Author: John Burke

Hi all,

We didn’t have to wait too long to regain the winning thread with a nice double at Wincanton courtesy of Carys’ Commodity and an impressive Tamaroc Du Mathan on his chase debut.

I’m globetrotting with a selection from the most valuable race of the day the £250,000 Bahrain International Trophy.

Sakir – Bahrain International Trophy

1:00 – Deirdre – 13/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Japanese trained mare had a good 2019 headlined by a win in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.  Just the three starts this season best of which came when 5^th behind Ghaiyyath in the Eclipse at Sandown. Not so good on either start since although the heavy ground in the Arc wasn’t suitable. Needs a strongly run 1m 2f and quick ground to be at her best and if she gets it can win this.

Dundalk

6:00 – Never Back Down – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – It’s two years since the selection last won a race off 32lb higher. Yet to win since joining present yard but has been running well over C&D this autumn, including when third over C&D 16-days ago.  Capable of winning this from a handy draw in Stall 6, if all the cards fall right.

7:30 – Fridtjof Nansen – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Another who finds winning hard just 1-31 but he’s often run well in decent handicaps on turf. Finished one place ahead of Never Back Down here over 7f last time, despite being drawn out in stall 16. Drop back to 6f shouldn’t inconvenience the 5-year-old who looks set to go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The winning run came to an end as Wednesday’s selection Catamaran Du Seuil could only finish third at Ffos Las. Today’s selections are from Market Rasen and Wincanton.

Market Rasen

3:03 – Lonimoss Bareliere – 5/1 @ William Hill – Well beaten at big odds in three starts in juvenile hurdles last season. First signs of ability when an eyecatching 4^th of 11 in a jumpers’ bumper at Wolverhampton in February. First start since and makes his handicap hurdle debut off a mark of 98.  Trainer & Jockey combined to win this race 12 months ago.

Wincanton

1:40 – Carys’ Commodity – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Made it 2-4 over hurdles with an easy win at Fakenham last month. Handicapper has reacted by putting the 5-year-old up 12lb for that success which does make life tougher here but he looks capable of more progress.

3:12 – Tamaroc Du Mathan – 3/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Lightly raced over hurdles. The 5-year-old put in arguably a career best effort when 5^th of 24 in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February. Had a summer wind-op but looks a useful prospect for fences and a mark of 131 looks fair enough for his handicap chase debut.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Midnight’s Gift class did tell at Fakenham to keep the winning run going yesterday. Just the one selection again today.

Ffos Las

2:15 – Catamaran Du Seuil – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Is on a losing run that dates back two years but he’s dropped 3lb below his last winning mark. Ended last season with a decent 2^nd of 8 at Leicester. Twice a winner on heavy in the past he returns to action on a good mark and did win first time up in 2018.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Jack Berry House saved the day and maintained the recent winning run. Just the one selection today from Fakenham.

Fakenham

2:33 – Midnight’s Gift – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Wasn’t disgraced when 3rd of 7 in Listed Mares race at Wetherby last time and drops back into Class 3 handicap company today. Might need a stiffer stamina test but she will be suited by today’s sounder surface and can make her class tell here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After a frustrating Saturday it was 3-3 on Sunday. It doesn’t get any better than that.  I would be amazed if we could repeat that today and would happily settle for one winner.  Monday’s three selections are from Wolverhampton & Dundalk.

Wolverhampton

3:10 – Rockets Red Glare – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection looked in need of the experience when 4^th off 11 on his racecourse debut over C&D last month. With normal improvement the juvenile colt should be able win a race like this.  

4:40 – Kaser – 17/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Five of his six career wins have come here at Wolverhampton, including 4-9 over C&D. The 5-year-old is 2lb higher than his last winning mark on the all-weather but showed he could add to his five course wins when 3^rd of 8, beaten a length, in March.  Back from a short break and Ray Dawson takes off a handy 3lb.

Dundalk

3:15 – Jack Berry House – 11/4 – Gen – Has been knocking on the door on his last two starts here. Was beaten just a nose over C&D 5-days ago and can race off 1lb lower here. Stall 10 could be better but if the selection is in the same mood as last week, can win for the first time since joining his present trainer.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another day of “seconditis” with all three selections finishing runner-up at Wetherby. Today’s three selections go at Cheltenham & Punchestown.

Cheltenham

2:25 – Put The Kettle On – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Despite his poor run in the Champion Chase Defi Du Seuil is the one to beat. However, the selection bids to show her win in last year’s Arkle was no fluke. The time of her Arkle success suggests it wasn’t. Gets the allowances from the favourite and with normal improvement on her second season chasing won’t be far away.

4:05 – Good Risk At All – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Sam Thomas has his runners in tremendous form another double yesterday and that makes it 5 winners from 9 runners 56% + 22.46 in the past 14-days. He saddles the selection in the bumper that concludes the Cheltenham card. The 4-year-old shaped with encouragement when 2^nd of 13 on his racecourse debut at Newton Abbot last month. Interesting that connections pitch him into listed company for his second start.

Punchestown

2:10 – Abacadabras – 9/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Saint Roi advertised his well being when winning a Grade 3 at Tipperary last month. He’s an improving 5-year-old who puts his Champion Hurdle credentials on the line here.  Potentially very smart but I am going to give the selection another chance after he disappointed at when runner-up at Down Royal 16-days ago. Might just have needed the run and a reproduction of his head second to Shishkin in the Supreme would see him win this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A steady 2-4 on Friday and we landed on a 12/1 (BOG) winner with Daheer winning the luck last at Wolverhampton yesterday evening.  

All three of today’s selections come from Wetherby.

Wetherby

1:13 – Miah Grace – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The selection improved with each of five starts over hurdles, winning three times. A low-key return to action here last month but her best form has come on soft or heavy ground so better expected today. Looks ready for a step up in trip and is bred to improve for 2m 4f.

1:48 – Schiehallion Munro – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Ran well for a long way on his seasonal return over C&D before a lack of race fitness told. The 7-year-old really improved for going chasing last season winning three of his four starts. Capable of more progress this season and shouldn’t be far on ground that suits, form figures 31211 on soft ground.

3:33 – Lithic – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Remains a maiden over fences after 19 starts but returned to action with a solid 3^rd of 7 at Ffos Las last month. Goes well in the mud and is well handicapped on his best form with the useful Kevin Brogan taking off an additional 5lb. Interestingly all three career wins came when the 9-year-old started favourite.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Four selections today, one each from Fairyhouse & Dundalk and two from Wolverhampton. Let’s s hope they perform better than yesterday four who were dreadful.

Fairyhouse

12:55 – Howaya Aoife – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of a Punchestown handicap hurdle last November before finishing a close-up 2^nd of 13 here last December over today’s distance, off 4lb higher. Bred to be a better chaser than a hurdler she has already shaped well on both starts in beginners chases and makes her handicap chase debut off what looks a competitive mark. Effective on soft/heavy over hurdles and should be suited by the step to an extended 2m 7f.

Dundalk

6:00 – Blue Shadow – 11/2 @ Paddy Power – Showed signs of ability on three starts on turf but left his previous form behind when 3^rd of 14 over C&D last month. That was the 3-year-old’s first run since July so he’s entitled to have improved for it. Handy low draw and capable of going close.

Wolverhampton

5:15 – Araifjan – 100/30 @ Ladbrokes – Has been knocking on the door in 7f handicaps on the all-weather this autumn since winning here back in September. First run today for new connections and given he’s shown plenty pf pace in his races the drop back to 6f looks worth another go.

8:15 – Daheer – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Seemed to enjoy the tapeta surface when winning over C&D 93-days ago. First run since leaving Owen Burrows and first start since winning here so fitness must be taken on trust. Can win races on the all-weather of his new revised mark over the winter.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Four selections today from Taunton, Ludlow, and Chelmsford.

Taunton

4:15 – Rose To Fame – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Made 2-2 at the track when winning a handicap hurdle 15-days ago. Up 6lb but still looks on a workable mark stepping up in trip. Trainer Kim Bailey has his horses in winning form and he had jockey David Bass are 4-8 +13 when teaming up at the track in the past 2-years.

Ludlow

2:15 – Don Lami – 5/2 @ Bet365 – The 7-year-old hasn’t been the easiest to keep sound. He’s only had seven career starts and this will be only his second start since May 2018. Today he returns for the first time since winning on chase debut 12 months ago. Just 2lb higher than for his last success and has scope for a bit more progress over fences.

Chelmsford

7:00 – Ritchie Valens – 8/1 – Gen – Made a winning stable debut over C&D on his seasonal return and wasn’t disgraced when 3^rd of 10 at York a month later. Last of 8 at Ripon when last seen in action but he returns to C&D, just 2lb higher than for his last win.  Goes well fresh so the 98-day absence shouldn’t be a problem. Probably needs a truly run race to be seen at his best though.

8:00 – Alsvinder – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The previous C&D winner seems to have returned to form for a switch back to the all-weather. He was 4^th of 12 over C&D two starts back and then beaten less than a length into second at Wolverhampton 10-days ago. Off the same mark as last time and looks set to strike from a handy low draw.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Pillar (5/1 BOG) saved the day on Monday. However, it was a frustrating day of ‘seconditis’. The other three selections all finished runner-up in their respective races. With Younevercall being beaten a nose in the Pertemps Series Qualifier at Kempton.  He wins and the day is a very profitable one.

Wednesday selections are from Ayr and Kempton

Ayr

2:50 – Caventara – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner here over hurdles (heavy) returned from a 240-day break to win on his seasonal return at Kelso 12 months ago. Was still going well when falling in the Borders National last December. First run since that mishap but he goes well in the mud and remains on a good mark. Hopefully he can win this before another attempt at the Borders National which he was sent off the 7/2 favourite last year.  

Kempton

4:35 – Ahlawi – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection ran better than his final position of 7^th suggests on his racecourse debut at Newcastle 22-days ago.  He was held up in the rear in a race where it paid to be ridden more prominently. Can put that initial experience to good use although he does have a widest draw in 12 to overcome here.

7:35 – Dyami – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Broke his maiden tag when winning a C&D novice 14-days ago. The 3-year-old hadn’t looked the best handicapped horse before that win but he’s unexposed at the track, has a handy draw in stall 3 and now he’s got his head in front he could add another win. James Doyle has been booked for the ride and he’s 3-7 43% +5.70 when teaming up with trainer George Baker.

Cheers

John