Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Another frustrating runner-up yesterday as Global Acclamation had victory snatched away in the shadow of the post at Wolverhampton, after looking the winner when going clear inside the final furlong.

A rare four selection day but it could easily have been six. Today’s selections are from Kempton & Wolverhampton.

Kempton

1:15 – Golden Bear – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Was quietly fancied for a Class 2 Goodwood nursery 13-days ago but he was badly hampered at the start and could never competitive. He’s better than he was able to show that day and looks on workable mark dropping back in to Class 5 company today.

4:55 – My Frankel – 100/30 @ Paddy Power – Shaped with promise on his only juvenile start behind Palace Pier at Sandown last August. Despite being a shade keen after a 300-day absence he ran out a decisive winner of a Leicester maiden in June. He remains open to plenty of improvement and connections patience can be rewarded.

Wolverhampton

5:35 – Absolutio – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Made his Wolverhampton debut a winning one when landing a 6f handicap 17-days ago. He travelled strongly through the race that day and the drop back to 5f shouldn’t be a problem for the selection. Up 3lb in a deeper race but he looks sure to give his running again.

6:40 – Quaint – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection remains a maiden after seven starts but looks capable of winning a race. Hampered at the start at Lingfield 12-days ago and didn’t get the best of runs two out she did well to finish as close as she did in third. Should be in the mix if taking to the tapeta surface.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The Richard Fahey trained In Paradise did the business for us yesterday at Leicester to give us a tidy profit on the day.

It’s anyone’s guess whether the thunderstorms will arrive at Haydock today. This makes punting at the Lancashire venue tricky unless you know what the weather is doing.

Anyway, I’m hopeful there’s a winner amongst today’s three selections.

Perth

6:10 – Trongate – 9/2 @Bet365 – Is hardly a winning machine just 1 win from 21 starts over hurdles but he’s consistent enough. Returned from a 146-day break with another solid effort when 2^nd of 9 over C&D three weeks ago. Usually needs a run and should be sharper today.

Haydock

4:25 – Top Class Angel – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Has improved her RPR’s on each of her five starts and posted a career best when winning at Newmarket 18-days ago. Seemed to relish the mile that day, so the drop back to 7f might not be a positive but the good to firm ground will be. Up 5lb for her last success but there could be more to come from this progressive filly.

Wolverhampton

5:15 – Global Acclamation – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection was having his first start for Patrick Chamings when down the field at Bath 20-days ago. He should be sharper today and the return to the all-weather suits, best RPR for previous yard came here over 6f last year. Stays 7f, has a decent enough draw and looks capable of going close if at his best.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sonaiyla went oh so close in the Group 3 at the Curragh yesterday but sadly Glenties ran another poor race. Today’s selections are from Southwell and Leicester.

Southwell

1:15 – Thomas Shelby – 9/2 @ Bet365 – A winner over fences at Huntingdon last December made a pleasing return to action when second at Uttoxeter 25-days ago. He should be sharper for that run and given he’s only had five starts over fences remains capable of a bit more progress over the larger obstacles.

Leicester

2:00 – In Paradise – 7/1 @Bet365 & Ladbrokes – The selection made a promising racecourse debut over 7f at Newcastle. Found things happening a bit too quick over 6f at Pontefract last time. The return to 7f should suit for her nursery handicap debut and a mark of 68 looks workable.

3:30 – One Night Stand – 3/1 @ Paddy Power – Bounced back to form when finding just an improver to good over C&D 8-days ago. Races off the same mark today and reproduction of his last run would see him go close again.

Cheers

John

Hi all.

Two seconds on Saturday and one winner on Saturday. That one winner gave the service the profitable day which is all that matters.

Today’s selections are the Curragh and Windsor.

Curragh

3:40 – Sonaiyla – 13/2 @ Ladbrokes – Is an improving filly who has won both her starts this season. A winner of a big field handicap here over 7f last time. The drop back to 6f won’t inconvenience the filly who deserves to take her chance in Group company and hopefully hasn’t reached her class ceiling just yet.

5:55 – Strongbowe – 15/2 – Gen – It might be worth chancing the lightly race Strongbowe here. The 4-year-old made a winning seasonal return at Roscommon back in June. Sent off the 11/4 favourite for his handicap debut at Leopardstown but could never get competitive from a wide draw and eventually finished 8^th of 15. A mark of 84 looks workable and better can be expected today.

Windsor

4:55 – Glenties – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Looked an improving middle distance handicapper when coming from behind to win over C&D two starts back. Tactics changed last time as he went from the front when 7/2 favourite for a Class 2 handicap at Goodwood 11-days ago. Surely better than he was able to show last time and drops back into Class 4 company here. Trainers runners can often bounce back from a poor run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Gypsy Whisper got the service back in the among the winners on Friday. Today there are three selections from Ascot & Newmarket.

Ascot

4:10 – Shandoz – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Shaped with promise on his first two juvenile starts before overcoming a poor run to win at Wolverhampton last September.  First run for 322 days but he’s bred to appreciate the step up to middle distances and can go well on his handicap debut if handling today’s quick ground.

4:45 – Princess Power – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – The selection won at Doncaster over 5 ½ f last June and she’s also 3 wins from 10 runs 30% +37 6 placed 60% on good to firm going. Last time out was slowly away at Sandown but finished her race off nicely to take third. Might be better over 6f but it’s a stiff 5f and she seems to be coming to form at the right time

Newmarket

5:10 – Harrovian – 7/2 @ Coral & Bet365 – Never get involved in the John Smith’s Cup Handicap (15/2) at York last time. That’s his second poor run at York and better can be expected today back on good to firm ground (form figures 21311). Defied top-weight to win at Doncaster two starts and although he’s 5lb higher here, a 7lb claimer has been booked that helps negate the weight rise.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s three selections are from Sandown.

Sandown

1:45 – Pop Dancer – 9/2 @Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner when trained by Richard Fahey. The 3-year-old got off the mark at the third attempt for Tony Carroll when winning over C&D 17-days ago. Got up in the shadow of the post that day but has only been raised 2lb for that success and shouldn’t be far away again.

2:55 – Crimewave – 5/1 @Bet365 – Mon Choix will be tough to beat here after his easy win at Windsor 4-days ago. However, I’m happy to take a chance on the claims of the selection who finished a close-up 4^th at Newbury last time. That was just the 4-year-old’s second start since February so he looks capable of a bit more progress on turf.

4:35 – Gypsy Whisper – 5/2 @ Bet365 – The 3-year-old’s optimum conditions look to be 7f, on good to firm ground and given she won here over C&D 15-days ago she’s suited to the track. With the all-important course, distance and going boxes ticked she looks capable of going close again despite being 7lb higher now.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

No fireworks yesterday as the two turf selections weren’t really suited by the rain that fell during racing.

Today’s selections are from Ripon.

Ripon

2:20 – Emerald Ensign – 9/1 @ Bet365 – Has improved with racing and arguably put in a career best effort when runner-up at Catterick 15-days ago. Today’s extra furlong shouldn’t be a problem and looks capable of winning a race off her present mark. Handy draw in stall three over a C&D that suits prominent runners.

2:50 – Repetitio – 100/30 – Bet365 – In a race which doesn’t seem to have many front runners it could pay to be ridden handy. I’m hoping that Repetitio will take advantage of a good draw in stall 2. The selection a useful handicap hurdler last season has returned to action on the flat in good form. A winner over today’s trip at Chepstow two starts back. He improved on that effort when runner-up at Haydock 19-days ago. Up 3lb but the return to 2m suits and he could get the race run to suit.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Two winners from yesterday’s Catterick selections and the third selection did well to finish third at Southwell. Softening of the ground at Ayr has complicated things slightly today as I had three lined up for the Scottish venue.

Wexford

2:30 – Double Windsor – 6/1 @ Paddy Power – Hasn’t exactly got an exciting profile just 1 win from 30 runs over hurdles. However, he’s improved with each of his three starts since returning from a winter break. Last time out the 8-year-old beat all bar an improver at Cork 12-days ago. The handicapper has raised him 4lb for that success which makes life tougher but the booking of 7lb conditional Eoin Walsh keeps the selection on a winnable mark. His best form has come here, two career wins here, both over fences, and his last five form figures at the venue are 13142. Looks sure to give his running for an inform yard.

Ayr

3:10 – Inductive – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Looks to have a decent chance of back to back C&D wins here. The 3-year-old has returned to action in good form and seemed to respond to the fitting of the first-time blinkers when getting up in the last strides here 23-days ago. Really soft ground is a slight unknown but at least it should bring his stamina into play, as will the forecast strong pace as he seemed to need every yard of the 7f last time.

Lingfield

7:05 – Sea Of Marmoon – 11/4 @ Bet365 – A winner at Newcastle on her seasonal return in June she didn’t seem to get away when up to 1m 6f at Yarmouth on her next start juts six days later. Much better when 2^nd of 8 at Newmarket 12-days ago. Up 3lb but she’s only had the five career starts and is open to a bit more improvement.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Catterick & Southwell,

Catterick

2:45 – The Navigator – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Is a consistent handicapper in this grade, having finished third on his last four starts. Tries a new trip here but seemed to stay 1m 5f at Hamilton well enough two starts back so the extra furlong shouldn’t be a problem. The forecast strong pace will suit this hold up performer who won’t be far away again.

3:15 – Excessible – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has dropped back down to a tempting mark. Had them all going from the front two furlongs out in a Class 4 handicap at York 10-days ago before tiring inside the final furlong and finishing 4th of 13. He’s probably a better horse at the minimum trip but this is an easy six furlongs and he drops back into Class 6 company here. Has a handy draw in stall 3 and he can hopefully make his class tell. 

Southwell

8:30 – Love The Well – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Trainer Alex Hales has his horses in fantastic form 3 winners from 6 runners 50% in the past 14-days. And he could have another winner here with the selection. The 9-year-old ran a cracker on his stable debut when a running on 3^rd of 12 at Market Rasen 15-days ago. That was his first run for 335-days so he’s entitled to be sharper and can land break his maiden tag at the 19^th attempt.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Three selections today from Haydock, Yarmouth & Windsor.

Haydock

1:45 – Red Derek – 9/2 @ Paddy Power & Coral – A lightly raced 4-year-old but still a maiden after seven starts. However, he shaped like on a winnable mark when 2^nd of 10 over C&D 16-days ago. Just 1lb higher here and can close again.

Yarmouth

5:30 – Madam Tantzy – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selections sole win has come on the all-weather but she’s just as effective on turf as she showed when putting in a career best effort, beaten a neck into second, at Newmarket 10-days ago. Nudged up 3lb, Georgia Dobie takes off a handy 5lb, but the filly can still race in 0-70 company today. Looks best suited to quick ground and shouldn’t be far away.

Windsor

6:45 – Alibaba – 7/2 @ Ladbrokes – Has clearly improved from two to three as evidenced by his last two wins, including a career best when making all to win over C&D 35-days ago. Up 6lb for his last success but will be hard to pass if he gets another uncontested lead.

Cheers

John