Author: John Burke

Hi all,

It’s not ‘Super Sunday’ on the racing front today that’s for sure.

Stratford

4:10 – Arthur’s Sixpence – 11/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 5-year-old looks like he can make up into a better chaser than a hurdler. He wasn’t disgraced when 2^nd of 3 at Newton Abbot on his chase debut 46-days ago and can improve for that run. Steps up slightly in distance which should suit also get the addition of the first time cheekpieces. He won’t need to be a world beater to win a handicap chase like this that’s for sure.

5:20 – Atlantic Storm – 4/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection beat one of today’s rivals Regulation over C&D 12-days ago despite idling after the last. Handicapper has only put the seven-year-old up 3lb for that win, which doesn’t appear to harsh. He got a strong pace to chase last time and there’s good chance that the he will get the same again here, as there are several who like to go from the front.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s Super Saturday and you can see why, with punters facing seven race meetings in the UK and a further two across the Irish Sea.

Chester

2:35 – Daffy Jane – 4/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection has bounced back to form on her last two starts. Two starts back she was runner-up in a valuable 7f handicap at York, on soft and last time out she ran just as well when 3^rd at Pontefract, on good to firm 12-days ago. She races off the same mark here and trainer Nigel Tinkler’s horses are in excellent form at present.

Hamilton

7:05 – Dark Lochnagar – 7/1 – Gen – Was a real eyecatcher at Ayr six days ago. Slowly away, he also didn’t get the clearest of run on the rail between the final two furlongs but finished his race off nicely enough to almost grab 5^th. The 3-year-old was only beaten 2 ½ lengths at the line and with a better passage could well have won. This is a better race than Sunday’s, but he’s only had the six career starts and remains capable of more improvement.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

York

3:45 – Ironclad – 4/1 @ William Hill- Caught the eye when runner-up at Chelmsford two starts back and won like a 4/5 chance should at Beverley 24-Days ago. The 3-year-old makes his handicap debut off a workable mark of 81. Trainer Hugo Palmer’s horses are getting better than they were and the Dubawi colt is bred to win better races than this. He should get a decent pace to chase here and looks a horse worth keeping onside in handicaps.

Chester

8:00 – Zeyzoun – 5/1 – Gen – The selection is a rare Chester runner for Newmarket trainer Chris Wall. Despite his age the 5-year-old doesn’t have many miles on the clock, just the 13 runs. No wins in 8 runs for the trainer but did win a soft ground maiden when trained in France. He made a promising seasonal reappearance at Doncaster in May and built on that when a ½ length 3^rd of 12 at Nottingham off 1lb lower. A step back up 7f should be in his favour and he can go close if the ground isn’t too quick as his best performances seem to have occurred with some juice in the ground.

Ffos Las

6:40 – Marble Moon – 3/1 – Gen – Twice a winner here over hurdles.The selection looked a shade unlucky and probably should have won beaten just a head at Newton Abbot seven days ago. Drops back 2f here but this more galloping track will suit the 7-year-old. Races off the same mark as at Newton Abbot and has obvious claims of going one better today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Doncaster

5:00 – Warning Fire – 15/8 @ Bet365 – The selection is having her third run 6-days but she’s a filly in great form, winning at Haydock and was only beaten a head at Ayr 3-days ago. Back to 7f but won over the distance at Haydock so it shouldn’t be a problem. The 3-year-old has clearly gone well on quick ground and as long as the going remains as it and this race doesn’t come to quick, she’s got a great chance. Made all when winning and it looks like she could get an uncontested lead.

Newmarket

2:25 – Visinari – Evens @Ladbrokes & Coral – The son of Dark Angel had the speed figure guys purring after making all to win over C&D on his racecourse debut last month. He wisely missed Royal Ascot and comes here. He has 10lb to find with Guildsman on RPR’s but is open to plenty of improvement and is a top-class juvenile in the making. His course win came on good to firm, so he won’t have any problems with the reported going. I’m hoping that Visinari can build on the promise of his winning racecourse debut and show us why Tom Segal (Pricewise) has backed him for next year’s 2,000 Guineas. It’s just a shame about the price but if you can get evens or slightly better then he’s worth a punt.  A rather boring Nap of the day.

Leopardstown

7:25 – Insignia Of Rank – 11/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – Top-weight and the class horse of the race. The 4-year-old’s been in great form this season. A winner at the Curragh over today’s trip he’s since gone on to finish a close-up 3^rd at the Curragh two starts back, off 2lb lower. Last time out he had no issues dropping back to mile when winning a Listed race 12-days ago. Capable of going close with Magnetic Charm the one to fear.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Both Tuesday’s selections ran well up to a point but it’s winners we need. All three Wednesday selections run at Kempton this evening.

Kempton

6:45 – Skyman – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is making his polytrack debut here but did show so some promise on his sole start on the tapeta at Wolverhampton as 2-year-old. Made a decent handicap debut when runner-up at Nottingham 13-days ago. Pulled nicely clear of the third that day and is just 1lb higher here. Capable of winning off this sort of mark.

7:45 – Cacophonous – 11/2 – Gen –The 4-year-old has yet to win on nine starts. Shaped reasonably well when 3^rd of 10 when stepped up to 1m 5f at Lingfield 15-days ago. His effort can be slightly marked up as he travelled out wide most of the way and didn’t handle bend as well as the two who finished ahead of him. It could be that he has his own ideas about the game, but he shapes like the step up to 2m will suit. The selection makes his all-weather debut today and I’m sure connections will be disappointed if he can’t win a race off his present mark of 68.

8:45 – Maid For Life – 7/2 @ Paddy Power –  I tend to avoid horses that are keen in their races but I’m going to make an exception here. The selection was far to good for her rivals, despite being keen, when winning on her handicap debut at Wolverhampton 40-days ago. The handicapper has put the 3-year-old up 7lb for that win but she looks progressive. It worth noting she got within 4 ½ lengths of the smart Jubiloso at Chelmsford two starts back and that filly is now rated 30lb higher. Trainer Charlie Fellowes is having a great 2019 with his unexposed runners in handicaps those with 3 to 9 career runs – 17 winners from 65 runners 26% +65.98 A/E 1.49 26 placed 40%. The one I fear is Nefarious, trained by the inform Henry Candy who will be suited by the return to the all-weather. That said I’m still going for the Fellowes filly who is my nap of the day.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The dreaded ‘nap’ curse struck again. It looked like Haafapiece was going to win coming to two out but couldn’t or wouldn’t go past the long-time leader.

Pontefract

3:15 – Clon Coulis – 5/2 @ William Hill & Bet365 –  The selection won this Listed race last year and showed she was as good as even when beaten just a nose in the Royal Hunt Cup.  Stall eight could have been better but she can hopefully take advantage of the 3lb that she gets from Billesdon Brook who won last years 1,000 Guineas.

Brighton

7:40 – Hedging – 9/2 @ William Hill –  The 5-year-old gained her second course win from six runs with a decisive victory over C&D 7-days ago. He’s clearly very effective on quick ground so underfoot conditions will suit again. Has a 5lb penalty to carry for last weeks win but he remains on a competitive mark based on his best form, won over C&D off 9lb higher In April 2018. Capable of going in again. Just to show I ‘m not superstitious Hedging is the Tuesday nap.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A nice early priced double landed yesterday.  Today looks tougher but I will be disappointed if we can’t have one winner today.

Ayr

2:30 – Hello Girl – 5/1 @Bet365 & Betway – Trained by the very much inform Nigel Tinkler 9 winners from 31 runners 29% +21.50 in the past 14-days. One of those nine winners is the selection who had a confidence boosting winner in Classified Stakes race at Lingfield 9-days ago. An inform filly who handled the quick ground last time and looks capable of another bold show here.

Worcester

4:45 – Haafapiece – 4/1 @Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has run respectably on both starts since returning form a winter break. A smooth winner over C&D 12 months ago, off 4lb lower, he looks capable of going very close given he ticks the all-important boxes marked course, distance and going. Trainer Pam Sly’s runners are going nicely 2 winners from 7 runners 29% +3 in the past 14-days. My nap of the day which is usually a kiss of death for such a selection.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Enable gave us another winner yesterday. I have two selections for you today. One from Ayr and the other from Market Rasen.

Ayr

3:35 – Harome – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection was a disappointing beaten favourite over C&D 15-days ago. Prior to that he had been beaten only 1 ¾ lengths into 6th in the Epsom Dash. A reproduction of that Epsom performance would be good enough for the 5-year-old, whose back down to his last winning mark.

Market Rasen

4:50 – The Sweeney – 3/1 @Bet365 – Ran out a comfortable winner over C&D, nearest rival fell two out, Up 6lb in better race today demands more from the selection but we do know the 7-year-old ticks the all-important boxes marked going, course & distance. Trainer Emma Lavelle is 5 winners from 11 runners 45% +15.25 in hurdle races at the course in the past 5-years. Looks to have a decent chance of following up today. Saying that, I would want all the 3/1 on offer about his chance.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Jazeel did the business on Friday at a generous 7/2 to get the service off to a winning start after it’s holiday break.

There are two selections on Saturday from Sandown and the another one from Nottingham.

Sandown

3:35 – Enable – Evens – Despite the drop back to 1m 2f she remains the one they all have to beat. Trainer John Gosden won this race last year with Roaring Lion and with Nathaniel, in 2012, who like Enable was making his seasonal return in the race. It doesn’t look the strongest of renewals of this year’s Eclipse and the selection can make a winning return to action. The Evens available looks a decent value too.

Nottingham

5:40 – Bollin Ted – 10/1 @ Paddy Power or 8/1 – Gen – The selection won this amateur rider’s race 12 months ago off a mark of 61 and can race off 1lb lower this time around. Four of the 5-year-old’s career wins have come on good to firm ground, he’s also 3 wins from 5 runs in July and 5 wins from 10 runs when racing within 15-days of his last start. Looks to have a good chance of taking this race for the second year running.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I am back from holiday with a selection from Friday’s Sandown card.

Sandown

4:00 – Jazeel – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection made a promising stable debut for Jedd O’Keeffe when runner up at Newmarket back in May. He continued his improvement when runner-up to Mountain Angel at Epsom, over 1m 2f, 35-days ago. Drops back to a stiff mile here and if he gets a decent pace to change the previous C&D winner looks the one, they all have to beat on going that will suit.

Cheers

John