Author: John Burke

Hi all,

I’m off to Dundalk this evening in search of a winner or two.

Dundalk

6:45 – Sky Seven – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Just the two career wins for the 3-year-old but both have come at this venue. Has been knocking on the door on his last two starts here over a mile. Stall 3 should be a good draw and although he shapes like he be suited by the step to today’s distance, needs to settle better than he has sometimes in previous races.

7:15 – Rockview Roman – 9/2 – Gen – Lightly raced, just the six starts, made a winning debut on the all-weather when finding plenty for pressure to win in decisive fashion over C&D last month. Up 6lb for that win but capable of more progress. He overcame a wide draw that day and although he’s not got a great draw again, can go close.

8:15 – Enchanted One – 3/1 – Gen – Shaped with promise on his all-weather debut when 2^nd of 14, over 6f, 9-days ago. Steps up to a mile today and nudged up 2lb for his last effort but has a win in him off this sort of mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Ludlow

1:50 – Seeanythingyoulike – 10/3 @ Bet365 & William Hill – Is 0-15 under rules but is on a competitive mark and is just 1lb higher than when 3^rd of 10 at Wincanton 28-days ago. More experienced over fences than most which could prove vital in the closing stages of the race although is vulnerable to any unexposed chasers.

2:55 – Uhlan Bute – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Isn’t the most consistent of horse as a 5-58 career record shows but the 11-year-old is a previous course winner and is 9lb lower than when beaten a neck by Kilfilum Cross over C&D back in February. Well beaten on his seasonal return but should strip fitter today and is suited to soft ground. To well handicapped to ignore.

Taunton

4:10 – Le Ligerien –6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A good ground maiden hurdle winner at Fontwell in March. The 6-year-old probably 2m 3f, on soft ground, back at that venue to much on his seasonal reappearance 22-days ago. Drop in trip and return to good ground should be in his favour and trainer Philip Hobbs continues to have his horses run well.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Ayr

2:15 – Off The Hook – 11/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection got off the mark at the 8^th attempt over hurdles when winning a C&D maiden in January. Ended last season with respectable 4^th of 14 in the EBF Mares Hurdle Final at Newbury in March. Sole career win came on good to soft, but she’s’ got form on even softer going. First run for 235-days so fitness must be taken on trust but her stable is among the winners.

Exeter

2:00 – Western Climate – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Despite form figures of 0PPPP last season the 10-year-old was sent off the 100/30 favourite for a Stratford handicap chase on his first start for trainer Henry Oliver 25-days ago. Such market confidence suggested connections felt they had a well handicapped horse on their hands. Such confidence was warranted as he was still in contention when falling at the last. Capable of winning if his confidence hasn’t been dented by that fall.

2:35 – Southern Sam – 8/1 – Gen – The 5-year-old had five starts over hurdles last season. Best performance came when finishing 5^th in of 18 in the valuable EBF Novices’ Hurdle Final at Sandown in March. The selection then followed up with a novice hurdle win at Uttoxeter in May. First start since that win and his first start over the larger obstacles in what looks a decent novices handicap chase.  Trainer Oliver Sherwood has always seen him as chaser in the making and he should be suited by the step up to 3m. Looks on a competitive mark and capable of a bold show if fully tuned up.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Both today’s selections run at Hereford.

Hereford

2:00 – Jurys Out – 3/1 @ Paddy Power – The 5-year-old won a handicap hurdle at Carlisle back in March and is expected to do well over fences this winter. Carlisle win came on soft ground so the recent easing of the ground should be in his favour. Trainer Venetia Williams is 5-19 26% +11.13 with her chasers at Hereford and has her horses in winning form. Big run can be expected.

3:00 – Town Parks – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power –  Form figures around here are 21P2 with the win coming over C&D in January 2018, off 2lb higher. Best run of last season came at the course so a return to the venue looks a plus for the 8-year-old. Made a perfectly satisfactory seasonal reappearance when 5^th of 12 at Stratford 12-days ago. He should be all the better for that run and looks on a competitive mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Keep Moving provided a welcome winner at 5/1 yesterday with the two other selections running well to finish runner-up in their respective races. Today’s selections go at Ffos Las & Navan.

Ffos Las

3:05 – Pobbles Bay – 2/1 @ William Hill – Returned to action with an encouraging 2^nd of 11 in a better race at Uttoxeter 23-days ago. A winner here over fences in April he handles soft ground well and stay further than 3m so he can make his stamina pay. Will be returning to staying chases sooner rather later but interesting that connections continue over hurdles here.

4:10 – Bells Of Peterboro – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection put in an improved performance on his seasonal reappearance when 3^rd of 15 at Stratford 22-days ago. Looks capable of more progress over hurdles on his just his second start over hurdles. Handled the soft ground at Stratford and set to go close here.

Navan

3:15 – Fakir D’oudairies – 5/2 @ William Hill & Bet365 – Makes his Irish chase debut, ran twice over fences when trained in France as 3-year-old, in what looks a warm beginners chase. Interesting that connections waste no time in sending the 4-year-old over fences. Smart juvenile hurdle form when fourth in the Supreme Novices at the Cheltenham, before finishing runner-up in Grade 1’s behind Pentland Hills at Aintree and Fusil Raffles at the Punchestown Festival. Has the size to make a chaser, will like the soft ground and can take advantage of the 8lb he gets from likely favourite Melon.

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

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A case of close, but no cigar yesterday. Today’s selections run at Aintree and Wincanton.

Aintree

12:20 – Present Value – 6/1 – Gen Trainer Evan Williams wastes no time sending the 5-year-old chasing. Three starts over hurdles when. Runner-up to Al Dancer on his racecourse debut 12 months ago. He then followed in good style at Chepstow.  A shade disappointing when only 3^rd when last seen at Exeter back in March. Bred to do well over fences and looks capable of winning off his present mark.

1;30 – Baby King – 5/1 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill – The selection won this race in 2017 on soft ground and seasonal reappearance. Not so good in it 12 months ago but that was on good ground and trainer Tom George is in better form this time around. Granted the selection is now a 10-year-old and not as good as he was two years ago but his win at Ludlow on his final start of last season, off 1lb lower showed he’s still capable of winning.

Wincanton

1:15 – Keep Moving – 4/1 – Gen –The 7-year-old ended last season with a good ground win at Chepstow in April, off 5lb lower. Sent off the 7/2 favourite on his Exeter seasonal reappearance he was still in contention when falling two out. Remains on a competitive mark, if his confidence hasn’t been affected by his recent fall.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Diablo De Rouhet got me off the cold list yesterday with a good win at Newbury to make it a small profit on the day to advised early prices. Today’s selection go at Hexham & Newcastle.

Hexham

3:15 – Smugglers Stash – 10/3 @ William Hill – The selection returns from a massive 571-day absence today and has the burden of top-weight to carry. However, 9-year-old will relish the going twice a winner on heavy and four of his top five RPR’s have come on heavy or soft.  A previous C&D winner he also finished runner-up in this corresponding race two years ago. Looks on a winnable mark and should appreciate the class drop.

Newcastle

7:05 – Swansdown – 9/4 – Gen – Finally got her head in front at the 11^th attempt when winning over a mile here 7-days ago. She met a bit of trouble a furlong out that day and with a clearer run would probably have won by more than a length. Drops back to 7f but she showed a decent enough change of pace once in the clear to think she won’t be inconvenienced by it.A quick return to action, under her 6lb penalty, and if this race doesn’t come to quick she got a great chance of making it back to back wins.

8:05 – Gleaming Arch – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Came from off the pace to win over C&D two starts ago. Tried the same last time but found the line coming to quick when a 1 ½ length 4^th of 14. Needs them to go hard up front with the pace maps suggesting he should get the race run to suit. No reason why he shouldn’t be competitive again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Going through a sticky patch at present but we have emerged from them before. Today, I have selections at Newbury & Chelmsford.

Newbury

3:10 – Diablo De Rouhet – 3/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The selection has improved to win two of his last three starts over fences.  The latter of those wins came in good style at Uttoxeter 20-days ago. Goes back hurdling in this Pertemps Series qualifier and can race off a 6lb lower mark over the smaller obstacles.  Inform and if he maintains his chase improvement back over hurdles has a good chance.

Chelmsford

6:25 – Unabated – 6/1 @ Bet365 –  Had little chance at the weights at Kempton last time. A previous course winner over 6f back in August. He’s better judged on his 4^th of 10 in a Class 2 handicap here, over 6f, two starts back. He was only beaten a length that day and this is a Class 4 handicap. Steps up an extra furlong but if he stays can make his class advantage pay.

7:25 – Joegogo – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The previous C&D winner lurks on a good mark.  Disappointed when 3/1 favourite at Wolverhampton 15-days ago and there didn’t seem to be any excuses. Drop back into Class 5 company today is a positive – 4-8 with form figures 33111133 (1-34 in higher grade races).  The selection has a good draw in stall 2 and he’s another who can make his class drop pay off.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sadly, Sandy Boy managed to throw a way his race in the final 100yds. Today’s three selections run at Chepstow & Kempton.

Chepstow

2:05 – On The Road – 9/2 @Bet365 –  The selection made a good seasonal return when 4^th of 9 over hurdles at Uttoxeter 31-days ago.  Returns to chasing off what looks a good handicap mark, despite carrying top weight of 11-13 here. Has won on heavy but all his other six career wins have come on soft so underfoot conditions should be ideal. The one to beat now down in class.

Kempton

4:40 – Silverturnstogold – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Won here over a mile in October 2018 and ran arguably as well when 2^nd of 12 here in March. Might be better over a mile but has solid from on turf over 7f this summer and looks interesting in the first-time blinkers for a drop back to 7f here.

7:10 – Irene May – 6/1 @ Bet365 or 11/2 – Gen – The selection is lightly raced, just the seven career starts, three on the all-weather. First go at 7f today but was doing her best work at the finish when 4^th of 10 at Wolverhampton, over 6f, 18-days ago to think she will stay today’s extra furlong.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A poor day yesterday. I have two selection today running at Exeter.

Exeter

3:40 – Guardia Top – 7/4 – Gen – The selection bids for the hattrick after wins at Perth and at Chepstow 7-days ago. Has a 7lb penalty for last week’s success but is an improver and looks capable of winning again.

4:15 – Sandy Boy – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Just failed to land the hat trick when beaten ¾ length at Chepstow 7-days ago. Remains progressive and if this race doesn’t come to quick the 5-year-old can win off the same mark today.

Cheers

John