Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from the Curragh and Chelmsford.

Curragh

4:40 – Micro Manage – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The 4-year-old won both his starts last season and returned to action with an encouraging 3rd of 7 in the St Leger Trial over C&D last time. Needs to have improved further to win this but could well do so and will be a lot sharper today.

Chelmsford

2:55 – Desert Doctor – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Wins more than his fair share on the all-weather – 7 wins from 17 runs 41% +12.3 12 placed 71%, including 2 -3 over C&D. Returns from a 190-day layoff and is big player if fit enough.

3:25 – Cry Havoc – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won a novice auction race here over 6f two starts back. And showed she has started off in handicap company off a competitive mark when runner-up over C&D. Up 6lb for that effort but is a filly going the right way and can win again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It was a frustrating Friday with two close-up second places. Those two go in and the betting bank looks completely different.

If today’s (and tomorrow’s) action doesn’t get your racing pulse going then I don’t know what will. I have four selections from Doncaster & Leopardstown.

Doncaster

3:00 – Molatham – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Beat Wichita over C&D at this meeting last year. Returned action with a decisive win in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Before seemingly finding Group 1 company to hot when only fifth to Pinatubo in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville 62-days ago.  Goes well off a lay off so his absence since Deauville shouldn’t be a negative. Remains a colt with potential.

3:35 – Santiago – 100/30 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power – Didn’t win the strongest of Irish Derby’s. No issues with stamina for the colt as he won the 1m 6f Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. A bit keen when a shade disappointing third behind Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup last time but this track will suit him better than Goodwood and has solid claims.

Leopardstown

3:40 – Van Gogh – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Built on the promise of his racecourse debut when a neck 2nd of 10 in a Group 3 here over 7f. Ran way below that form when only 6^th at the Curragh 21-days ago but the ground was soft that day and a better run can be expected on a sounder surface. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won eight of the last ten running’s of this 1m Group 2 contest.

4:45 – Lancaster House – 11/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Is lightly raced enough to think there is more to come from the 4-year-old. A winner of his first three starts last season before finishing a beaten favourite (13/8) in this race last year. Regained the winning habit when winning a 7f Group 3 at the Curragh on his seasonal return. Before putting up a career best when runner-up to Romanised in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes back at the same venue. Big chance of landing a win, especially on a sound surface.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Indigo Girl put up a good display to win the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster yesterday. Today’s two selections are from Doncaster and Kilbeggan.

Doncaster

3:45 – Laneqash – 6/1 @Bet365 – Won the same Ascot maiden that stablemate Molatham did last year. A good moving colt who will always be at his best on good or quicker ground. Showed a good change of gears to win at Ascot and looks capable of going well stepped into pattern company.

Kilbeggan

5:50 – Mick Charlie – 7/1 @ Paddy Power – A winner here over 2m 4f two starts back and improved again when 2^nd of 15 at Killarney 20-days ago. Nudged up a further 3lb and stepping up to 3m 1f on softish ground asks another question of the 8-year-old but he’s in form and shouldn’t be far away again if his stamina holds out.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Last months winning run seems a lifetime away. Today’s selections are from Doncaster & Haydock.  

Doncaster

1:40 – Nazuna – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked good when winning here over 7f last month. The drop back to 6 ½ f shouldn’t inconvenience as she travelled powerfully through the race. Open to plenty more progress and is the one to beat.

2:20 – Indigo Girl – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won on her racecourse debut at Yarmouth 11-days ago. A half-sister to 1m 4f, Group 1 winner Journey she’s bred to better as a 3-year-old. It was soft ground at Yarmouth but today’s better ground should be fine. She lacks a bit of experience but is an exciting prospect going forward.

Haydock

2:30 – Tacitly – 9/4 @ Bet365 – Looks an improving filly. Runner-up here on her seasonal reappearance she improved to win over C&D 30-days ago. Up 4lb for that success but look capable of more progress with racing for an inform yard.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s the start of the four-day St Leger Festival and I have two selections from Doncaster and one from Kempton.

Doncaster

2:10 – Dakota Gold – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bounced back to form when winning the Beverley Bullet. Before finishing runner-up to an improving 3-year-old at York on Sunday. Two of his career wins have come when running within seven days of his last start so the quick turnaround shouldn’t be a problem.

3:15 – Cloak Of Spirits – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Finished third in this year’s 1000 Guineas and has placed in Group 3 company on her last two starts at Epsom & Deauville. The drop back to 7f should suit and she can gain a well-deserved success if Jubiloso fails to give her running again.

Kempton

2:25 – Itkaann – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The selection showed a liking for C&D when winning on his final juvenile start. Sowed he had trained on from two to three when landing a Lingfield handicap, back on the grass, 31-days ago. Up 7lb for that success but he’s going the right way and can win more races.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A welcome winner yesterday. Just the two for today.

Catterick

2:50 – Alioski – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The first time cheekpieces seemed to have a galvanising effect on the selection when winning a heavy ground Ayr handicap last month. Nudged up 4lb for that success but seemed to win with a bit in hand that day and shouldn’t be far away.

Galway

5:05 – Ideal Pal – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Gowran Park on his seasonal return, off 3lb higher, he’s dropped down to a winnable mark again and wasn’t disgraced when 6^th of 17 in C&D handicap better race at the Galway Festival. That was a stronger race and he’s 7lb higher lower here. Has a handy draw in stall 3 and can win this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The service is going through a rough ride at present. But we have weathered the storm before and will do so again.

Today’s three selections are from Leicester, Perth & Galway.

Perth

4:15 – Bossiney Bay – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Looks to have dropped down to a competitive mark. The mare finished 2^nd of 13 over C&D 8-days ago. She seemed to handle good to soft well enough that day but drying ground would further enhance her claims. The booking of a useful conditional takes off a handy 5lb which could make all the difference.

Leicester

1:50 – Sorbonne – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is still a maiden after seven starts but has improved his RPR’s on each of his four starts since racing’s return. No issues with soft ground when a close-up second at Redcar 9-days ago but won’t mind today’s good to soft surface. A reproduction of his last run should be good enough here.

Galway

5:40 – Lilly Gael – 10/1 – Gen – The selection’s best performance when came when 2^nd of 14 in a handicap at Wexford 12 months ago and the mare looked to be coming back to that level of form when 5^th of 14 at Cork 45-days ago. The first time cheekpieces are applied and if they have the desired effect the 6-year-old shouldn’t be far away.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from York.

York

1:30 – Thibaan – 100/30 – Gen – Looks a typical Sir Michael Stoute improving middle distance handicapper. A tidy winner at Doncaster last month he’s only up 4lb for that success and in a deeper race but he looks capable of more improvement on just his fifth career start.

3:05 – Mr Chua – 7/2 @ Bet365 – A winner at Chester two starts back seemed to improve further for the step up to 2m when making all to win at Lingfield 4-days ago. Unexposed of staying trips. The 4-year-old has a 5lb penalty to carry for his Lingfield success which shouldn’t stop him, if in the same form as last time.

3:40 – Royal Content – 5/1- Gen – A winner at Southwell over 6f, 12 months ago. Looks to have improved nicely from two to three. Runner-up on his seasonal return at Haydock in June. He went one better at the same venue on his last start. Both those wins came over 5f but he should be just as effective over 6f.  Nudged up 5lb for his last success. The lightly raced 3-year-old is going the right way and should go close if as effective on a quicker surface.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Friday didn’t go as planned. With only one of the three selections running as expected. Today’s selections are from.

Ascot

3:05 – My Frankel – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I think the selection could be the proverbial Group horse in a handicap.   Just the one start as juvenile behind Palace Pier and returned to action this season when beating recent Salisbury winner Nasraawy in a Leicester maiden. Improved for the step to 1m 4f when winning a Kempton novice under a penalty. It was a strong race at Kempton and has been given top weight for his handicap debut but he can win this before going onto better things.

Haydock

3:25 – Hello Youmzain – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won this 12 months ago on soft ground and looks to have solid claims of back to back wins now the ground has come in his favour. Winner of the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot on his seasonal return. Just got outstayed by Space Blues in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 6 ½ f last time and looks set for a big run.

4:35 – Imperial Command – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Improved to win a soft ground C&D handicap two starts back. The drop back to 7f and a modest early gallop didn’t help the 3-year-old at Goodwood 8-days ago. Just 4lb higher than his C&D win he should give us a good run for our money.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After a bit of a losing run it was good to get a win yesterday with Nasraawy. Today’s selections run at Haydock and Thirsk.

Haydock

4:55 – Finoah – 3/1 – Gen – Made it 2 from 2 over C&D when winning here last August off 3lb higher.  Both those wins came on heavy going so underfoot conditions are no problem for the 4-year-old. Both runs this season have come on good to firm to a return to softer ground is in his favour.  Has dropped to a winnable mark.

Thirsk

2:20 – Dawaaween – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Put in a career best when 2^nd off 11 to an improving filly at York 15-days ago. Has won on good to soft, so there shouldn’t be any problem with the going and although she may be slightly better over a mile, 7f also suits as she showed last time and looks the one to beat here.

3:30 – Arch Moon – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Looked a handicapper worth following when running onto strongly for six rivals at Haydock back in June. Couldn’t back that effort up back at the same venue when only 6^th of 8, when stepped up to 1m 2f back at the same venue. Returns from a 62-day lay off but goes well fresh and handles ease in the ground.  Remains capable of better and the yard is among the winners.

Cheers

John