Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Bee Able looked a tricky ride but held on for a 3/1 BOG win at Wolverhampton yesterday. I can’t find anything today and as I’m off tomorrow see you on all Thursday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Wolverhampton

6:45 – Bee Able – 11/4 @ Bet365 & Betway – Seemed to improve for the step up into handicap company when running on into 4^th at Kempton 38-days ago. The filly shaped like today’s step up in distance can bring out further progress. New surface today and she also gets to race in the first-time visor. If the new headgear works, she’s capable of winning a race like this.

Chepstow

4:00 – Jaisalmer – 11/2 @ Bet365 – The selection returned form a wind op and a 211-day absence to finish 3^rd of 11 at Leicester 34-days ago. The 8-year-old’s two career wins have come on heavy so no problem with the going for him and he’s handicapped to win this on his best form although his losing run does go back to February 2018.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Domaine De L’isle put in good display to win at Newcastle at 3/1 yesterday.  Sunday’s sole selection races at Naas.

3:20 – Rapid Response – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Betway – Ran with promise on her three starts in maiden company last year. The mare returned from a 350-day lay off at Leopardstown 8-days ago but was hampered at the 4^th and unseated her rider on her handicap hurdle debut. There was enough promise from the 6-year-old last season to think she’s up to winning races like this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Lingfield

2:50 – Lady Bergamot – 11/2 @ William Hill – The mare did well to finish as close as she did in 5^th in a listed race over 1m 5f here 65 days ago. Drops back 1f here but that shouldn’t be an issue and she will be more at home back in handicap company.

Kempton

6:40 – Astromachia – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection was runner-up to one of today’s rivals Rainbow Dreamer over C&D 24-days ago. He goes well here form figures 112 at the track and at the revised weights has a chance of reversing places with his old rival. Joe Fanning is 3 wins from 3 rides on the 5-year-old the returns in the saddle which is a positive.

Newcastle

1:30 – Domaine De L’isle – 11/4 @ Paddy Power – I fancied the selection for a handicap chase at Sandown so it’s interesting that trainer Sean Curran sends him up to Newcastle for this race. A winner over France when trained in France he didn’t seem to stay three miles on his stable debut, over hurdles, back in the spring. The 6-year-old built on the promise of his seasonal reappearance at Newbury with an impressive win at Chepstow 28-days ago. Up 10lb but he’s the scope to better over fences. Slight concern about the step back up to 3m on testing ground but if he stays, he should win, and connections have booked Brian Hughes for the ride.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A poor day yesterday, need better on Friday, and once again the racing isn’t great from a quality perspective.

Wolverhampton

2:35 – First Response – 5/2 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Has been running consistently well on both the polytrack & tapeta this autumn winning a classified race at Newcastle back in October. Seven days ago, he proved his effectiveness over C&D when finishing 2^nd of 11, beaten a neck, 7-days ago. Racing off the same mark this afternoon he won’t be far away with a reproduction of last week’s effort.  

Musselburgh

2:25 – Court Baloo – 4/1 @ William Hill & Bet365 – Has been well placed to win on the trot in the autumn and arguably ran just as well in defeat when 3^rd of 10 at Wetherby last month. Back right-handed today but has won over C&D in the past so the change in direction shouldn’t be an issue. Now 6lb higher than for his last win but the 9-year-old may have not stopped winning yet.

Dundalk

6:00 – Sheisdiesel – 11/4 @ Paady Power – The selection won four times here, including two over C&Dbetween February & March last year. Has run respectably on both her starts since returning from a 185-day break. Strong at the finish when third over 1m 2 ½ f, 14-days ago she races off the same mark this evening and shapes like another win isn’t too far away.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Thanks to a strong ride by Gavin Sheehan, we got 2020 off to a good start with a win at Cheltenham and a small profit on the day despite a 10p Rule 4.

Today’s racing hardly gets the pulse racing from a quality perspective but there are a few potential selections over the jumps at Ayr and even on the all-weather at Lingfield & Chelmsford. 

Lingfield

12:15 – Puerto Banus – 4/1 @ William Hill – Just the seven career starts, four for present trainer Ian Williams. The 4-year-old put in arguably a career best when 2^nd of 12 over C&D 33-days ago. Adam Kirby is an interesting jockey booking and on the evidence of that run he’s capable of winning a handicap like this.

Ayr

1:00 – Teescomponentstrig – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The selection has steadily improved on each of his three starts over hurdles this season. Came up against a well handicapped horse at Haydock 29-days ago and although he’s been raised 4lb for his last effort he remains on a winnable mark. Effective on soft/ heavy ground and should be suited by the slight step up in trip.

3:10 – Walkin In The Rain – 11/2 @ Ladbrokes – A big race winner for trainer Jim Goldie yesterday and he’s got a good chance of another one here. The selection put in a career best when runner-up on his chase debut here 50-days ago. That improved effort came over 2m 4f and he can improve for the step up to 3m. Takes a slight drop-in class here and can win races over fences.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The start of a new year and after the last two days it will be nice to get a winner.

Cheltenham

2:35 – Skandiburg – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & William Hill – The selection made it 3 wins from 7 runs over hurdles when winning at Aintree back in November. Up 6lb for that success the 6-year-old seemed to relish the step up to 3m that day and was at his strongest at the finish. First run on a track like Cheltenham but he’s progressive and if he handles the course looks set to go close.

Catterick

2:45 – Reverant Crust – 5/2 @ Paddy Power – Bouncedback to form when winning here over 1m 7 ½ f, 15-days ago. The step back up to 2m 3f isn’t a problem as he won a beginners’ chase here in November 2018 over C&D. Up 6lb for his last success but should remain competitive of his new mark.

Musselburgh

3:25 – Diamond Rock – 4/1 @ Bet365 – It’s over 2 years since the selection was last in the winner’s enclosure, now 6lb higher, but the 9-year-old bounced back to form when 3^rd of 9 here 56-days ago. That was his first run since a wind-op. Steps up to 3m today, yet to race beyond and extended 2m 4f, so has stamina to prove. If he stays the new trip he’s on a winning mark and is suited by going no worse than good to soft.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After a good profitable run it had to happen a total wipe out yesterday. Here’s hoping for better for the final two selections of 2019.

Warwick

1:30 – Very Live – 4/1 – Gen – A winner off 1lb lower 11 months ago for his previous trainer. The 10-year-old seemed to lose his way on his three subsequent starts. Has since moved to the Fergal O’Brien yard and if the stable switch has had the desired effect, he looks on a competitive mark here.

2:35 – Fizzlestix – 12/1 @ Bet365 – The selection was a steadily improving staying handicap hurdle two seasons back. Ran well for a long way when returning from a 575-day break at Fontwell 43-days ago. On a competitive mark on the best of his form and can go well at a big price here.

Happy New Year

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A good win by Boldmere at Doncaster but the drying ground at Leopardstown probably went against Cavalry Master. A small profit on the day which is all that matters. Today’s selections run at Haydock & Taunton.

Haydock

2:35 – Theatre Legend – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Has developed into consistent handicap hurdler who put in a career best effort when runner-up to Cornerstone Lad at Wetherby 44-days ago. This is just the 6-year-old’s second start beyond 2m 1f but he should stay. Probably vulnerable to any progressive types in the field but should be there or thereabouts.

3:10 – Charmix – 5/1 – Gen – The selection hasn’t won since January 2017, but he returned from 552-day absence to run finish an encouraging 3^rd of 10 behind Sammy Bill at Aintree 23-days ago. That was the 9-year-old’s first start for new trainer Lucinda Russell, and he’s entitled to be sharper now. If this race doesn’t come to soon he looks capable of going close.

Taunton

1:50 – Elite Garde – 3/1 – Gen – Has already shown that he’s a much better chaser than a hurdler. The 5-year-old has won both his starts since switching to fences this season. Winning at Huntingdon & latterly at Leicester. Idled on the run-in last time, so is value for the than the final margin if victory suggests. Richard Johnson booked for the ride today and 6lb rise in the weights might not prevent the hat trick if he handles the slightly softer ground here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Wins by Life Isfor Living & Delta Work made it an excellent Saturday for the service. Can we continue the winning festive run on Sunday?

Kelso

2:00 – Smiths Cross – 7/1 – Gen – Trainer Michael Scudamore normally makes his visits to the Scottish track a winning one. In the past 5-years he’s had 5 winners from 12 runners 42% +14.57. He has just the one runner here today in Smiths Cross. The 7-year-old had made a promising chase debut at Carlisle but has disappointed on both starts since. The step up in distance to 2m 6 ½ f should suit and if bouncing back to the form of his Carlisle run is more than capable of winning a race like this.

Doncaster

2:45 – Boldmere – 7/2 @ William Hill – The selection takes a step up in class here after his recent win at Leicester. This is just the 6-year-old’s third start over the larger obstacles but he’s going the right way and a 10lb rise in the handicap may not stop him winning again. Stamina for 3m will be tested but he will be tough to beat.

Leopardstown

3:05 – Cavalry Master – 4/1 @ Unibet & Paddy Power – Represents the inform Henry De Bromhead stable. The trainer won this race in 2016 and Cavalry Master comes into the race after a battling win in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last month. The 5-year-old should develop into a good chaser in time but he’s capable of winning a race like this over hurdles. Makes his handicap hurdle debut and is open to plenty of improvement for this step up to 2m 4 ½ f.

Cheers

John