Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Kempton

5:40 – Qaseeda – 13/8 @ William Hill – Made an encouraging racecourse debut when 2^nd of 10 at Sandown 19-days ago. A half-sister to Skardu, who finished third in the 2,000 Guineas, should be suited by the step up to 6f and with normal improvement looks more than capable of winning a race like this.

6:40 – Kuwait Currency – 4/1 – Gen – A decisive winner over C&D two starts back then went on to finish 2^nd of 11 in the London Mile Series Final here 25-days ago. The handicapper has put the 3-year-old up 3lb for his last C&D effort. Just his third start on the all-weather so is open to more improvement on the surface and can go well again.

7:10 – Purdey’s Gift – 3/1 @ Bet365 –The selection shaped with promise on his two starts last year. Third of 5 on his seasonal reappearance beaten by two horses now rated in the 90s. First run on the all-weather but has plenty all-weather winners on the dam’s side of the pedigree.  Despite a 184-day absence to overcome, he makes his handicap debut off a workable mark of 74.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The start of a new month.

After a day off we return with four selections today.

Ayr

4:20 – – Young Fire – 4/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power –  A winner on soft ground when trained in France. The selection got off the mark at the third attempt when winning here over 7f (soft) 21-days ago. Won over further in France so the step up to a mile shouldn’t inconvenience. Up 3lb for his last win but he looks capable of better.

5:20 – Iconic Code – 13/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selections last win came on soft ground over C&D 12 months ago. Shaped like another win wasn’t far away when finishing her race of strongly when 3^rd of 9 at Hamilton 9-days ago. Trainer opts for the first time cheekpieces for the filly and if the headgear works, she will go close with conditions to suit.

Cork

3:35 – Pincheck – 3/1 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – Can be another winner for trainer Jessica Harrington. The 5-year-old comes into the race with the best form. Yet to win on his four starts this season but seemed to bounce back to form when 3^rd of 9 in a Group 2 at Leopardstown 17-days ago. Can gain his fifth career win back in Listed company.

Kempton

7:10– Dubrava – 9/4 @ William Hill – The 3-year-old put in a career best when beating nine rivals here 55-days ago. Up 5lb for that win but the step up to a mile should suit the selection who was strong at the finish last time. Trainer Roger Varian is 8 winners from 21 runners 38% +17.5 13 placed 62% with his runners in Kempton handicaps in 2019.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A win by Astrophysics at Musselburgh gave us a good profit on the day.

Looking at Monday’s card’s I can’t find any solid betting opportunities so it’s a no selection day.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Musselburgh

1:40 – Apache Blaze – 7/1 @ William Hill – Has only won 1 career win to her name from 21 runs but she’s a consistent filly and was beaten just a head at Nottingham on her last start 40-days. Can race off the same mark and this tough filly deserves a change of look. Connections opt for the first-time visor today and if it works, she’s on a winnable mark.

4:20 – Astrophysics – 7/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection has only won race in the past 3-years but is on a competitive mark. Was 4^th of 12, from 2lb out of the weights, at Redcar 4-days ago. That was a slightly more competitive race than this one and the forecast rain shouldn’t prevent the 7-year-old going close here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Newmarket

1:50 – Kameko – 11/10 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selectionwas beaten just a nose by Positive in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown 28-days. He sets the standard form wise and will be suited by the step up to a mile. I will be disappointed if he gets beat!

Chelmsford

7:20 – Lady Bergamot – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Comes into the race fresher than most, having just had three runs. The mare’s form figures over C&D are now 12 after finishing runner-up here back in June. A 101-day absence to overcome but if she’s straight enough looks on a winnable mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Haydock

4:35 – Rhythmic Intent – 4/1 – Gen – The selection won a soft ground Newbury maiden 2 starts back and wasn’t disgraced when 6^th of 11 in a Class 2 handicap at Ascot 20-days go. The return to rain softened ground should be more to his liking and the way he ran at Ascot suggests that today’s extra two furlongs will suit.

5:10 – Young Fire – 9/4 – Gen – A winner on soft ground when trained in France. The selection got off the mark at the third attempt when winning here over 7f (soft) 21-days ago. Won over further in France so the step up to a mile shouldn’t inconvenience. Up 3lb for his last win but he looks capable of better.

Newcastle

7:30 – Fard – 15/8 @ William Hill – The 4-year-old put in a career best when winning here over 6f 7-days ago.  Prior to that the selection had won at Thirsk which means he has a double penalty to carry. No problem with today’s extra furlong and he looks set for the hat trick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Three selections today, one running this afternoon at Pontefract and two this evening at Chelmsford.

Chelmsford

7:00 – Excellent George – 7/4 – Gen – Has been knocking on the door on his last two starts, last time out he finished second at Yarmouth, beaten a head off today’s mark. A three-time C&D winner he looks sure to be in the mix.

8:00 – Compass Point – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection won three times here in the spring at 1m to 1m2f. He returned to action from 152-day absence with a solid reappearance at Leicester 16-days ago. Looks sure to go well back on a track he goes well at.

Pontefract

4:00 – Francis Xavier – 7/4 @ Bet365 – The selection won this race 12 months ago and bounced back to form when winning at Ascot 20-days ago. The 4-year-old acts as on good to soft although has yet to be tested on softer ground. Up 4lb since his last win but looks the type to progress further.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Jabalaly was a tasty winner at a BOG 8/1 on Monday.

Sligo

2:55 – Cliff House – 7/2 – Gen – The selection was useful over hurdles but has so far finished runner-up on four of his last five starts over fences. Has run well twice on the flat since his last go over fences.Granted he’s 0 wins from 10 runs over fences but his turn doesn’t look far away and a useful claimer takes off a valuable 7lb today.

Redcar

2:20 – Bowson Fred – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Coral –  On a losing run that dates back to 2016 butthe selection has dropped down to a tempting handicap mark and wasn’t disgraced when 8^th of 18 at Doncaster 14-days ago, raced on the unfavoured stands side.  Ran even better, despite a slow start, when a strong finishing 4^th of 15 at Beverley two starts back. A 5lb apprentice has been booked for the ride and trainer Michael Easterby is among the winners.

Kempton

7:30 – Emirates Knight – 11/4 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill –  Won over C&D 28-days ago. Up 4lb for that narrow success, the form looks solid both the second and third have gone onto win, and the selection has only had four starts on the synthetics so is open to more progress.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Kempton

6:30 – Today Power – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Was well backed to make a winning nursery debut Chepstow 11-days ago. The gelding only failed by a short head to repay his supporters. Up 3lb here on his all-weather debut but he gets the mile well and is capable of more progress.

7:00 – Edaraat – 11/4 – Gen –  The selection won over C&D on his only start on the all-weather three starts back and followed up at Redcar.  Hold up tactics didn’t see him to best advantage in a race where it paid race prominently at York’s Ebor Festival last time. Better expected from the 3-year-old today and he can keep his unbeaten course record.

8:00 – Jabalaly – 13/2 @ William Hill – Did well to get as close as he did from a wide draw here over a mile 20-days ago. The first-time blinkers saw the 3-year-old return to form. If the headgear works again then he can go close over a furlong shorter today. Hasn’t been favoured by the draw again and will need to be ridden for luck but hopefully he can give trainer Ed Dunlop a welcome winner.

There are no selections on Tuesday, but I will be back on Wednesday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Land Of Oz did the business at Newmarket yesterday to keep the recent winning run going. Today’s fare is rather moderate, with flat racing at Hamilton and a jumps card at Plumpton. My two selections run at the former.

Hamilton

2:30 – Rego Park Lady – 5/1 – Gen – The selections trainer Adrian Murray is 2 winners from 2 runners at Hamilton, including the filly who won over C&D back in July, off 4lb lower The 4-year-old took advantage of a favourable handicap mark to win that day, despite not getting the best of runs between the final two furlongs. Not in the same form at Cork or Catterick since but the return to this track can hopefully see her return to winning ways.

4:00 – Roman Stone – 6/5 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – A winner at Carlisle on heavy ground 40-days ago. The selection has to give 7lb to his two rivals today but on rain softened ground he looks capable of doing so. He made all at Carlisle and hopefully will get another uncontested lead today.

Cheers

John