Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Well yesterday didn’t go as planned.  Today I have selections from Ayr and Southwell.

Ayr

2:10 – Rum Runner – 8/1 @Bet365 – Has yet to find his form for present connections but last time out there was support in the market for the 5-year-old. He ran to keen in the first time cheekpieces at Beverley 12-days ago (now removed) before finishing 8^th of 10. Looks interesting now dropped back to sprint distances, for the first time since his racecourse debut and is 7lb below last seasons winning mark.

2:40 – Stronsay – 7/1 @ Bet365 – The selection has been knocking on the door in handicaps, including when 4^th over C&D three starts back. Got stuck in the mud when last of seven back here 19-days ago. Return to a sounder surface in his favour and he capable of being in the mix on previous efforts this season.

Southwell

5:00 – Dream Machine – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Hasn’t really built on the promise of his Bangor maiden hurdle win last June. Had a breathing issue after 9^th of 12 at Uttoxeter 32-days ago. Has had a breathing operation since and gets the first-time tongue tie today. Tom Scudamore who rode him to his only win is back in the saddle and he looks worth chancing for a yard among the winners.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Wins by Live In The Moment & Dean Street Doll made it a profitable Saturday and clawed back some of the recent losses.

Today’s selections are from Sandown & Naas.

Sandown

3:05 – Quadrilateral – 6/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – A Group 1 winning juvenile the filly was sent off the 11/4 favourite for the 1000 Guineas. She finished 3^rd of 15 in that race and then occupied the same position in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Has been given a break to freshen up and her sights lowered into Listed company here. Has been given a good opportunity to get her career on track and I will be disappointed if she can take it. Anything above evens looks fair enough to me.

3:40 – King Vega – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ran with plenty of promise when 2^nd of 10 to race fit Godolphin horse over C&D 21-days ago. The front two pulled clear of the rest. The son of Lope De Vega should be fine on the good to soft ground and looks sure to improve for his racecourse debut. Trainer Andrew Balding saddled the winner of this race in 2016.

Naas

4:30 – Not Now Zeb – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Won here over 5f last season and has taken his form to a new level winning at Navan & the Curragh. Up 6lb for the latter of those wins 28-days ago. He came from a long way back to get up close home at the Curragh. A stiff finish and juice in the ground seem his optimum conditions and the way he raced last time suggests he need 6f now. A good apprentice takes off a handy 3lb and the selection should make a bold bid for the hat trick here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Enbihaar ended a short losing run but I disappointed I opted for Yazaman, ahead of Minzaal, in the Gimcrack Stakes.

On to Saturday and I really couldn’t split my shortlisted horses so I have 5(Five) selections from you today from York, Sandown & Chelmsford.   

York

4:10 – Ben Macdui – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The selection won a Hamilton novice on his racecourse debut and improved to run Steel Bull to ¾ of length in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. He showed plenty of pace at Goodwood and should be suited by York’s 5f.

5:10 – Live In The Moment – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has returned to action in good form with form figures 121. The first of those wins came on at Wolverhampton and he showed he was just as effective on turf when winning over C&D last month. Today’s forecast strong pace should suit and he won’t be far away at the finish.

Sandown

2:05 – New Chapter – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The daughter of Invincible Spirit’s dam was Group 2 winner so she’s bred to be a good horse. Didn’t beat much when winning Ayr maiden (good to soft) 25-days ago but looks on a workable mark for her handicap debut and can go close.

2:40 – Dean Street Doll – 13/2 @ Bet365 – A useful 3-year-old whenracing in Ireland, winning at Limerick before finishing runner-up in a Group 3 and finishing 5^th in the Irish 1000 Guineas. Has been running well for her new yard and last time out was a good 3^rd of 8 at Goodwood. The slightly easier ground should be in her favour and she should go well here. It’s worth noting her trainer David Menuisier is 3 winners from 7 runners 43% +5 6 placed 86% when combining with jockey Sean Levey and his record in Sandown handicaps is a healthy 11 winners from 27 runners 41% +40.60 17 placed 63% in the past 5-years.

Chelmsford

7:25 – Society Lion – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Madeit 2 from 5,despite running keenly and having to overcome a wide draw at Goodwood last time. Handicapper has only raised the 3-year-old 5lb for that success which isn’t to harsh and he’s open to further progress. All -weather debut, his half-brother won round here, and if handles the new surface should be up to winning this from a handy draw in stall 3.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Need to break the losing run today and hopefully we can.

York

2:15 – Enbihaar – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – The step up to 2m shouldn’t stop the selection winning this. The mare has a likeable profile and looks ready for today’s new distance. The only thing that will stop her is the ground. Good is fine, good to firm is even better. Good to soft and even soft would be slight concerns. That said I still think she follow in the hoof prints of stablemate Stradivarius who has won the last two renewals of the race.

2:45 – Yazaman – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Minzaal looks a smart juvenile prospect but the selection who has finished runner-up to the Tactical at Royal Ascot and the Group 2 July Stakes has the form in the book to win this. The Kodiac colt was unfortunate to come up against arguably the best English trained juvenile we have seen so far this season in Supremacy at Goodwood last time. He sets the standard that they all must beat.

Wolverhampton

7:05 – Earth And Sky – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Both her career wins have come on the all-weather but the top-weight has placed form around here and has been running well in better races on turf on her last two starts. Drop back a furlong in trip will suit and she should get a good pace to chase which will enable her to come with a late winning run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Not the best of starts to the week. Today’s selections are from York and Chester.

York

3:45 – Sea Of Faith – 9/2 @ Bet365 –  Has to give weight to some improving 3-year-old’s but the lightly raced 4-year-old is only having her sixth career start. She impressed when winning a valuable handicap at Salisbury (good to soft). That was a career best effort and there should be more to come from her this season. Seems suited to some ease in the ground and although this is her first start for 371-days she shouldn’t be far away.

Chester

4:25 – Duke Of Firenze – 12/1 @ Paddy Power – I’m going to take a chance with the veteran who has been knocking on the door on recent starts off his declining mark. Stall 9 isn’t great but he will be dropped in to come with a late run. The 11-year-old needs a strong pace to chase  and some luck in the run and if gets them is too well handicapped to ignore.

5:25 – Hereby – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Was a rapidly improving filly last season winning her last four starts, including a 1m 6f Listed race at Ascot in October. Probably in need of the run when 3^rd of 5 in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks on her return to action. The softening ground has come at the right time for the 4-year-old and she can go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A disappointing run, given the market confidence, by Mutalahef at Kempton yesterday evening. Today’s three selections are from Day 1 of York’s Ebor Festival.

York

2:15 – Darvel – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Ran like he will appreciate today’s 7f when winning at Ayr last month. Highly regarded by trainer Kevin Ryan, he can go close if handling today’s slightly slower surface.

2:45 – Darain – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Comes into the race seeking the hat trick after wins at Newbury & Newmarket. Both those successes came over 1m 4f. There are mixed messages on breeding as to whether he will stay 1m 4f but he’s a progressive, ground versatile 3-year-old who can give John Gosden a third winner in the race since 2017.

3:15 – Lord North – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Top rated Ghaiyyath had made all to win the Coronation Cup & Eclipse and will take some pegging back here. if there is one who could beat him it’s the selection who won last year’s Cambridgeshire and has improved from three to four to win a Group 3 at Haydock and latterly won the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. The gelding missed the Eclipse to come here a fresh horse and his turn of foot could prove decisive.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I have had a few issues with the Wifi this morning so just the one selection today.

Kempton

7:30 – Mutalahef – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection shaped with promise on his racecourse debut at Lingfield last December when 2^nd of 12. He hasn’t been seen out since that run but looks capable of winning races. Stall 11 could be better and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the pre-race market.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A nice double on Friday. Today looks tougher and the weather complicates matters further. Let’s hope we can go into the break with a winner.

Today’s selections are from Newmarket & Doncaster.

Doncaster

5:40 – Thibaan – 5/1 @ Bet365 – No match for Frankly Darling on his seasonal return at Newcastle. Beaten at 2/9 at Leicester last time but to early to write off after his previous promise. Handicap debut today for an inform trainer and who’s runners at Doncaster always need respecting.

Newmarket

4:25 – Clinician – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The daughter of Kingmanhas shaped with promise on each of her two career starts. Open to further progress on her handicap debut, off what looks a competitive mark.

5:00 – Expressionism – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The 4-year-old just had the four career starts. A winner at Kempton she ended 2019 with an excellent 4^th in a Listed race at Lingfield. She also finished runner-up in a Listed race here 14-days ago. Unexposed over 1m 6f and looks interesting on her handicap debut.

Back on Tuesday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A frustrating day as Mr Tyrell got chinned on the line. That’s the second time in the last few days that we have seen one of the selections get caught on the line. If those two had have held on we would have been looking at a nice profit for the week. But that’s horse race betting for you.

Just to let you know I’m taking a few days holiday which means there won’t be any selections on Sunday or Monday.

Right, onto Friday’s selections.

Pontefract

12:15 – Danzart – 9/2 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – Left his Windsor racecourse debut behind when 4^th of 9 at Goodwood 17-days ago. Drop back to a stiff 5f should suit the colt who looks capable of winning a race for a trainer who’s 5-19 26% +15.70 with his juveniles at Pontefract in the past 5-years.

Chester

3:10 – Revich – 5/1 @ Bet365 – A winner over C&D as a juvenile and was a close-up 3^rd of 12 over C&D last September. Just 2lb above his last winning mark and shaped like he was finding his form when 5^th of 12 at Newmarket last month. Looks set for a big run from handy draw in stall 2 and in the first-time visor.

Chepstow

6:35 – Punchbowl Flyer – 6/1 @Bet365 – A winner at Brighton last season.  He returned from a winter gelding operation to finish a close-up 2^nd of 12 at Newbury back in June. Ran to a similar level of form when 3^rd of 5 on his next start at Newmarket before failing to see out 7f last time. The 3-year-old can be a tricky ride but the first time blinkers are applied today for his return to sprinting.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

My Frankel saved the day yesterday and his performance was impressive. That run apart the second win never looked like coming.

Today’s selections are from Bath, Salisbury and Leopardstown.

Bath

4:25 – Mr Tyrrell – 6/1 @ Coral – Was in good form last spring winning at Windsor and over C&D, the latter win came off 4lb higher. Another good run at the course two starts back, when a close-up third behind two of today’s rivals and is weighted to finish in front of those two today. Poor run at Sandown last time but a return to this venue will hopefully see the 6-year-old in a much better light.

Salisbury

2:50 – Kepala – 100/30 – Coral & Ladbrokes – Is a steadily improving filly who has progressed with each start this season. A winner two starts back at Newmarket she then followed up by finishing a short head second at Newbury 25-days ago. Capable of more progress and can win again.

Leopardstown

4:30 – Too Soon To Panic – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Shaped with promise on her three juvenile starts. Has trained on from two to three. A winner of a Cork on her second start this season and improved further when finishing 3^rd of 13 in the Ulster Oaks 20-days ago.  Seemed to stay 1m 2f well enough last time and there could be a bit more to come over this sort of trip.

Cheers

John