Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Chelmsford

6:00 – The British Lion – 10/3 @ Bet365 The 5-year-old isn’t the easiest to win with is, as his record of just 2 wins in 32 runs shows.  A good second over C&D in a Classified race 5-days ago shows he comes into the race in decent enough form and he’s well handicapped on the best of his back form when all the cards fall right.

8:30 – Subliminal – 5/1 @Bet365 – Comes into the race after back to back wins over today’s distance at Lingfield. Nudged up 3lb for the latter of those wins 13-days ago but a useful 5lb apprentice has been booked which negates the selections weight rise. Just the one start at Chelmsford, well down the field, but if he can replicate his Lingfield form here, must have a good chance of the hat trick.

Leicester

3:00 – Caltex – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The selection is one of several horses who have recently switched from the Claire Dyson to Michael Scudamore yard. Two of them have already run well on their first start for the new trainer and hopefully we can see a good run from the selection here. The 8-year-old’s best run came on his British debut when finishing 2^nd of 10 to Ballyhill at Aintree in December 2018. New trainer has inherited a potentially well handicapped horse if he can coax him back to form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It was good to get a winner on Monday to break a short losing run.

Hereford faces a morning inspection so given the weather it’s probably wise to concentrate on the all-weather. Today’s selections race at Kempton albeit not very exciting prices.

Kempton

6:30 – London Calling – 9/4 @ Bet365 – The selection got his head in front at the fourth time of asking on the all-weather when winning over C&D 21-days ago. Handicapper has raised him 4lb for that success which looks fair. Good chance he can build on that performance and win again.

7:00 – Divine Messenger – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Returned from a 245-day absence to run one of today’s rivals Candelisa to a length three weeks ago. That was a career best effort by the selection who was conceding race fitness to that rival and should be sharper today.  Adam Kirby has been booked for the ride, his form figures on the gelding are 1221, so a big run can be expected from the double C&D winner.

8:00 – True Belief – 9/4 @Bet365 – A winner, over 6f, on the turf at Windsor in October has been running consistently without winning on his last four starts on the synthetics. Last time was doing his best work at the finish when 3rd of 13 at Chelmsford 13-days ago. Can start slowly but if he can break on level terms has a good chance.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Storm Ciara is causing havoc with the racing all Sunday’s fixtures had to be abandoned. We have already lost Catterick’s Monday card and Plumpton faces an early morning inspection to see if racing can go a head there.

I have selection from Plumpton and two from Wolverhampton for you today.

Plumpton

3:45 – Wenceslaus – 6/4 – Gen – Made it 3 wins from 4 runs at Plumpton and three from four since going chasing when winning over C&D 14-days ago. Up 10lb for that success but remains on the upgrade and will take all the beating on ground that clearly suits. If they race he looks worth a bet if you can get evens or better.

Wolverhampton

5:05 – Mountain Brave – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has shaped with satisfractory promise on her three starts in novice company. Making her handicap debut back over 7f and off a fairish mark of 68. She does have scope for progress though and two of her half siblings did win over C&D during their career’s.

7:10 – Thawry – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Hasn’t got the best of win records just the one success from 25 starts. The 5-year-old hasn’t been disgraced on his last three starts and was only beaten 1 ¼ lengths into third over C&D 5-days ago. Off the same mark today and can go well again but probably needs all the cards to fall right to get his head in front.

It’s a day off for me on Tuesday but I will be back on Wednesday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another losing day but I have to say all three selections ran well to place in their respective races.  It’s never good to lose but when the selections run their races you can’t really complain.

I have selections from the Exeter and Southwell cards.

Exeter

2:25 – Ertiage – 11/2 @Bet365 – The selection has been steadily progressive over hurdles. The 5-year-old was an encouraging 5^th to the useful Sporting John here in November. Before making all to win at Taunton on his next start. Runner-up on his return to that venue under a penalty.  Must give weight again to some unexposed rivals here and maybe better suited by less testing ground but at least the slight step up in trip should be in his favour.

4:05 – Sir Psycho – 6/1 @Bet365 – I’m taking on the front two in the betting,Sporting John& Master Debonair, with the selection. The 4-year-old stepped up on his previous form with an impressive soft ground win over C&D on New Year’s Day. The form of his win could be questioned but he clearly enjoyed the mud that day and the race time was good too. As a juvenile he gets a useful weight allowance from his older rivals. Open to further improvement and looks worth a crack at Listed class.

Southwell

4:15 – Seven Clans – 7/1 @ Coral & Bet365 – Has finished runner-up on both sides on the fibresand. The latter of which came 33-days ago. Steps up to 1m 6f but shapes like a stiffer stamina test could suit. Nudged up 1lb but the 8-year-old’s sixth career win doesn’t look far away on the evidence of his most recent efforts.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

My form is more up and down than Downpatrick racecourse at present. Today’s selection’s run at Newbury & Wolverhampton.

Newbury

1:50 – Dolphin Square – 6/1 @ Coral – The 6-year-old has been steadily progressive over hurdles this season and is arguably the most consistent horse in today’s nine strong field. Up 6lb for a recent Ludlow win demands more in a better race but it could be forthcoming.

Wolverhampton

5:30 – Molten Lava – 10/1 @Bet365 – Is on a losing run that dates back to December 2018 but there is no doubting the 8-year-old has dropped to a winnable mark when all the cards fall right. Was beaten just ¾ length into second over C&D, off 8lb higher last March.

6:00 – Lucky Lodge – 10/1 – Gen – The 10-year-old might have hit the veteran stage but he’s in great form at present. A winner at Newcastle two starts back. He ran just as well when runner-up over C&D 12-days ago and should give it another good go.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Two losers yesterday and in all truth neither horse looked like they would win their respective races at Doncaster. But it’s been a great few days so I can hardly complain.

Kempton

3:30 – Wakiki Waves – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & William Hill – Has been well placed by trainer Gary Moore to win five of his seven starts over fences. The selection made a winning seasonal reappearance at Fontwell back in October. Was put up 10lb for that success but put in a decent effort under his new rating when 5^th of 9 at Sandown last month. Had been off for 73-days prior to that run so may just have needed it. Was still bang in contention when making a race ending blunder at the last. Probably needs to find some more improvement to win off his present mark but the step up to an easy 3m could do the trick.

Bangor

3:50 – Stonific – 7/2 @ Bet365 – A four-time winner on the flat the 7-year has placed on three of his four starts over hurdles. Looked like he was going to make a winning handicap hurdle debut when falling three out at Newcastle 18-days ago. If that fall hasn’t dented his confidence, then the top weight will take some beating here.

Chelmsford

7:45 – Spenny’s Lass – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hasn’t won since 2018 and is on a long losing run but she’s run well enough on her last two starts to think she can win again when all the cards fall right. Two start back she was beaten ½ length into second over C&D and then found 5f too sharp back here 8-days ago. The step up to 6f is in her favour and looks likely to get a strong pace to chase here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another couple of winners yesterday but as we saw last month it can turn very quickly. Enjoy the winning runs but expect the downside to be painful and have the patience to hold on in there.

I was tested at the start of last week. The worst run in two years. Even I couldn’t see the light in the tunnel. So, I can’t blame those who left the service. But for those of you who stayed, you have been rewarded in the last week with one of the best runs in months.

Doncaster

1:23 – Coopers Square – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook –  Was in exceptional form between February & April last season with form figures 1U1112. The 9-year showed he remained capable even of a career high mark on his seasonal return when beaten 1 ¼ lengths into second by Petite Power at Uttoxeter, off 3lb higher. Not at that level of form on his last three starts but he did shape with a bit more encouragement last time. His improved form last season came on a sound surface – 4 wins from 6 runs 5 placed on good – so the drier the ground the better. He’s 2 wins from 2 runs in February and 4 wins from 6 runs 5 placed when returning from a 15-day or less break.

2:23 – Native Robin – 7/1 @ Bet365 – The 10-year-old wins his share of races, 5 wins from 18 runs 28% + 26.75 over fences is testimony to that. A couple of decent enough efforts in the autumn but he’s been below par on his last two starts in particular last time at Wincanton when a combination of the first time cheekpieces and the drop back to the minimum trip seemed to have the opposite of what was intended. Cheekpieces are removed and return to a more suitable distance will hopefully see a better performance today. He’s now dropped back down to his last winning mark and should be competitive for a trainer whose 3-8 at Doncaster and among the winners in the last 14-days.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A win by Lady Master yesterday and a couple of decent placed efforts mean the winning run continues. It’s a big difference between now and this time a week ago. Truly cyclical nature of the tipster game exemplified in the last seven days. At present we can only wonder what will happen in the next week.

Ludlow

3:15 – Almazhar Garde – 9/2 @Bet365 – Had jumped well to win a Catterick novices handicap chase on just his second start over fences back in December. Despite a 10lb rise in the weights he looked capable of winning more races and the form has worked out well since. Only got as far the 5^th before falling, over C&D 20-days ago. Looks worth chancing here and could get the race run to suit.

Southwell

2:30 – Latent Heat – 9/2 – Gen – The Tony Carroll stable’s horses continue in winning form and the selection can hopefully maintain the yards good run here. The 3-year-old was having his first start for the trainer when a one length 4^th of 12 at Wolverhampton and could easily have made a winning handicap debut if he had got a clear passage inside the final furlong. Looked a winner in waiting last time and if handles the fibresand can go close. There should be a strong pace which should suit the hold-up horses which include the selection.

Wolverhampton

7:10 – Young Fire – 5/1 @ Betway – Reeves comes into the race seeking the five timer and is only up 2lb for his last win over the distance at Lingfield 26-days ago. Won’t find it easy to dominate here though. Looking at the pace maps there could be strong pace which would play into hands of the hold-up horses like the selection who came from off a strong gallop to win at Haydock back in September. Best form on the all-weather when 2^nd of 6 over C&D 67-days ago. The stronger they go up front the better it suits the 5-year-old who looks on a competitive mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Market Rasen

3:50 – Lady Master – 9/2 @Bet365 – Was sent off the 5/2 favourite for her seasonal return at Uttoxeter. Racing prominently, probably in need of the run she got tired on the soft ground and and was pulled up three out. The mare run much better a month later 3^rd of 9 at Leicester 61-days ago, with the first three pulling clear of the rest. Step back to 2m 3f should be in her favour, she won around this trip last season at Wetherby as should the sounder surface she gets today.

Kempton

8:00 – Luck Of Clover – 15/2 @ Betway & Coral – The selection has been expensive to follow – 0 win from 11 runs – and was racing over further for most of last season. Returning from a short break she was sent off the 9/4 favourite for a Southwell novice before finishing 3^rd of 9. Drops back to 1m 3f today which maybe a positive if she gets a sound enough pace.

8:30 – Accessor – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – A winner at Newcastle three starts back, before having a wide triphere, bounced back to form on his first try over 2m when 2^nd of 14 over C&D 6-days ago. Same mark and should give it a good go again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Well at least we have been among the winners in the last few days. Let’s hope we can continue the winning trend on Sunday.

Taunton

3:40 – Darling Maltaix – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Trainer Paul Nicholls has his runners in excellent form 12 winners from 29 runners 41% +12.78 in the past 14-days. The selection won an Ascot handicap hurdle last season but generally underachieved over the smaller obstacles. Has shaped with enough promise on his three starts over fences to think he’s on a competitive enough mark to win a race like this. Runner-up at Exeter 32-days ago and could be suited by the step back up in trip to 2m 7f if ridden with more patience than last time.

4:10 – Tactical Manoeuvre – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The 9-year-old has been well placed by trainer to win his last two starts since joining present trainer Jeremy Scott. The latter of those wins came over C&D 15-days ago. Up 6lb for that success but worth remembering that he did win off 3lb higher in Feb 2018 so the hat trick bid could be on especially if the ground remains soft.

Musselburgh

1:15 – Im Too Generous – 4/1 – Gen – The selection has outstanding record at Musselburgh with form figures 2111. Just the one run this season when making all here over hurdles 69-days ago. The 10-year-old wasn’t disgraced racing from the front on his one start over fences when 3^rd of 5 at Perth in the spring. Unlikely to get an uncontested lead today but he goes well off a lay off and returns to his favourite track. Looking at his career record the sounder the surface the better his chance.

1:45 – Thyme White – 10/3 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Paul Nicholls has won this juvenile hurdle twice since 2013. The selection has finished runner-up on both his starts over hurdles firstly to Goshan and the Rowland Ward. His prominent style of running is suited to the track and should go close for an inform yard.

I’m having a day off tomorrow so the next selections will be on Tuesday.

Cheers

John