Author: John Burke

Hi all.

Today’s four selections are from Nottingham, Kempton and Navan.

Nottingham

1:00 – Rue De La Gaite – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner on the all-weather & soft when trained in France. Best two starts since coming over to England have come at Kempton, including when running on from off the pace to finish 5^th of 13 last month.  A strongly run race on soft ground should suit the 3-year-old and Andrea Atzeni is 5-16 31% when combining with trainer Tom Clover.

Kempton

7:30 – Riot – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Steadily progressive last year before winning a novice over C&D last September. First run for 397-days but we know trainer John Gosden can prepare one off a long layoff and his record with 3-year-old handicappers at the track is – 13-40 33% +27.34 21 placed 53% in the past 5-years.

8:00 – Company Minx – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A winner on turf at Lingfield last season made a pleasing seasonal return when 5^th of 19 at Ascot last month and followed up by finishing third at Lingfield 25-days ago. Stall 11 could be better but the filly looks interesting for the step up to 7f.

Navan

4:55 – Fearless Girl – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Has improved her RPR’s on each of her five career starts. A winner of a Killarney maiden (soft/heavy) two starts back.  Slowly away back at the same venue, she made eyecatching late headway to finish 4^th of 10 on her handicap debut just 3-days ago. Provided this race doesn’t come to quick looks capable of going close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Catterick, Leicester and Lingfield.

Leicester

2:50 – Ainsdale – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Improved for rain softened ground with an October hat trick, 3-3 soft/heavy. Not seen out until finishing 4th of 11 at Haydock 10-days ago. That was promising effort from the 3-year-old who looks capable of winning another race, if he gets soft ground. Trainer form isn’t great at present but he will do for me.

Catterick

2:00 – Outrun The Storm – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Improved for the step into nursery company when coming from the rear to win at Ayr (good to soft) 18-days ago. He was slowly away that day so in the circumstances did well to win. Should be better at 7f and looks the sort to improve with more experience. Trainer Richard Fahey has won this race five times in the past ten years.

Lingfield

4:40 – Thunder Flash – 11/4 @ Bet365 – The selection won a small race C&D two starts back (awarded the race in the stewards’ room) before finishing 3^rd of 15 back in a Windsor handicap last month. Clearly effective over C&D and looks open to a bit more improvement. Given his hold up style he wouldn’t want a slowly run race but provided he gets a good even gallop to chase should go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Kelso, Killarney, and Longchamp. I’m off tomorrow so let’s hope we can sign off with a winner.

Kelso

2:30 – Stay Humble – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Was an encouraging 3^rd of 5 in a Catterick novice chase on just his second start over the larger obstacles back in March. Fitness taken on trust but the 7-year-old looks the sort to progress further now going handicapping for the first time.

Killarney

2:55 – Fearless Girl – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection built on the promise of her 5^th of 18 behind So Wonderful in a Curragh maiden when winning a C&D maiden 46-days ago. The handicapper seems to have underestimated her performance that day as he’s dropped her 2lb since that win. There should be more to come from the filly on her handicap debut and Sam Ewing takes off a handy 7lb.

Longchamp

3:50 – Tawkeel – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Unbeaten on her five career starts, including the Group 1 Prix Saint Alary in June, returned from a 69-day break to win a Group 2 at Deauville on very soft in August. This looks like it’s been her target and she should give favourite Alpine Star most to do.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Both Friday’s selection ran too form although neither ever looked like winning their respective races at Dundalk.

Today’s selections are from Newmarket and Ascot.

Newmarket

2:10- Oti Ma Boati – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection made it 2-2 when seeming to relish soft ground at Goodwood 36-days ago. Steps up to 1m 2f for the first time today but shaped last time like she would stay further than a mile. Very much on the shortlist for an inform yard.

3:20 – Ice Sprite – 4/1 @ Bet365 – On bare form the selection will do well to reverse recent Goodwood placings with Urban Artist. However, Urban Artist made all to win at a slow early gallop that day and the selection who has scope for further improvement will be suited by a better pace to chase and this stiffer track.

Ascot

1:20 – With Thanks – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Takes a big step in class after her recent Catterick novice win but looks worth a chance in pattern company. Lightly raced, the 3-year-old has only had the three career starts winning twice, both on heavy and has the potential for another step forward here in a race which is more open than it looks.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Pink Sheets was a well backed winner for us at Warwick for a small profit to early advised prices.

Storm Alex is on the way and its likely to bring some heavy rain to parts of the UK over the next two days.  Which means I’m going to avoid the turf action and go over to Dundalk for a couple of selections on the all-weather.

Dundalk

7:15 – Irish Ambassador – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old remains a maiden after ten starts but finished close-up in two C&D handicaps in the early part of the year. Returned from a 196-day lay off to finish 4^th of 14 over C&D 14-days ago. Challenged on what looked the unfavoured inner last time so did well to get a close as he did.  There’s a handicap in the gelding off his present mark when all the cards fall right. Which hopefully will be tonight.

8:15 – Eaglemont – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Put in a career best when winning on his handicap debut here 7-days ago. Nudged up 8lb for his last week’s success by the 3-year-old is unexposed on the all-weather and should be suited by the step up to 1m 4f. Looks the one to beat.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Unfortunately, we couldn’t continue maintain the recent winning streak as Master Milliner was cut down in the final 100yds and had to settle for the runners-up spot at Kempton yesterday. Today’s selections are from Warwick and Chelmsford.

Warwick

1:45 – Calum Gilhooley – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A bumper winner has returned from a 525-day absence in great form winning his last two starts over hurdles both at Newton Abbot. Seemed to get away with the drop back to 2m 2 ½ f last time and will be suited to a return to further for his handicap hurdle debut today. Has scope for further improvement and has a good chance of the hat trick.

2:55 – Pink Sheets – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Has improved with each of her three starts this season and made a winning handicap hurdle debut over C&D 10-days ago. Has a 7lb penalty to carry for that success but she’s capable of a bit more improvement in the sphere especially on good ground.

Chelmsford

7:00 – Always Fearless – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Stall 13 has me off last time out C&D winner Khaalis. The selection is better drawn in stall 4. The selections sole career win came in a novice here over 7f last October. Stamina seemed to run out over 1m 2f at Newbury last time and the 3-year-old will be suited by the drop back to a mile. Unexposed on the synthetics and shouldn’t be far away.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Keats kept the winning streak going yesterday. The weather could have a big influence on today’s racing with rain on the way.  It just depends on how much. I have to selections for today running at Nottingham & Kempton.

Nottingham

3:30 – Andaleep – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has been steadily progressive on the flat on his last three starts, all at Sandown. Made it 2-8 on the level when coming form the rear to win a strongly run 1m 2f handicap 19-days ago. Up 4lb for his last success and must prove his effectiveness away from a stiff right-handed track but given his present form, another good run should be forthcoming. He’s wins have come on good and good to soft.

Kempton

8:30 – Master Milliner – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The selection broke his maiden tag at the 7th attempt when running out a comfortable winner at Bath 28-days ago.  Handicapper has raised the 4-year-old 5lb for that success which doesn’t look harsh. The step up 2m should be within his stamina range and he gelding showed he handled the surface when runner-up here last October.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Three from three yesterday which helps to claw back some the previous week’s losses. Today I’m going across the Irish Sea for a couple of selections at Cork.

Cork

2:55 – Knights Of Malta –9/2 @ Paddy Power – Seemed to improve for good ground when 2^nd of 8 at Listowel 7-days ago. If building on that effort can go close here.

4:35 – Keats – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection is a useful colt at his best and was running well in the early part of the season winning two of his first four starts. Bounced back from a couple of lesser efforts when 2^nd of 11 in a Listed race at Listowel last week. Drop back to mile could suit and he looks best of the 3-year-old’s here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another bad day at the office. However, I think another winning run is on the horizon. Today’s selections are from Roscommon, Hamilton and

Roscommon

2:45 – Streets Of Doyen – 4/1 – Gen – An excellent 3^rd of 18 at Punchestown 20-days ago. He made good headway from the rear that day but had been set too much to do and his running was subject to a stewards enquiry. He shaped at Punchestown like he needed a stamina test and should be suited by today’s extended three miles. There’s surely a handicap hurdle in the 6-year-old off his present mark for an inform yard.

Hamilton

3:30 – Mina Velour – 3/1 – Gen – Twice a winner last season when trained by Bryan Smart, now with Julie Camacho. Just the two starts this season for her new yard finishing third at Haydock and Thirsk, 24-days ago. Despite the 4-year-old not exhibiting the best of head carriages at Thirsk I think she can win this 6f handicap for a trainer whose 9-23 +18.70 with her runners at the Scottish track in the past 5-years.

Bath

5:20 – Precisely – 9/2 – Gen – The selection, the least experienced of the 14 runners, has shaped with promise on both starts; here and when runner-up at Wolverhampton (11/10) 19-days ago. Steps up to 1m 2f for her handicap debut but on pedigree she should improve for it. William Buick booked for the ride and I will be disappointed if the filly can’t go close here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The long losing run finally came to end with Strawberry Rock winning at Ripon yesterday. Today’s four selections are from Chester, Nottingham and the Curragh.

Chester

2:25 – Alpine Mistral – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Has been in in great form this season, reeling off four wins on the trot between July & August. Ran almost as well when 2^nd of 10 at Haydock 24-days ago. Nudged up 2lb for that effort but her winning may not have ended just yet.

4:45 – Calculation – 11/2 @ William Hill – Was an improving middle distance handicapper at three when completing last summer. Poor return to action at Newmarket but returned from a short break to finish 2^nd of 12 at Sandown two starts back. Not seen to best effect when 5^th of 8 in a slowly run Mallard Handicap at Doncaster 16-days ago. Takes a slight drop-in class here and should get a good pace to chase.

Nottingham

5:00 – Molly Shaw – 7/2 @ Paddy Power – The selection has improved for stepping into handicap company, winning at Yarmouth and Salisbury 16-days ago. Has been raised just 3lb for that success which seems fair and looks to have a good chance of a hat trick in the hands of Andrea Atzeni.

Curragh

4:50 – Kastasa – 5/2 @ Bet365 – An improving filly last season winning five of her six starts including a valuable handicap at Leopardstown and this Group 3 race 12 months ago. Returned to action with a win in a Gowran Park Listed race in July before finishing 3^rd of 8 in a Naas Group 3 last month. Has tended to run in snatches on both her starts this season so the first-time visor is applied. A good chance of back to back wins in the race.

Cheers

John