Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Muraaqeb returned at a generous 7/2 saved the day on Friday.

Ripon

4:25 – Storm Ahead – 6/1 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill – The selection a soft ground winner at Doncaster back in June, off 6lb lower, showed he remains on a competitive mark when beaten just a ahead at Pontefract 10-days ago.  Can go well again with the ground set to suit.

Doncaster

4:10 – Moll Davis – Evens @ Paddy Power or Bet365 – Looked a very unlucky loser at Goodwood on her last start. Drops a couple of notches in grade today and make her class advantage pay. However, I’m not sure I would want to take back her at less than evens though.

4:35 – Delph Crescent – 10/3  @ William Hill or 3/1 – Gen – The four-year-old has yet to add to his three career wins so far this season but has dropped down to 8lb below last years winning mark. Capable of winning a race like this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Chepstow

8:15 – Union Rose – 3/1 – Gen – The 7-year-old ran well to finish 2^nd of 7 over 5 ½ f at Bath 8-days ago when attempting to give 15lb to an improving filly that day. Not as a good as he once was and isn’t the easiest horse to win with but Cieran Fallon takes off a valuable 5lb and he looks capable of going close for a trainer who is 3-11 in the past 14-days.

Salisbury

3:20 – The Lords Walk – 3/1 – Gen – A winner at Epsom two starts back he was beaten just a short head back at the same venue. Up a further 3lb demands more from the who seemed to hang away his chance in the 100yds. The visor he wore on his last two starts is replaced by the first time blinkers and if the new headgear works the oracle, the 6-year-old should make a bold bid for another success.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Good to break the losing habit yesterday with two Carlisle BOG winners at 5/1 & 9/2.

The weather is so unsettled at the moment and today’s it’s more of the same with rain forecast. All in all, it makes punting difficult.

Just the one selection from Kempton’s evening meeting.

Kempton

8:40 – Croeso Cymraeg – 7/2 – Gen –  The 5-year-old made it 3 wins from 7 runs in 2019 when winning over C&D back in May.  Hasn’t been disgraced on three subsequent runs and arguably put up a career best when 3^rd of 13 at Chelmsford 22-days ago. He needs a good even gallop which he didn’t really get last time so in the circumstances it was a good effort. Should get a decent pace to chase this evening and he remains on a competitive mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Ffos Las

3:15 – Isobar Wind – 5/2 – Gen – The selection was slowly away last time but finished his race off well enough to think that he’s handicapped to win a nursery. Drop back to 5f shouldn’t be an issue on soft ground and he did show plenty of speed when making all to win at Ripon two starts back. The visor he has wore on his last two starts is replaced by the first-time blinkers.

Carlisle

5:45 – Bedtime Bella – 7/2 – Gen – Finally got her head in front at the 8^th attempt when winning at Hamilton 10-days ago. Back in handicap company today but at least she handles rain softened ground and a stiff 6f plays to her strengths, was strong at the end of her race last time.

7:15 – Dawn Breaking – 3/1 – Gen – The 4-year-old seemed to improve for the fitting of the first-time blinkers when running out a comfortable 3 length winner at Pontefract 5-days ago. Turned out quickly under just a 5lb penalty. Capable of following up, if the headgear works for a second time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Last week’s winning run seems a distant memory, but the selections are running well enough so I’m not to concerned at the moment.

Wolverhampton

6:50 – Dashed – 11/4 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection won at Redcar as a juvenile, but she hasn’t managed to win on her five starts this season. However, she’s run well on two occasions including last time when 3^rd at Leicester 25-days ago. If she hadn’t been slowly away, that day she may well have won.  All weather debut but she does look on a competitive mark. The anticipated fast pace should suit but she can’t afford to miss the start.

Windsor

7:00 – Rotherwick –4/1 @ William Hill –  Was slowly away at Goodwood 9-days ago but still managed to run on into third. In the circumstances, he did well to finish as close as he did to the well handicapped winner Gifts Of Gold. You must go back to June 2018, for the 7-year-old’s last win which came over C&D but he’s shaping like another win isn’t far away. Hopefully that win will be today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sunday Selections

Leicester

4:20 – Silkstone – 7/2 @ William Hill – Goes well here with form figures 122. Came up against the well handicapped Lyndon here last time. A winner on soft ground at Doncaster three starts back so any more easing of the ground won’t be a problem for the selection.

4:50 – Stallone – 9/2 @ Paddy Power –  The selection wasn’t suited by quick ground when 7^th of 12 at Newmarket 9-days ago. Best form on turf has come on heavy & soft on Racing Post Ratings. The 3-year-old races off just 1lb higher than when winning at Nottingham back in June. Looks on a competitive mark and the more the ground eases the better his chance.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Saturday Selections

Chelmsford

5:00 – Muraaqueb – 2/1 – Gen – The selection goes well here and made it 3-4 over C&D with the latest of those wins coming 7- days ago.  Up 3lb for that win but remains on a competitive mark and won’t be far away.

Newmarket

5:30 – Grenadier Guard – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Had been expected to improve for the step up to 2m on his handicap debut at Ascot last month but was disappointing. The first-time blinkers are applied today and if they work the 3-year-old looks on a winnable mark. Any ease in the ground should also suit him.

Haydock

4:45 – Jonah Jones – 9/2 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – First run since a wind-op and his seasonal reappearance. Last seen in action when winning a soft ground 6f York nursery 301-days ago. The selection has just had the four career starts so he remains capable of more progress as a 3-year-old.  Needs respecting for a trainer & jockey combination that do well at Haydock.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The winning run had to come to an end sometime and it did so yesterday. It’s shocking morning weather wise.

Thirsk

2:50 – Grimsdyke – 4/1 – Gen – Seemed to put in a much improvement when winning at Redcar 9-days ago, beating a well fancied stablemate in the process. Has a 6lb penalty to carry for that win but remains capable of better and is bred to be a better than a 51 rated horse. Soft ground would be an unknown but three of his half siblings were effective with ease in the ground.

3:20 – Myklachi – 7/2 – Gen – The selection will be suited by forecast rain, having won a selling handicap at Ripon on soft ground back in June.  Seemed to put in a career best when 2^nd of 10 at Lingfield 13-days ago and he should be suited by today’s slightly longer trip. Vulnerable to any improvers but should give his running.

Chelmsford

7:30 – Only Spoofing – 10/3 @ William Hill – Comes into these 5f handicap in tremendous form,having won his last three races on turf. The last of those wins came at Ascot 14-days when he out battled the eventual runner-up to win by 1/2 length. This is just his second run at Chelmsford, previous run was in this race 12 months ago. He was beaten length into 4^th that day, off 9lb lower, but comes into this year’s race in much better from. Up 7lb demands even more from the 5-year-old but he looks capable of another big run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the one winner on Wednesday. Here’s hoping for better on Thursday.

Haydock

2:00 – Arletta Star – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection’s last four form figures 1231. Last time out the 3-year-old had a comfortable 4 length win at Chester 12-days ago. Up 7lb for that win but at least she’s inform and could be up to defying her new career high mark.

Yarmouth

4:20 – Hart Stopper – 7/2 – Gen – The 5-year-old is 3 wins from 4 runs 4 placed over C&D. The last of those wins came here 12-days ago. He’s up 2lb for that win but looks capable of being competitive once again on a track he goes well at.

Sandown

8:15 – Rampant Lion – 5/2 @ William Hill – Remains a better horse on the all-weather than turf but showed at Epsom, when runner-up, 7-days ago that he’s on a winnable mark on grass. Jockey David Probert who’s 2 wins from 6 5 placed on the 4-year-old is back in the saddle today and trainer William Jarvis is among the winners 2-9 in the past 14-days.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another two winners yesterday with Gallaside & Crystal Tiara doing the business for us at Nottingham on Tuesday evening. The other two selections ran disappointingly but I will take a 50%-win strike rate any day of the week.

2:10 – Three Little Birds – 9/4 – Gen – The selection won over C&D last September off 5lb higher. Shaped like her turn was near when finishing a length 3^rd of 7 at Ascot 12-days ago. Drop’s a couple of notches in class here and is on a winnable mark.

3:10 – Trelinney – 15/8 – Gen –The 3-year-old finally broke the maiden tag, at the 8^th attempt, when winning by a length at Chepstow 20-days ago. Up 4lb for that win but she seemed to win with a bit more in hand the final margin of victory suggests, and the second Bug Boy has since gone onto win, so the form looks decent enough.

3:40 – Mubariz – 6/4 – Gen – Trainer Roger Charlton is 15-46 33% +19.49 with his runners at Bath in the past 5-years and is among the winners. He looks to have a good chance of another win here with the selection. The 3-year-old made all to win on good to firm on his final start as 2-year-old. Disappointed on his seasonal return at Sandown on good to soft but bounced back to form with a a return to faster ground when 3^rd of 5^th at Haydock last month. Has been gelded since his last start and looks to have been good opportunity to win here.

Yarmouth

6:15 – Lunar Deity – 7/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – Might have reached the veteran stage but the 10-year-old showed four starts back that he was still capable at this level when 2^nd of 10 over C&D. Won this race 12 months ago and is now 6lb lower. He’s’ clearly not as good as he once was but he ran better than his final position suggests at Sandown last time. Should give us a good run for our money and looks a decent price to.

Cheers

John