Author: John Burke

Hi all,

The poor run continues but I remain confident that we will soon go on a winning run like we did on the first month of racings resumption from lockdown.

Today’s selections are from Newmarket & Salisbury.

Newmarket

2:25 – Indie Angel – 11/4 @ Bet365 – A winner on her third start as a 2-year-old at Chelmsford last December, showed he was as effective on the grass when beaten a nose at Doncaster (good to firm) 11-days ago. Can race off the same mark here and if as effective on an easy surface, dam won on good to soft which is encouraging, she’s the one to beat.

Salisbury

7:45 – Woodhouse – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Was sent off the 11/8 favourite for her handicap debut 27-days ago. The filly wasn’t suited by the slow early gallop that day but was doing her best work at the finish. The daughter of Kingman will surely win a handicap off her present mark of 73.

8:45 – Rudy Lewis – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection broke his maiden tag at the eighth attempt when dead heating for first at Wolverhampton on his seasonal return last month. Showed he was effective on turf last season when beaten just a short head at Thirsk last Summer. Takes a big step up in distance but if he stays should go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A welcome winner yesterday with Al Aasy winning at Newmarket. Here’s hoping we can continue the winning habit with another one or two today.  I have selections from Newmarket and Market Rasen.

Newmarket

12:10 – Group One Power – 2/1 @ Bet365 – Didn’t get the best of runs when 4^th of 17 in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, with a better passage would have finished much closer to the winner. He was doing his best work at the finish and has more races in him.

4:10 – One Master – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Is probably slightly better at 7f but she’s got a great turn of foot, if produced at the right time, as she showed when winning the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp last October. A neck second in this 12 months ago she gets her favoured soft ground today and she will be all the better for recent reappearance in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Market Rasen

2:40 – Bags Groove – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 9-year-old is having his first run for 463-days. A decent novice chaser when last seen in action winning Grade 2 contests at Wincanton & Kempton.  Has won four times on good to soft and his form figures on good are 111211. First run since a wind-op and looks set for a big run if over what kept him off the track for over a year. Big weight to carry but can win this if retaining his old ability.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Whichever way you slice and dice it the service is going through a rough patch at present, the worst since before the Cheltenham Festival, and the losing run is a slight worry. However, I’m confident we’ll soon come out of it, as we have done in the past.

Yesterday the rain at Newbury was not to the liking of a couple of the selections. Today’s selections are from York and Newmarket.

York

3:15 – Juan Elcano – 15/2 @ Bet365 – It’s strange to see the Dante being run in July and after the Derby. The unbeaten Highest Ground is an odds-on favourite to follow up his recent impressive Haydock success. However, I’m going to take him on with the selection. A useful 2-year-old who’s suited by some ease in the ground. Ran a cracker to finish 5^th in the 2000 Guineas but ran below that form when only 4^th to Russian Emperor at Royal Ascot.  Was a bit too keen that day and if he settles better should get 1m 2f. Maybe the Ascot run came to soon after the Guineas and if it did a short break should have freshened up the colt who’s better than he was able to show last time.

Newmarket

2:25 – Al Aasy – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Is very highly regarded and bounced back from an underwhelming seasonal return when running out an easy winner of a novice race on the other course 21-days ago. He seemed to appreciate the soft ground that day and any ease in the ground will be in his favour. This is a big step up in class for the colt but he remains an improving colt who can rate much higher.

4:10 – Alounak – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Is another who will appreciate softer under foot conditions. The 5-year-old was a useful middle-distance performer when trained in Germany and showed what he was capable of in this sort of company when 2^nd of 9 in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Capable of going close on suitable going.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Yet another second yesterday. That’s one each day for the last three days. if two of those had have won the betting bank would be look a lot better. Time to go one better today.

Today’s four selections are from Newbury’s twilight card.

Newbury

5:10 – Circus – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – The daughter of Iffraaj made a promising racecourse debut when 3^rd of 9 at Newmarket 34-days ago. Will be sharper for that run and can put her experience to good use here.

6:10 – Historic – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Put in an improved effort on his handicap debut when 3^rd of 6 at Chelmsford three weeks ago. Step up to a mile should bring out more improvement in the 3-year-old who gets the addition of the first time cheekpieces.

8:10 – Dubai Quality – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Built on the promise of her Wolverhampton debut when showing a good attitude to win a Kempton maiden 15-days ago. Despite top weight here she’s capable of more improvement stepping up to 1m 2f for her handicap debut.

8:40 – Kings Royal Hussar – 13/2 @ Bet365 – The selection remains a maiden after 14 starts on the flat & jumps however he has ability and wasn’t disgraced when 5^th of 11 at Doncaster on his first run since a wind operation 12-days ago. Steps up 3 ½ furlong in distance here and if he stays shouldn’t be far away at the finish.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Pontefract, Newton Abbot & Killarney.

Pontefract

3:55 – Golden Apollo – 4/1 @ Bet365 –  A previous C&D winner during a productive 3-year-old campaign. He went just over two years between wins before landing the Ayr Silver Cup last September, off 5lb lower. Ran respectably when 8^th in the Silver Wokingham on his seasonal return and should be sharper for that run.

Newton Abbot

4:50 – Templepark – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection seemed to improve for the switch to the Fergal O’Brien stable last season winning at Wincanton in November. Normally a decent jumper he was still in contention when falling two out at Kempton back in February. Likes a sound surface and if fit enough can make a winning return.

Killarney

6:00 – Kaiser Black – 4/1 @ William Hill – Only ran once last season when well beaten in a heavy ground Grade 2 Chase at Gowran Park. He’s a much better horse on a sounder surface, form figures 112 on good ground, and ended the 2018-19 season finishing runner-up La Bague Au Roi in Grade 1 at Leopardstown before going on to win a Naas Grade 3. A reproduction of those efforts would see the 9-year-old go close and he goes well fresh.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Montatham held onto win at Sandown to further enhance the Hunt Cup form.  Just a shame Society Lion came up against an improver at Doncaster and had to settle for second. Just the two selections today from Ayr & Windsor.

Ayr

1:40 – Muscika – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection has yet to win on his ten starts with soft in the going description but has placed on four occasions, including when runner-up in the Sky Bet Dash at York, on soft ground, 12 months ago. He can now race of 6lb lower and shaped like a return to the winner’s enclosure was close to hand when 2nd of 13 at Doncaster 6-days ago. This looks a slightly easier and reproduction of last seasons best form would be more than good enough.

Windsor

6:45 – Aquileo – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – Shaped with promise on each juvenile starts last year and built on that promise when 2^nd of 10 at Haydock on his handicap debut 28-days ago. The step up to 1m 2f suited him and he should stay today’s extra 1 ½ f and is open to a more improvement.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I think yesterday’s three selections are still running.  Today I have selections from Doncaster and Sandown.

Doncaster

2:50 – Society Lion – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Built on the promise of his racecourse debut when winning a heavy ground maiden at Yarmouth on his final start as a 2-year-old. Was sent of the 3/1 favourite for his handicap debut at Newbury 23-days ago but raced too keenly and faded into 4^th inside the final furlong. Should be better for that run and the drop back to 7f looks a positive for the colt who remains capable of more progress this season.

4:00 – Count D’orsay – 100/30 – Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection was an improving handicap sprinter over 5f last autumn. He shaped with promise on his seasonal return at Newmarket but didn’t see out the stiff 6f in the Silver Wokingham at Royal Ascot. Return to the minimum trip is a plus and any further easing in the ground enhances his chance here.

Sandown

3:00 – Montatham – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Had looked much improved for the winter gelding operation when winning a Newmarket handicap on his return to action. He maintained that improvement in finishing runner-up to Dark Vision in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, despite not having the best track position. At the revised weights has a good chance of finishing ahead of his old rival today and is open to more improvement of the pair.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Galata Bridge saved the day when winning the last at Wolverhampton last evening.  Today’s selections are from Haydock, Naas and Chelmsford’s evening card.

Haydock

4:25 – Arch Moon – 11/4 @Bet365 – Improved on all three starts as a juvenile and made a winning seasonal return here on his handicap debut 26-days ago. The handicapper has raised the 3-year-old just 4lb for that success and there should be more to come from the gelding for the step up to 1m 2f. Looks set for another win.

Naas

4:40 – Toronto – 5/1 @ Paddy Power – Aidan O’Brien has a decent record with his 3-year-old handicappers at the track and happy to go with Toronto here. The selection, a winner of a Leopardstown maiden just over a year ago. Raced in Group company for the race of last season and finished fourth in a Group 3 on his seasonal reappearance at 22-days ago. Drops back to a mile but even off top-weight looks on a workable mark for his handicap debut.

Chelmsford

7:40 – Goodwood Rebel – 6/1 @ Paddy Power – The 3-year-old might be an eight-race maiden but he’s shaped well enough on both starts for new trainer William Knight to think there is handicap in the gelding off his present mark. Normally held up, if he gets a good gallop to chase has got a good chance of losing his maiden tag.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Haydock & Wolverhampton.

Haydock

1:30 – Show Palace – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The softer the ground the better for this dual C&D winner. Hasn’t shown much in two starts this season but the cheekpieces missing since his return to action are back on and he’s 1lb below his last winning mark.

Wolverhampton

8:00 – Shepherd’s Purse – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Might be a veteran but the 8-year-old won twice last year, including over C&D last October, off 2lb lower. Should be sharper for his recent Beverley run and shouldn’t be far away at the finish.

8:30 – Galata Bridge – 6/4 @ Paddy Power & Sky Bet – Interesting that Jim Crowley stays around to ride this son of Golden Horn. The 3-year-old shaped with encouragement when 2^nd of 8 in a Newbury novice three weeks ago. He’s bred to improve with racing and should like the step up to 1m 4f for his handicap debut.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Yesterday was disappointing with a just a second placed effort.

Having looked at today’s racing I can’t find any solid betting opportunities.

Cheers

John