Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Carlisle.

Carlisle

1:35 – Pookie Pekan – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Is 2-7 at the track, including C&D, with the 7-year-old’s last win coming here off 4lb lower. Goes well on soft ground and although he’s won once on heavy, he hasn’t raced much on such going. Shouldn’t be far away at the finish.

2:10 – Ask Dillion – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Seems at his best on ground with plenty of easeas he showed when 4^th of 17, behind Main Fact, in a stronger race at Haydock 22-days ago. Up 1lb for that effort but looks to have a good chance here.

2:40 – Looksnowtlikebrian – 2/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Twice a winner here at the track and a decent third here in October(good). Best form has come on a sounder surface but he’s 2-6 on heavy.  A return to 3m 2f will suit and trainer Tim Vaughan had a welcome winner at Cheltenham on Friday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A double figure priced winner at Punchestown on Friday with the other selection being a non-runner.. There are two from Doncaster today, both from the same yard.

Doncaster

12:20 – Billingsley – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The 8-year-old makes his seasonal return here today. A winner of three of his four starts over fences last season. Now 7lb higher than for the last of those wins at Newbury in February but is capable of better over fences. Best form on soft/heavy so probably wouldn’t want the ground to dry up further.

1:30 – Wheesht – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of an Irish Point. The selection is maiden after four starts over hurdles but shaped better than her 5^th of 13 at Southwell (2m 4 ½ f) suggests on her debut for a new yard. She was still very much in contention when making a bad mistake at the last. Step up to and extended 3m should be in the mare’s favour and today’s good to soft ground should be ideal.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the two selections today from Punchestown & Dundalk.

Punchestown

2:45 – R’evelyn Pleasure – 8/1 @Bet365 – Is on a bit of a losing run which dates to January 2019. Just the one win from 11 runs over hurdles but is on good mark. Ran much better than his seasonal return when 3rd of 13 at Thurles last time. Cheekpieces are on for the first time and he should be thereabouts.

Dundalk

7:00 – Alfredo Arcano – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old, a five-time C&D winner, won this race 12 months ago off 7lb higher and bounced back to form when 3^rd of 11 over C&D two weeks ago. The first-time visor replaces the blinkers worn last time and provided stall 12 isn’t an inconvenience, he’s taken to win again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

No joy yesterday. Today’s selections are from Taunton & Warwick.

Taunton

3:17 – Go Long – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Jumped well, when making all to win on his seasonal return under 12-2 at Fontwell last month.  A lightly raced 10-year-old is up 5lb in a better race but is set to go close if building on his last performance.

3:47 – Cushuish – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has returned to action from a 12-month layoff in decent form. Last time out the 7-year-old was doing her best work at the finish when 3^rd of 14 at Exeter. A previous C&D winner the mare will appreciate the return to 3m.

Warwick

3:02 – Kilpin – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 5-year-old has already shown he’s better over fences than hurdles. A solid 2^nd of 11 at Stratford on his second start over the larger obstacles 32-days ago. Potential for more improvement and should go close if he stays 3m.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another winner on Tuesday with Split Elevens just holding on at Wolverhampton.  Just the two selections today from Hexham & Kempton.

Hexham

12:55 – Mymilan – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has been a beaten favourite on his last four starts but wasn’t beaten far into fourth at Carlisle last month. The 7-year-old’s best performances have come on heavy ground and it seems like he stays 3m. Looks set to go close for the inform Sandy Thomson yard.

Kempton

6:55 – Culture – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Twice a C&D winner for his previous trainer has run well on both starts since joining his present yard. Found only an improving 3-year-old too strong when 2^nd of 9 here 14-days ago. Up 1lb for that effort but remains on a competitive mark if in the same form as last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Uttoxeter & Wolverhampton.

Uttoxeter

12:45 – Pop The Cork – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of C&D juvenile hurdle (soft) last October. The selection returned to action with as promising 4^th of 9 behind Fransham at Wetherby 39-days ago. The top-weight drops down a notch in class here and shouldn’t be far away.

Wolverhampton

2:55 – Word Of Honour – 5/1 – Gen – Won over C&D, 7-days ago, and is taken to defy a 5lb penalty here. Stall nine could be better but If the 4-year-old gets a good pace to chase, like he did last week, he must have a good chance of back to back wins.

4:30 – Split Elevens – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A seven race maiden the juvenile ran one of his better races when 3^rd of 9 at Lingfield 14-days ago. Handles the tapeta and if the first time cheekpieces have the desired effect he has a decent chance of breaking his maiden tag here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Crossed My Mind (8/1) was a nice winner at Navan yesterday. Today’s selections are from Punchestown and Cork.

Punchestown

2:10 – R’evelyn Pleasure – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is on a bit of a losing run which dates to January 2019. Just the one win from 11 runs over hurdles but is on good mark. Ran much better than his seasonal return when 3^rd of 13 at Thurles 17-days ago. Cheekpieces are on for the first time and he should be thereabouts.

Cork

3:30 – Zaccarela – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Runner-up at Ballinrobe two starts back and followed that with another good effort when 3^rd of 14 at Fairyhouse 26-days ago. Just his second start in handicap company and the 4-year-old looks capable of winning a race off his present mark for an inform yard.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Wetherby

2:12 – Thor De Cerisy – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Was a good second under a penalty here in a novice hurdle in March before finishing 3^rd of 7 at Newcastle on his handicap hurdle debut. Just the six starts over hurdles for the 6-year-old so there’s a chance there could be a bit more improvement to come.

Chepstow

1:57 – Bobo Mac – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – First run since March and his first since a wind-op. Won first time up last season so fitness shouldn’t be an issue. Goes well in the mud and looks on a competitive enough mark here.

Navan

2:53 – Crossed My Mind – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –  Returned from a 233-day break to win a handicap chase (2m 2f) at Thurles last month. Up 6lb for that win but has only had the five starts over fences and could be open to a bit more improvement over the larger obstacles.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After a couple of days without selection we return with hopefully a bang today.

Sandown

1:50 – Morning Vicar – 9/2 – Gen – Looks to have a solid enough chance here. Runner-up to the progressive Demachine at Uttoxeter before making all to win at Newbury 29-days ago. He jumped well that day and going this way around should suit the 7-year-old. Up 6lb but looks progressive at around 2m 4f and if he jumps as well as he did last time won’t be far away.

Exeter

1:30 – Jog On – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Just the five runners in this novices’ handicap hurdle but four have live chances. My preference is for the selection who put in a career best effort when 4^th of 10 at Ascot 14-days ago. Just the five career starts but looks to be getting better with racing and will like the soft soft ground.

Dundalk

4:00 – That’s Mad – 6/1 @ Bet365 – A winner at Cork (5f) back in September, off 1lb higher, is unexposed on the all-weather and wasn’t disgraced when a 1 ½ length 5^th of 14 here over 6f, 14-days ago. Can race off the same mark here and the drop back to the minimum trip looks a positive. Can go close from a handy low draw.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Wolverhampton and Limerick.

Wolverhampton

4:30 – De Little Engine – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A previous course winner over 7f. The 6-year-old has run well on both starts since returning from a wind-op. Was beaten a nose at Lingfield two starts back and a length into third here 9-days ago. Both those runs came over 7f but provided they go a decent pace he shouldn’t be far away at the finish.

6:30 – Golden Force – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was in great form early in the summer winning a C&D handicap before going on to win at York.  Not in in the same form since but was a running on 6^th of 10 at Chelmsford (7f) 26-days ago. Return to C&D is in the 4-year-old’s favour and given he’s 1-1 on the tapeta and he’s open to more improvement on the surface.

Limerick

2:15 – Wherethewindsblow – 9/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Ran with credit when 3^rd of 20 at Punchestown 17-days ago. That was a career best effort on RPR’s from the 5-year-old. A bit more improvement needed to win but given he’s only had six hurdle starts it could be forthcoming.

Cheers

John