Author: John Burke

Hi all,

High Acclaim kept up the winning run going at Windsor, on Monday evening, when ending a long losing run at an early priced advised 9/2, returned a well backed 11/4.

The run will come to end sooner rather than later but let’s enjoy the profits for now.

Nottingham

6:00 – Gallaside – 5/4 – Gen –  Improved for the step up 7f when winning at Newcastle 40-days ago. Has top-weight of 9-10 to carry but has the size to handle a big weight. Plenty of scope for improvement for his nursery debut, over an extended mile, and looks the one to beat.

7:30 – Crystal Tiara – 11/2 @ Paddy Power or 5/1 – Gen – The selection bolted up in a Leicester seller, landing a bit of a gamble in the process, 6-days ago. Returns to handicap company with a 6lb penalty which demand but the 3-year-old is in form and relished heavy ground last time so soft ground today shouldn’t be an issue for the filly.

Ripon

6:50 – Isobar Wind –9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The 2-year-old made all to win a C&D seller by six lengths, 17-days ago. It was his first start since a gelding operation and racing in the first-time visor he put in an improved performance. Makes his nursery debut off what looks a winnable mark off 70 if he’s as effective on an easier surface than last time.

7:20 – Oasis Prince – 7/4 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-old is a typical, tough Mark Johnston horse. A winner of 4 of his 8 career starts, the latest coming three starts back at Yarmouth, off 5lb lower. Might prefer slightly further but he will be a tough horse to pass inside the final furlong. Despite just four runners, it shouldn’t be a tactical race which will suit the selection.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The winning runs continues with Dream Kart, returned a generous 9/2, landing the opening race at Chester on Sunday.

Windsor

7:00 – High Acclaim –  9/2 @ William Hill & Bet365 – The selection has dropped down to a very tempting mark, now 12lb lower than when winning the valuable Spring Mile Handicap at Doncaster, on the opening day of the 2018 flat season. No wins since but a reproduction of his close-up 5^th at Newbury two starts back would see the 5-year-old go close in the hands of Silvestre De Sousa.

Kempton

4:15 – Ironclad – 13/8 @ Bet365 – The 3-year-old was doing his best work at the finish when battling on to win on his handicap debut at Newmarket, 16 -days ago. He steps up 1m 4f but today’s extra distance shouldn’t be a problem. his half-brother Mirage Dancer has won three times over the trip and the colt races like he will improve for it. Up 5lb for his last win, he’s plenty short enough in the betting but I will be disappointed if he’s beaten.

5:15 – Rose Berry – 7/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill – Is a better horse on the all-weather than turf.The mares last win came at Chelmsford back in April off 2lb higher. Although she’s yet to win at Kempton she was only beaten a nose over C&D in February, off 2lb higher. Needs to be at her best but Silvestre De Sousa who rode her at Chelmsford is back in the saddle and trainer Charlie Wallis is among the winners, so there’s a good chance she will run her race.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another winner on Saturday to keep the winning run going, courtesy of Enbihaar. Who was returned at returned at a generous 7/2.

Chester

2:00 – Dream Kart – 11/4 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection made all to win at Windsor three starts back.Looked set to win on her nursery debut, when long odds on at Leicester last month, but hung right inside the final furlong and was caught on the line. The filly clearly isn’t straight forward, but she nicely drawn in three to attack from the front and could be suited by to return to a sharper track.  Her Windsor win came on good to firm, but she’s got placed form on rain softened ground.

4:15 – Monoski – 15/8 @ Paddy Power & William Hill – The colt made a good start to his career when runner up at York before making all to win over 6f at Pontefract. Finished down the field when upped in class in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes (14/1) before finishing 3^rd of 3 behind one of today’s rivals Hurstwood at Pontefract. A short break will hopefully have freshened the selection up.  This will be first run on going worse than good so underfoot conditions are an unknown. However, the front runner races out of stall one and looks like he can get an uncontested lead out in front. I thought he would be a shade bigger in the betting, but he still looks a bit of value compared to likely favourite Oh Purple Reign.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Our poor recent run has come to an end with three winners from 5 bets over the past two days. Let’s hope we can keep the profitable run going today.

Goodwood

3:00 – Enbihaar – 10/3 @ Coral or 3/1 – Gen –  A disappointing field of just seven go to post for this race for this Group 2 contest over 1m 6f. Enbihaar & Dramatic Queen were first and second in the Lancashire Oaks. Just a neck separated the fillies at the line. Enbihaar now must give 3lb away to her old rival.  Despite that I just fancy her to come out on top again over this 2f longer trip and follow up her Lancashire Oaks success

Hamilton –

8:50 – Set In Stone – 7/2 @ Paddy Power or 10/3 @ William Hill – The selection relished the return to rain softened ground when battling onto win over C&D 15-days ago. Up 3lb but more than capable of going in again in her present form. The mares record on good to soft & soft ground over 1m & 1m 1f stands at 5 wins from 9 runs +18 including 3 wins from 4 runs +10.5 at Hamilton.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A welcome winner with Bug Boy’s success at Ffos Las yesterday.

Bath

5:05 – Sir Canford – 4/1 @ William Hill – The 3-year-old has only had the four career starts. Last time out he stepped up to 1m 2f for his handicap debut and in the first time cheekpieces beat 11 rivals at Lingfield. Slight niggle that run was 62-days ago. Lingfield win was on good to firm so shouldn’t have any issues with the going. Up 5lb for his Lingfield success but there should be a bit more improvement for the step up to 1m 3 ½ f. Has the twice course winner Sadlers Beach to beat.

6:45 – Charlie D – 3/1 @ William Hill – The selection’s three career wins have come at around 1m 4f, one on good to firm and two on the tapeta. Bounced back to form when runner-up to a well handicapped Sir Mark Prescott horse at Wolverhampton 16-days ago. Yet to win beyond 1m 4f, so there are slight stamina doubts for 2m 1f, but he should be fine.

Mussleburgh

8:10 – Boudica Bay – 3/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Made it 2-2 over C&D when a decisive winner 10-days ago. Has a 5lb penalty to carry here and stall 1 could be a lot better. Still she’s like the course and has a decent change of gear for the grade.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Goodwood

2:25 – Threat – 15/8 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – Was runner-up to Arizona in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Guildsman back in third, last month. Unlike Guildsman he didn’t go to the Newmarket July Festival. He’s the one they all must beat.

3:00 –Spanish Mission – 5/1 @ Paddy Power – The selection impressed when winning a Group 3 at Newmarket 21-days ago, prior to that had finished runner-up here so the track shouldn’t pose any problems for the colt. His sire Noble Mission won this race in 2012. Relished the quick ground at Newmarket and probably wouldn’t want the ground to ease before post time.

Ffos Las

7:45 – Bug Boy – 8/1 @ Bet365 – A maiden after 11 starts. The 3-year-old has been knocking on the day on his last two starts in 1m 2f handicaps. Put in what looked a career best when 2^nd of 6 at Chepstow 14-days ago. Despite being slowly away and not getting the clearest of runs in straight. Only beaten a length if the cards had fallen kindlier, he could well have broke his maiden tag last time. Up just 1lb he must have a decent chance of going one better here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

We could do with one or two winners today to end a barren run.

Goodwood

4:45 – Moll Davis – 7/1 @ Bet365 – The selection is up a couple of notches in class and 5lb for her recent Hamilton win. You had to be impressed with the manner of her win though. The 3-year-old didn’t get the clearest of runs two out but still came through to win. There should be more to come from the filly. 

6:05 – Return To Senders – 5/2 – Gen – The colt has improved for the fitting of blinkers on his last two starts. Both runs have been over 6f, but he travelled strongly last time to think that Sandown’s stiff 5f could suit.

8:20 – Buckman Tavern – 6/4 – Gen – Put in career best effort when runner-up over C&D 6 days ago. The selection was only beaten by ¾ length at the finish and would surely have won if not hampered by the eventual winner well inside the final furlong. Looks a winner without a penalty.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Tuesday Stat Pointers

Perth

7:25 – El Terremoto – 15/8 @ Paddy Power – The selection looked to have benefited for wind-op and the switch to the David Pipe stable when 4^th of 14 in the Summer Plate. This is a step down in class for the 7-year-old who can win this if building on the promise of his Market Rasen reappearance. Trainer’s horses going well and he’s 7-20 35% +3.20 with his runners at Perth in the last 5-years.

Yarmouth

5:05 – Han Sol Berger – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The 4-year-old has been knocking on the door on his last two starts.  Was beaten just ½ length in a Class 4 Sandown handicap 6-days ago and drops into Class 5 company here. Trainer Chris Wall is 3-10 30% +3.41. Quick turnaround but this looks a good opportunity for his first win since his two juvenile wins in 2017.

Worcester

6:05 – Capital Force – 11/4 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – A winner at Ludlow three starts back off 5lb lower. The selection was still upsides the eventual winner when making a mistake, on landing, at the last. A reproduction of that effort minus the mistake would see the 8-year-old go close here. Probably needs a good gallop to be seen at his best but there are three who like to go from the front so he should get it.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s the start of the Galway Festival today and I have two selections from there, as well as Windsor & Ayr.

Galway

5:20 – Authorized Art – 6/4 – Gen – The selection represents Willie Mullins who has won four of the last five running’s of this. The selection won on his first start of the trainer when running out the easy winner of a Punchestown maiden 75-days ago. Looks capable of much better and can win this.

8:40 – Think Positive – 3/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – Like the first selection is trained by Willie Mullins who landed this NHF race in 2013 & 2017 and has a 45%-win strike rate with such runners at Galway in the past 5-years. Finished lame when favourite for a valuable bumper at the Punchestown Festival back in April. Has since finished runner -up at Kilbeggan.  Looks more than capable of landing a bumper before going hurdling.

Ayr

4:00 – Shoot For Gold – 15/8 @ Coral & William Hill –  The rain that fell at the track yesterday has turned the ground soft which should suit the selection. The 3-year-old makes his handicap debut here and could be ahead of his mark. An easy winner of a soft ground Windsor novice race last October. The son of Sea The Stars was then unable to handle the step up to Group 1 company when a well beaten 6^th of 9 in the Grand Criterium at Saint-cloud. The colt holds Great Voltiguer and St Leger entries so is clearly highly regarded by his trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, who won this race 12 months ago and has his horses in great form at present. He might not be up to St Leger class but looks on a decent enough mark here.

Windsor

7:50 – Embour – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The Windsor Sprint Series Final and a field of 16 have declared to go to post for this decent prize. The selection won over C&D two starts back. He then finished a good 4^th over 5f at Ascot 16-days ago and will appreciate the return to 6f. The 4-year-old is 5 wins from 8 runs 7 placed when racing within 17-days of his last start. Sean Levey whose 4 wins from 4 rides on the gelding is also back in the saddle.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I thought the easing of the ground would catch out Saturday’s selections and so it proved. Pontefract races on Sunday and there is competitive looking card at the Yorkshire track. Hopefully, the rain that fell in the area on Saturday will have eased the going significantly to aid the chances of my two selections.

Pontefract

3:55 – De Fede – 7/2 – Gen – The selection won a soft ground, 7f Listed race at Ascot last October and wasn’t disgraced when a 4 ½ length, 5th of 17 in a Group 2 at the same track two starts back. The form of that race looks solid as the 4th has since gone onto win a Group 1 at Newmarket and the 8th a Group 2 at the Curragh. The filly finished third here as 2-year-old so the track won’t be an issue and any rain will be in her favour.

4:30 – Diamond Dougal – 7/1 – Gen – Hasn’t been disgraced on any of his four starts this season, without looking like he would add to his four career wins. This is the selections first run at the course, but trainer Mick Channon has a good record with his handicappers here, having had 8 winners from 33 runners 24% +39.25 15 placed 45% since the start of 2015. The handicapper has given the 4-year-old a chance as he’s now dropped back to last years winning mark. The key to his chance is plenty of juice in the ground. If the going has eased and stall 8 doesn’t prove to much of an inconvenience, then the top weight has a good chance of adding to his win tally.

Cheers

John