Author: John Burke

Hi all,

A three timer on Friday, although I have to say Sir Jack Yeats was very lucky to win at Fakenham. I’m not expecting anything like that today but here goes.

Wolverhampton

6:00 – Noman – 7/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Shaped with promise, although green, when 3^rd of 8 on his racecourse debut at Newmarket 23-days ago. Should have improved plenty for that initial run and although he faces a handful of nicely bred newcomers, he’s taken to win this.

Ascot

2:30 – Wonderful Tonight – 5/1 – Gen – The Group 1 Prix de Royallieu winner and all three of her wins have come on heavy ground. The drop back to 1m 4f shouldn’t inconvenience the improving 3-year-old. Just two weeks since her Longchamp success but provided this race doesn’t come to quick, she can go close.

Ballinrobe

2:40 – Fairyhill Run – 9/4 @ Bet365 – A winner of a novice hurdle here in September she seemed to improve when 2^nd of 7 in a Listed novice hurdle at Limerick 6-days ago. Provided this race doesn’t come to quick the mare can land this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Wins by Rosie Bassett & Gabbys Cross gave us a short-priced double on Thursday. It seems so long since I have been able to use the word double. Today’s selections are from Uttoxeter, Fakenham & Dundalk.

Uttoxeter

14:53 – Easy Bucks – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old has improved for going chasing. Runner-up at Plumpton on his debut over larger obstacles and last time out ran out a comfortable winner here over an extended 2m 6 ½ f. Steps up in class and distance but looks well in even under a 7lb penalty.

Fakenham

3:40 – Sir Jack Yeats – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Won a C&D hunter chase back in March 2019. Ran well on his first start for 194-days when 4^th of 11 at Uttoxeter 21-days ago. The 9-year-old should be sharper for that run and if the ground isn’t too quick should give a good account.

Dundalk

6:45 – Crystal Dawn – 7/4 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Won off 7lb lower here over 6f back in August and ran a solid race to finish 4^th of 12 at Fairyhouse last month. Shaped that day like a step up 7f could suit. Colin Keane booked for the 4-year-old and he’s expected to go close here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A winner yesterday with Valleres winning on his hurdle debut at Wetherby.

Curragh

1:00 – Rosie Bassett – 7/4 @ Bet365 – Showed plenty of early speed on her racecourse debut at the Curragh 19-days ago, just finding a stronger stayer to good over 6f. The drop back to 5f should suit and she’s the one to beat.

Carlisle

12:20 – Gortroe Joe – 4/1 – Gen – Struggled over hurdles for Dan Skelton last season which means the 8-year-old has dropped to a handy mark. First run for Fergal O’Brien who is 6 winners from 21 runners 29% with his runners in the past 14-days.

Tramore

1:10 – Gabbys Cross – 6/4 @ Paddy Power – Impressed when winning a point in the April 2019. No real form on three starts last season but returns over a shorter trip and with the hood fitted for the first time. Better expected today in what looks a weak maiden.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Wetherby

3:35 – Valleres – 3/1 @ William Hill – Won a point in Ireland before joining Alan King. Satisfactory first start for new yard in a Kempton bumper in February. Hurdle debut today and should be suited by today’s distance.

5:45 – Proschema – 2/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – A useful middle-distance handicapper on the flat when with Tom Dascombe. Just the three starts over hurdles for Dan Skelton and won over C&D last November. Lesser show back here on his next start. First run since which suggests something was amiss that day. Looks on a competitive mark for his handicap hurdle debut.

Punchestown

4:00 – Bishops Quarter – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – First start for new trainer today and the 8-year-old’s first run for 385-days. In what looks a poor race he should go close for the powerful Gordon Elliott/Jamie Codd combination.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Leicester

5:35 – Fannie By Gaslight – 11/2  @ Paddy Power & Sky Bet – Looked in need of a stronger stamina test when 7^th of 10 at Chester last time. That performance cam on good ground and all the 5-year-old’s best performance’s have come on good soft or soft ground. Better can be expected with Silvestre De Sousa 1-1 on the mare in the plate.

Wolverhampton

7:00 – Zafaranah – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A previous three-time course winner, including C&D, for her previous trainer. The 6-year-old shaped much better on her second start for new trainer Stella Barclay when 6^th of 14 at Chelmsford 3-days ago. Provided the quick turnaround isn’t an inconvenience she can go well returned to her favourite venue.  

Newcastle

6:45 – Mostawaa – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Haydock back in June off 4lb. The 4-year-old has remained in form on the turf since, just touched off by a nose back at Haydock two starts back, and when finishing 4^th of 15 at Goodwood 20-days ago. Return to the tapeta shouldn’t pose a problem as the gelding is a previous C&D winner.

Cheers

John  

Hi all,

No winners yesterday but hopefully better today.

Yarmouth

3:23 – Stallone – 5/1 @ William Hill – Allthree of the selections career wins have come on heavy and he ran well again on that sort of going when 3^rd of 8 at Leicester 6-days ago. That was over 6f and the previous C&D winner should be suited by today’s slightly stiffer test. Osin Murphy stays in the saddle and he shouldn’t be far away.

Musselburgh

4:00 – Boudica Bay – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The 5-year-old is 3-6 over C&D and is suited by good or good to soft going. Last win came at Redcar in July of 2lb higher. All five career wins have come in Class 6 company 5-12 (0-16 in Class 5 or better). She disappointed on firm ground at Bath last time but a return to her favourite course can see a better performance from the mare. Need to break well to take advantage of her high draw.

Wolverhampton

8:00 – Maiden Castle – 13/2 @ Bet365 – The lightly raced 4-year-old gained his first success at the seventh attempt when winning here 13-days ago. Up 4lb in the weights but remains open to further improvement. Drops back a furlong in trip but that shouldn’t be too much of inconvenience provided he gets a good tow into the race.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sorry for the lateness of today’s email due to Microsoft Word issues.

Lone Eagle’s win at Newmarket made it a small profit on the day on Saturday. Today’s selections are from Goodwood & Newton Abbot.

Goodwood

2:25 – Farasi Lane – 7/2 – Coral & Bet365 – Put in an improved effort on his first start after a gelding operation. When doing best of those who came from off the pace on his last starts at Newbury 23-days ago. Heavy ground is an unknown but his pedigree suggests he should handle it.  

5:00 – George Of Hearts – 8/1 @ William Hill –  Isn’t the most consistent of horses and hasn’t shown to much on either start this season. However, we know he goes very well on testing ground and is just 2lb higher than when winning at Newmarket (heavy) last November.

Newton Abbot

3:15 – Sunset Showdown – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner on good ground last summer the 7-year-old put in a career best effort when beaten ½ length by Tobefair at Cheltenham last October of today’s mark. Not so good, although not disgraced, on two subsequent and the last one came in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham festival. Stays well, handles the going and if ready to roll for the first time since March should go close for trainer Rebecca Curtis who is among among the winners.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Thankfully Saffron Beach was able to put a stop to the latest losing run when winning at Newmarket on Friday. Today’s selections are from Newmarket & York.

Newmarket

1:10 – Inveigle – 8/1 – Gen – Has improved with each of his three starts. Wasn’t suited to the drop back to 5 ½ f at York last time but was doing his best work at the finish. Nursery debut today and probably needs the step up to 7f bring out that bit of improvement required to win off a mark of 75. At least soft ground suits and he shouldn’t be far away.

1:45 – Lone Eagle – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Has won both his last two start at Goodwood & latterly Doncaster and showed he handled soft ground at Goodwood. This has been his target since winning at Goodwood and he should be suited by the step up to 1m 2f.

York

2:35 – Crystal Pegasus – 13/2 @ Paddy Power – Is an improving 3-year-old who bids for the hat trick after wins at Bath & Yarmouth. This is a better race and he’s yet to race on soft (good to soft winner). That said he’s going the right way and shouldn’t be far away of just 4lb higher than last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newmarket & Kempton.

Newmarket

2:25 – Saffron Beach – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Certainly knew what was asked of her when winning on her racecourse debut over C&D. Always in a nice position. She took it up a furlong out and stayed onto strongly for her 14 rivals. It was an impressive success and although she steps up from maiden company, the daughter of New Bay looks a useful prospect.

3:00 – Khaloosy – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – So impressive when winning the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot on his seasonal return. Has been a beaten favourite on his last two starts in Group 3 company. The drop back to 7f could suit the keen going 3-year-old and he’s very a much player on going that should suit.

Kempton

7:15 – Island Warrior – 13/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Returned from a 396-day absence to put in an improved effort when making all to win over C&D 21-days ago. That was the gelding’s first start since wind & gelding operations.  Looks on a competitive mark for his handicap debut, if he can overcome a wide draw in stall 11.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another very poor day for the service. Although as previously I think another winning run isn’t to far away.

Today’s four selections are from Chelmsford, Ayr and Thurles.

Chelmsford

7:00 – A Momentofmadness – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Hasn’t won for two years, but shaped like he retains some of his old ability when finishing 3^rd of 11 at Goodwood back in July.  Disappointed when down the field in the valuable Portland Handicap at Doncaster, a race he won in 2018 and finished runner-up in 2019. He’s edging down to a winnable mark and hopes are pinned on a return to the synthetics – 4 wins from 7 runs +19.50 5 placed.  If the front runner can overcome stall 12, I’m hopeful of a big run from the 7-year-old with William Buick back in the saddle.

Ayr

2:40 – Sienna Dream – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of a soft ground C&D handicap 12 months ago. The mare has been in consistent form this season with form figures 23332. She put in a career best effort on RPR’s when just touched off at Hamilton 37-days ago. Nudged up 1lb, at least she’s in better form than most of her rivals.

Thurles

3:45 – Foreign Legion – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old, a four-time winner at Dundalk broke his maiden tag on grass at the 15^th attempt when winning at Listowel 14-days ago. He seemed to relish his first run on heavy ground at Listowel. Raised 7lb by the handicapper but if the ground eases further today he can go close in his attempt at back to back wins.

4:15 – Brilliant Question – 6/1 @ Bet365 – A ten race maiden but the 3-year-old put in arguably a career best effort when 3^rd of 16 at Limerick (soft to heavy) 27-days ago. Despite being slowly away she was very much in contention and still travelling well coming into the straight. If she can build on that performance she shouldn’t be far away again.

Cheers

John