Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Just the one winner on Thursday and third placed efforts. Putthecashonthedash provided the win at Wincanton and as I hoped the first time cheekpieces helped his jumping.

With Sandown abandoned the remaining Friday racing is disappointing and it’s been hard to find solid betting opportunities.

Chelmsford

4:45 – Chairmanoftheboard – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Looked a smart prospect when bolting up on his 2-year-old debut at Goodwood in October 2018. Sadly, for connections it didn’t prove to be the case. Eight races later and the 4-year-old hasn’t won a race. At least he ended last year with a couple of decent efforts in competitive handicaps at Kempton. This is his first start for 130-days but we know he can win fresh. A hold up performer, there looks like there could be plenty of early pace in this 1m handicap which will suit. Capable of going close if fit enough.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Misty Adage put in a gutsy display to win at Clonmel yesterday, to keep the winning run going. Today looks a lot tougher. On Wednesday there was just the one betting opportunity. Today I have had to work with a shortlist of seven.

Wincanton

3:35 – Putthecashonthedash – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Has shaped like there is a race over fences in him before the season is out. Looked the most likely winner over C&D, two starts back, but made mistakes at the third last & final fence and had to settle for second. Fell at Sedgefield last time. Hopefully the addition of the first time cheekpieces will help his jumping and with a clear round should be hard to beat.

4:10 – Darsi In The Park – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ran out a fairly comfortable winner of a Uttoxeter maiden on his third attempt over hurdles 26-days ago. The runner-up has won since so the form looks reliable enough. Steps up 5 ½ f in distance for his handicap debut but shaped at Uttoxeter like a step up in trip would being out further progress. Looks on a competitive mark and shouldn’t be far away.

Newcastle

6:30 – Glenamoy Lad – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Bounced back to form when 2^nd of 9 here 23-days ago. That took the 6-year-old’s record to 2 wins from 4 runs 3 placed over C&D. On a winnable mark but is the type who needs all the cards to fall right to get his head in front. Should get an even gallop here and with conditions to suit should give it a good go.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A nice double with Punitive & Sizing Pottsie doing the business at Navan. Surprisingly the Irish selections doing much better than two at Exeter. Shade disappointed not to have got three winners but two winners and a profit will do nicely.

Today looks a bit grim for solid betting propositions so I’m trying my luck at over in Ireland again.

Clonmel

5:05 – Misty Adage – 3/1 – Gen – The selection put in an improved display in finishing runner up at Down Royal 36-days ago. That run came over 2m 4f but she was strong enough at the finish to suggest that a stiffer stamina test would be in her favour. A winning pointer she’s just having her 6^th start over fences and a reproduction of her Down Royal run would make her hard to beat here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

So near, yet so far on Monday as Big Lachie was beaten a short head at Wolverhampton. If he hadn’t hung in the final stages, he may have held on to win.

Navan

2:40 – Punitive – 4/1 @ Bet3655 – Made it 2 wins from 5 runs over hurdles when winning over C&D 45-days ago. The 6-year-old made most that day and showed a good attitude to battle on to hold his rivals on the run in. Up 6lb for that success so needs to improve further to defy his new mark but looks capable of doing so on going that suits, both wins have come with heavy in the going description.

3:40 – Sizing Pottsie – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Got off the mark on just his second start over fences when making all to win in a beginners’ chase in good style at Fairyhouse 10-days ago. Interesting to see connections step him up into Grade 3 company today. The 6-year-old is suited to 2m, on heavy ground and given he’s lightly raced is open to plenty of improvement over the larger obstacles.

Exeter

4:00 – Celma De Bois – 4/1 – Gen – Returns from a 476-day absence today.  The 8-year-old made a winning debut over fences at Lingfield when last seen in action. Up 11lb now but won with more in hand than the official margin of 5 lengths suggests and could be capable of defying his new mark. Long absence has to be a slight concern but he did win first time up last season off a 183-day layoff so he could be ready to roll.

4:30 – Demopolis – 6/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection’s form figures since the fitting of the tongue tie are 411. Won a soft ground handicap hurdle at Ludlow 5-days ago.  Up 5lb for that latter success but is capable of landing hat trick. Trainer Philip Hobbs is 2 winners from 2 runners with last time out winners returning within 7-days of their last run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Wetherby

4:15 – Flegmatik – 10/3 @ Bet365 – A winner of a juvenile hurdle over C&D last season. The 5-year-old put in a career best effort when runner-up here on his seasonal reappearance in November. Thrown in the deep end for his handicap hurdle when 13th of 24 in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Effective on soft, heavy is a slight unknown but he’s lightly raced and remains capable of further progress back in calmer waters here.

Wolverhampton

5:45 – Big Lachie – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is on a bit of a losing run but he’s a previous C&D winner and he showed his liking for the tapeta surface with placed efforts on his last two starts here. A disappointing run at Kempton 16-days ago but that was over 5f and a return to C&D can lead hopefully lead to better run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Shame we lost Newbury yesterday but Tralee Hills‘ Lingfield win at 6/1, early priced advised 8/1 ensured a profitable Saturday and made up for a couple of poor days.

There are no selections today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Newbury

12:55 – Yaa Salaam – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – A multiple winner on the flat when trained in Germany. The 6-year-old has yet to win after six starts over hurdles but put in a career best when 3rd of 12 at Kempton 22-days ago. Up 4lb but remains on a competitive mark and has an ability to win a handicap like this.

3:50 – Karakoram – 11/2 @ Paddy Power – A winner at Ludlow back in October hasn’t won on five subsequent starts but has been running consistently well. The 5-year-old has put in career best efforts on RPR’s on his last two starts at Taunton & Warwick. Sole win came on good ground but as he showed at Taunton & Warwick, he can be effective on rain softened ground too. Vulnerable to less exposed types but shouldn’t be far away if in the same form as last time.

Lingfield

4:20 – Tralee Hills – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hasn’t been in much form since winning over C&D 12 months ago. Although he didn’t shape to badly at the end of last year finishing 3^rd of 10 at Kempton before clipping heels and stumbling badly after 1f when still in with a chance at the same venue. Returns from a 116-day break so will be fresher than most and is 3lb than for his last win.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Back down to earth on Thursday.

Newbury

4:55 – Amoola Gold – 3/1 @ Paddy Power – Was only beaten a short head into second over C&D 62-days ago and does seem to like the track as he was also 3^rd of 11 here on his seasonal reappearance on his only other start at Newbury. The selection has only had the five starts over fences so remains open to further progress.

Doncaster

3:05 – Manwell – 15/2 @ Bet365 – The 10-year-old returned to form two starts back when 3^rd of 6 at Sedgefield. Not at that level but not disgraced when upped in class & distance in the North Yorkshire Grand National 50-days ago. Drop back in distance & class will be more in his favour and trainer Sam England is 2 winners from 5 runners 40% in the past 14-days.

Dundalk

7:30 – Calling Time – 7/1 @ Paddy Power – Was running consistently well in the autumn finishing runner-up on her last three starts here. Twice a winner at the track including C&D she returns from a short break, has won after a longer absence in the past, and if freshened up is capable of going close. Stall 11 could be better but trainer Jessica Harrington has her horses in great form at present.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Two winners and a third, I will take that any day of the week. Moving on to Thursday’s racing and we have precautionary morning inspections planned for Ludlow & Taunton.

Chelmsford

8:00 – Tebay – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Won over C&D two starts before following up at Kempton off 5lb lower last month. Was slowly away in his hat trick bid at Lingfield 10-days ago and while he kept on well enough in the straight it wasn’t a race where it was easy to make ground from the rear. Shapes like he remains in form and if gets away on level terms shouldn’t be far away.

Newcastle

3:05 – Paddyplex – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Looks fairly treated on his best form for his previous trainer. A previous C&D winner he wasn’t beaten far when 6^th of 12 three weeks ago. Has been dropped 3lb since that effort and Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride which looks a positive.

3:40 – Cosmelli – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Comes into the race on the backof a win at Chelmsford 7-days ago. That success came over 1m 6f but the 7-year-olds last win before that came over C&D in the Northumberland Vase, off a 9lb higher mark in June 2018. Carries a 4lb penalty in a better race but remains well handicapped on his best previous form. He made all at Chelmsford and could get his own way out in front again.

Ludlow

3:25 – Roll Again – 5/2 @ Paddy Power – Venetia Williams has an incredibly good record with Ludlow Handicap Chasers with the following traits.

Distance: 3m

Going: Heavy or soft

Class: Class 3

Runs at the Track: 0 to 1

Odds SP: 14/1 & under

5 winners from 9 runners 56% +17.08

Roll Again is her runner and those stats suggest a good run from the 6-year-old who won over C&D back in December, before falling in a hot novice handicap chase at Kempton over Christmas (3/1. Not seen at his best when well beaten in a Grade 2 at Warwick last month but back in handicap company and better can be expected.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Concierge landed some nice bets as he was backed in from 4/1 to 13/8 favourite before the off at Wolverhampton on Monday.

There’s plenty of racing around the UK with five meetings scheduled for Wednesday. There are four selection today as I really couldn’t split them.

Musselburgh

3:40 – Royal Cosmic – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A six-time winner on the grass and all-weather, including three times here, won over hurdles at the third attempt two starts back over C&D. Was sent off a 9/2 joint favourite for her handicap hurdle debut here 25-days ago but clipped heels and stumbled on the home turn. That run can be forgiven and Brian Hughes who rode for her win in novice company is back in the saddle today.

4:40 – Pammi – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Remains a maiden over hurdles after seven starts but the mare has been running well enough to think she can win in the sphere. A good 4^th of 13 over 2m here 25-days ago shaping like she would be worth another try over further. Brian Hughes replaces a 7lb conditional today and a big run should be forthcoming.

Kempton

7:00 – Swiss Cheer – 10/3 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Finally got her head in front at the 6^th attempt at Chelmsford two starts back. The handicapper raised him 8lb for that success but he was only beaten a head, off his new mark back at Chelmsford last month. Can race off the same mark and he should get a better pace to chase in today’s bigger field.

8:30 – Violet’s Lads – 13/2 @ Bet365 – The 6-year-old won over C&D back in November, off 3lb lower. Has run respectably on three subsequent starts and last time would have finished closer but didn’t get the clearest of runs inside the final furlong at Chelmsford last month. As her 1 win from 23 runs indicates, she’s not the easiest to win with but when all the cards fall right has another race in her.

Cheers

John