Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Doncaster

2:25 – Oweney Madden – 9/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – Made it 2 wins from his last 3 starts when winning a Class 2 nursery at York 21-days ago. He only got up close home over 6f and can improve for the step up in distance. Mind you he must, as the handicapper has raised the colt 9lb for his York success. The Martyn Meade stable has been hit by a virus which is a slight concern but hopefully this one is clear of it.

Kempton

7:30 – Young Merlin – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – It could be worth chancing Young Merlin here. The 3-year-old got his head in front for the first time at Sandown two starts back. Found life tougher off 5lb higher when 4^th of 5 behind Land Of Oz. Looks like he should be suited by the step up to 2m and given he remains lightly raced could be open to a bit more progress over this new distance.

8:30 – Letsbe Avenue – 9/2 @ Paddy Power – The selection has dropped down to an attractive mark. He remains unexposed on the all-weather just the four starts, winning here over 7f back in 2017. Looked a shade unlucky in the run when 5^th of 10 here back in July off a 10lb higher mark. Drops into class 6 company for the first time since his course win.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Kelso

5:00 – Packettotherafters – 7/2 – Gen – A winner at Bangor, off 5lb lower back in May. Returned from a wind-operation when 3^rd of 8 back at the same venue 22-days ago.  A dour stayer as he showed when winning at Bangor. He looks interesting on his second run after a wind op. Cheshire based trainer Gary Hanmer is having his first runner at Kelso and is 1-1 in the past 14-days.

6:10 – Beautiful Ben – 3/1 @ William Hill – The selection won at Perth over this sort of distance two starts back. Seemed wanting for stamina when stepped up to 2m 3f at Market Rasen on the bid for the follow up 37-days ago. The return to shorter should be in his favour and i’m expecting him to close here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A decisive win by Roulston Scar meant we ended Sunday with a small profit.

Brighton

3:20 – Sandy Steve – 11/10 – William Hill – The selection showed he handled the track when finishing runner-up here two starts back. The 3-year-old has since gone onto win at Chelmsford off 6lb lower. Steps up two furlongs in distance but ran at Chelmsford like he needs this sort of trip now. Going the right way, he remains on competitive mark and is the one to beat. That said I wouldn’t want to take less than evens about his chance today.

3:50 – Long Call – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Comes into the race fresher than most as this will be just his second start since January. Returning from a 202-day absence the selection won over C&D 32-days ago. Up 2lb but he drops a notch in class here. Both flat turf wins have come on good to firm so no issues with the ground for the 6-year-old. Looks to have a good chance of another success.

Perth

3:40 – Indian Temple – 11/4 @ William Hill – Might have reached the veteran stage but the 10-year-old has been in great form of late. A Perth specialist, the selection ran over hurdles last time but prior to that had won here and at Market Rasen over fences. Up 4lb for the latter of those wins and now on a career high mark. He might be better over slightly further these days but looks sure to give his backers a good run for their money.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A frustrating Saturday with two seconds and a third placed effort. Today’s selections all run at York

York

1:50 – Alben Spirit – 7/2 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – Trainer Richard Faheyhas won this race four times in the past ten years and he has a lively contender in the selection. The colt was well backed (7/2) on his seasonal reappearance when 4^th of 13 at Carlisle 10-days ago. He was a little keen in the early stages and paid for those exertions at the finish. Should come on plenty for that run and will races.

4:00 – Funny Man – 10/3 @ Bet365 – The selection has won two of his last four starts and was only beaten a nose at Redcar 15-days ago, off 3lb lower. Can be a hard ride for his jockey as evidenced at Redcar and the first-time visor replaces the blinkers. Shapes like the step up to 2m will suit and he shouldn’t be far away here.

4:30 – Roulston Scar – 5/2 – Gen – The selection is sure to be popular after his 3rd of 19 over 5f at the Ebor Festival. The step up to 6f isn’t an issue for the 3-year-old, won at Pontefract over the distance two starts back. He looks a solid market leader for the very much inform Kevin Ryan stable.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Musselburgh

6:00 – Battle Of Waterloo – 8/1 – Gen – Both the selections career wins have come on the synthetics but he put in his best turf effort over C&D two starts back. The 3-year-old wasn’t disgraced in a better race at Newmarket 14-days ago. Return here will suit. Stall 7 could have been kinder, but he can go close.

7:00 – Echo Of Lightning – 5/2 @ William Hill – The 9-year-old has won three times around here, including C&D 10-days ago. Has just a 4lb penalty to carry for that decisive success. Won’t get an easy lead as he did last time but has a good draw in stall 3.

7:30 – Fantastic Ms Fox – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has been knocking on the door on her least two starts in handicaps. Was doing her best work at the finish last time and if she gets a better pace to chase, she won’t be far away here

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A nice double on Tuesday to get the month off to a good start.

Lingfield

6:20 – October Storm last win came in October 2017, off 1lb higher, but he’s been fairly consistent since then. No issues with the distance for the 6-year-old although good to firm would be slight concern. However, there is no doubting he’s dropped back down to a winnable mark on the best of his form earlier in the season in higher class handicaps than this one.

October Storm – 9/2 @ Paddy Power

Salisbury

4:40 – Rotherwick is another well handicapped horse if putting his best hoof forward now 1lb lower than his last winning mark. Looked to be hitting winning form when 3^rd at Goodwood three starts back and hasn’t run to badly on two subsequent starts. The 7-year-old is vulnerable to improvers but this is the best chance he’s had this season of getting back into the winners enclosure.

Rotherwick – 7/1 – Gen

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Doubly Clever was an easy winner at Worcester on Sunday. Hopefully there’s another winner among today’s three selections.

Chepstow

1:45 – Prissy Missy – 2/1 @ William Hill – The selection has been knocking on the door in nursery handicaps of late. Indeed, last time she beat all but an improving nursery debutante at Bath 6-days ago. The filly can race off the same mark and hopefully the booking of a 5lb apprentice can make the all difference today.

3:45 – Graphite Storm – 3/1 – Gen – Won at Newmarket (good to firm) two starts back before struggling to land a blow on soft ground last time. Has won on soft ground in the past but seems to prefer quicker ground these days. The 5-year-old is well handicapped and a return to a sounder surface will be in his favour.

Brighton

3:30 – Pour La Victoire – 4/1 @ William Hill – The 9-year-old is looking for his ninth win here at Brighton, including one over C&D. Not at his best when last on good to soft when last of seven here 13-days ago but the blinkers return today, and the quicker ground will be more to his liking.  He’s down to a good handicap mark, 10lb lower than for his last win here 12 months ago and looks worth a go.

I’m away for the next two days, so my next selections will be on Thursday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I think yesterday’s selections are still running. Yes, they all ran below par. Not the best-looking day’s racing but I have selections running at Brighton on the flat and over jumps at Worcester.

Brighton

2:00 – Thegreyvtrain – 2/1 @ William Hill – The filly was 2^nd of 7 at Bath 5-days ago, putting in a career best in the process. Might get competition for the lead here but she remains the form choice and Osin Murphy takes the ride.

Worcester

2:10 – Midnight Gem – 3/1 @ William Hill – The selection is hardly the most consistent of horses, but she bounced back to form, breaking a very long losing run, when winning at Southwell 42-days ago. Up 5lb in the weights but she remains on a winnable mark if she can put back to back performances together.

4:10 – Doubly Cleaver – 3/1 @ Willliam Hill – Took advantage of a career low mark when winning over C&D 18-days ago. Up 6lb today but ticks the boxes marked going, course & distance. This is a tougher race, but the 7-year-old looks capable of winning again

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Not the best of days on Friday. Here’s hoping today’s selections can do better.

Sandown

4:45 – Mountain Rescue – 13/2 @ William Hill or 6/1 – Gen A winner over a mile at Newmarket three starts back showed he remains in form when 2^nd of 6 over 7f here 23-days ago. Up 3lb for that effort but remains on a competitive mark on the best of his form. Could get an uncontested lead here and if his jockey gets the fractions right, he will be hard to peg back

Lingfield

6:00 – Tin Fandango – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection gained a well deserved first win, at the 11^th attempt, over C&D back in April. Not so good at Chelmsford on his next start but ran like something was amiss that day and has been off the track for 123-days. Possibly best when returning from a break. He’s 4lb higher than for his last win but remains on a workable mark.

7:30 – Quemonda – 7/2 @ Bet365 or 11/4 @ William Hill – The 3-year-old showed much improved form when winning on her handicap debut over C&D 12-days ago. The handicapper has only put the filly up 3lb for what looked like a cosy 1 ¼ length success. Looks capable of more progress on just her 5^th career start and she’s much better drawn than last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another winner yesterday. Let’s hope for more of the same today. Friday’s selections go at Sandown and Thirsk.

Sandown

2:10 – Seraphinite – 10/3 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – A winner at Kempton back in May the 2-year-old has run credibly in nursery’s since and wasn’t disgraced when runner-up back in novice company at Windsor 19-days ago. Looks capable of going close dropped back to 5f.

2:40 – Indian Raj – 9/4 – Gen – Won over C&D two starts back off 3lb lower and wasn’t disgraced when coming from off the pace to finish 3^rd of 6 at Windsor 11-days ago. Remains in form and the return to a stiffer 5f will be in favour.

Thirsk

5:15 – My Ukulele – 4/1 @ Bet365 or 7/2 – Gen – The selection has won her last two starts at Musselburgh and latterly over C&D 27-days ago. The filly is up 7lb for her last win but she’s in inform and progressive. Ease in the ground and a truly run race will be in her favour.

Cheers

John