Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Its over to Kempton for a couple of selections this evening.

Kempton

7:45 – Merchant Of Venice – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Two C&D wins last of which came in March 2019 off 1lb higher. Has also good placed form over even higher marks here last spring. Has to bounce back from poor turf run at Newmarket 13-days ago but is much better on the all-weather and his well being is better judged on his 4^th of 11 at Newcastle two starts back on his return from a break.

8:45 – My Style – 7/2 – Gen – The 4-year-old, is a five-race maiden but shaped with promise when last seen in action when 3^rd of 16 on his handicap debut, at Newmarket, 319-days ago. Just 1lb higher on his seasonal reappearance and if he takes to the polytrack looks a big player.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The 4/1 advised about Alnaseem did turn out to be an attractive price. As the filly held on for a good win at Yarmouth yesterday.

I couldn’t find any solid betting opportunities today so there are no selections.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sorry for the delay this morning which is down IT issues. Today’s selection is from Yarmouth

Yarmouth

3:00 – Alnaseem – A winner on her handicap debut for previous trainer Luke McJannet, off 3lb lower, last August. She lost her way on three subsequent starts but made a nice reappearance, for new trainer James Ferguson, when runner-up at Windsor 13-days ago. Nudged up 2lb but she shouldn’t be long in going one better if building on that effort. Slight concern she’s been really weak in the market this morning but It now makes her an attractive price.

1pt win – Alnaseem – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes

Cheers

John

Hi all,

When the two Hamdan runners got turned over at Newcastle I feared the worst. However, Limato & Santiago provided us with a nice double and more importantly a solid profit on the day.

Newmarket

1:35 – Lady Bowthorpe – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Showed she had trained on well from three to four when showing a good turn of foot to win at Lingfield 22-days ago. The filly is going the right way and a 4lb rise in the weights doesn’t look harsh. Looks capable of following up here with Ryan Moore booked for the ride.

Windsor

1:55 – Amplify – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Won here over 5f 12 months ago and at Bath, off 4lb lower last August. Was gelded at the end of last season and made an encouraging seasonal return at Kempton 26-days ago. Back to 6f which should suit now and the yard is among the winners.

3:35 – Surf Dancer – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection won two of his first three juvenile starts before finding Group 3 company too hot on his final start of 2019. Was in the process of running a big race on his handicap debut when hampered by the eventual winner in the final 100yds. But for that interference he would probably have finished second. Nudged up a further 3lb but if the step up to a mile can bring out some more improvement, he can win off his present mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A couple of non-runners yesterday but there’s plenty to go at today indeed probably too much in truth.  I have a rare four selections for you today, it could easily have been six, so fingers crossed there is a winner or two among them.

Newcastle

1:15 – Tabdeed – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Lightly raced for his age the 5-year-old made a winning seasonal return last August before finishing 6^th of 10 behind Cape Byron in a Group 3 at Ascot in October.  Has been gelded since his last run and will be suited by the drop back into handicap company here.

1:50 – Mubakker – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Impressed when making it 3 wins from 3 runs on the all-weather when landing a C&D class 2 handicap 25-days ago. Steps up into Group 3 today but is going the right way and is capable of being competitive.

Newmarket

2:40 – Limato – 100/30 @ Coral – Now an 8-year-old Limato clearly isn’t as good as he used to be but as he showed when winning this race 12 months ago, he’s still capable of going well in this class. The likely strong pace will suit and he can win this if fit enough on his return to action.

Curragh

7:15 – Santiago – 11/4 @ Bet365 – The selection made himself a leading contender for the St Leger when winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last week. Quick ground would be a be a slight unknown in this company and back to 1m 4f but if the anticipated heavy showers arrive he’s got a favourites chance of landing yet another Irish Classic for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

We are going through a bit of a poor run and it could be tricky on the weather front today with heavy thundery showers forecast. The problem with showers they can be hit and miss so I’m going to concentrate on horses with proven form on the prevailing ground.

I have selections from Doncaster & Newmarket and the going description at both tracks is good to firm. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways today.

Doncaster

12:15 – Abel Handy – 100/30 @ William Hill –  Has run two good races since joining David O’Meara, including a respectable 2^nd of 11 over 6f at Ripon 6-days ago. Return to 5f should suit and although he showed at Ripon he could be effective on good to soft his very best form has come on a sounder surface. Now 3lb lower than his last winning mark and is very well handicapped.

12:45 – Harome – 100/30 – Is another who has become well handicapped horse.  A winner off 3lb higher at Ayr last June. The 6-year-old relishes fast ground and made a pleasing seasonal reappearance when 6^th of 12 at Haydock 17-days ago. He should be fitter for that run and is a winner in waiting for a yard among the winners.

Newmarket

2:45 – Mia Mento – 11/2 @ Bet365 – The 4-year-old’s sole win came over 6f on a juvenile debut when trained in Ireland. Has shaped with promise on all three starts for her present stable, including when 4^th of 11 over C&D 22-days ago. Hasn’t helped herself on her last two starts by being slowly away but gives of the impression she can win another race when getting a good start.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Yesterday is best forgotten about.

Thursday’s selections are from Haydock and Leicester.

Haydock

4:50 – Overhaugh Street – 8/1 @ Bet365 – The 7-year-old showed he gets 2m when winning at Chester last season.  Dissapointed on softer ground on his final two starts of 2019. First run of the season and the first since a wind operation but the yard is among the winners and the ground is in his favour.

Leicester

6:25 – Stringybark Creek – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Set a very strong pace on seasonal reappearance at Beverley 14-days ago but was just run out of the places in the shadow of the post. That was the 7-year-old’s first start for 141-days so he’s entitled to be sharper today and can go close.

6:55 – Aegeus – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The Jedd O’Keeffe yard has started to hit winning form now and a chance is taken with the selection. Aegeus could only finish third when beaten favourite at Kempton last time. Better expected today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

David’s Beauty (4/1) battled onto win at Chepstow to get the week off to a good start yesterday.

Today offers a realistic chance of a double. Let’s hope I haven’t just given today’s selections the kiss of death.

Haydock

3:40 – Canagat – 11/2 @ Bet365 – A winner of a Kempton maiden last November built on that performance when making all to win a Newcastle on his handicap debut 22-days ago. He showed a good attitude last time when challenged which should hold him in good stead going forward. Steps up to a mile today but should stay on pedigree and was strong at the finish at Newcastle. Nudged up 4lb but he’s going the right way and if he handles turf looks set to go close.

5:20 – My Girl Maggie – 5/4 – Gen – Looked on a winnable mark on her handicap debut when just getting touched of by an improver at Pontefract 9-days ago. Can race off the same mark today and this easier 1m 4f should be in her favour. A bit short in the betting but if you can get evens or better, they are worth taking.

Hamilton

3:50 – True Believer – 9/4 @ William Hill – Shaped with credit on her three starts as a juvenile. Built on that promise when 2^nd of 10 on her handicap debut at Doncaster 10-days ago. Back against her own sex and can race off the same mark as last time. Trainer Mark Johnston has a 30% win strike rate in Hamilton Class 4 handicaps

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Hello Pilgrim (BOG 10/1) made it a good Monday for us. Shame the other two selections weren’t up to the task.

Chepstow

4:35 – David’s Beauty – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection made a highly encouraging first start for her new trainer when 3^rd of 12 at Beverley six days ago. Back over a C&D where she’s 3 wins from 9 runs 7 placed and back to a winnable mark if she can build on last weeks performance.

Navan

4:30 – Kalanora – 9/1 @ William Hill – Was expected to make a winning debut for new trainer Gavin Cromwell when sent off the 3/1 favourite for a Roscommon handicap 8-days ago. She wasn’t able to repay that market support but ran on with promise into 5^th. This more galloping track should suit better as should the step up in trip. It will be interesting to see if her backers return today.

Cheers

John

Hi all

I was worried the losing run would continue yesterday but One Voice saved the day when winning the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes at Leopardstown.

Windsor

7:30 – Naked Lass – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Made a promising front running racecourse debut when 3^rd of 8 at Lingfield 8-days ago. On pedigree the filly should be suited by the step up to 1m 2f and should be up to winning a maiden.

8:00 – Duke Of Condicote – 9/4 @Bet365 – Seemed to improve for the step up to today’s distance when dead heating for first at Haydock 14-days ago. That was the 3-year-old’s first run of the new campaign and also his first since a winter gelding operation. Up 4lb but has the scope for a bit more progress for the inform Alan King yard.

Limerick

6:45 – Hello Pilgrim – 7/1 @ Bet365 – A chance is taken on the fitness of the selection who is having her first start for 301-days. The mare was in good form when last seen in action, winning a 3m maiden hurdle at Sligo before finishing 3^rd of 10 at Downpatrick on her handicap debut. Needs a real test of stamina at 2m 6f and good ground but if she gets them shouldn’t be far away if fit enough.

Cheers

John