at Chepstow on his seasonal return 63-days ago. Second run since a wind-op and gets the first-time tongue tie so better expected.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After a couple of winless days, its was 2-2 yesterday. Today’s selections are from Kelso & Doncaster.

Kelso

2:32 – Defi Sacre – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A three-time winner last December but the selection hasn’t hit winning form so far this season. The 7-year-old unseated his rider at Newbury two starts back but hopefully confidence has been restored after his 3^rd of 8 at Doncaster last time. The drop back to 2m 1f and a combination of soft ground (2-2) can see him get back into the winner’s enclosure.

Doncaster

12:35 – Flemcara – 7/2 – Gen – The 8-year-old put in his best effort of 2020 when 4^th of 10 at Sandown 25-days ago. Takes a slight drop in class here and is now 4lb below his last winning mark.

2:20 – Asharann – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Shaped with encouragement in the first-time tongue tie when 4^th of 9 in a Market Rasen juvenile hurdle 26-days ago. As a 3-year-old he gets plenty of weight from his rivals and hails from an inform yard.

Cheers

John