Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Future Investment 3/1 just held on at Ripon on Wednesday evening, but it was very close at the line.

Chelmsford

6:00 – Goodnight Girl – 2/1 @ William Hill & Coral – All the selections three career wins have come last year on the grass. Wasn’t disgraced when runner-up on her all-weather debut over C&D on her seasonal return from a 203-day break. Ran right up to her best when 3^rd at Windsor 17-days ago. Gets the first time cheekpieces and if the headgear ekes out the bit of improvement, she can win this.

Haydock

2:10 – Highwaygrey – 7/2 @ BetVictor & Paddy Power – The selection was a decisive winner here over 1m 2f, 13-days ago and should be suited by today’s 1 ½ f step up in distance. That win came on good to firm ground, but he showed at Beverley that he handled good to soft two starts back. Up 5lb but capable of more progress.

Ripon

3:20 – Aiya – 11/4 @ William Hill & Coral – The 4-year-old returned from 328-day absence when 4^th of 6 at Musselburgh last month and then put in career best when runner-up at Redcar 10-days ago. Can race off the same mark and should be suited by the step back up to 1m 4f. A distance he won at for his previous trainer. Yet to win on turf after seven starts but as he showed at Redcar he won’t be far away if the good to soft ground isn’t an inconvenience.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Eight And Bob did the business for us on Tuesday. Today’s selections run at Newton Abbot and Ripon.

Newton Abbot

3:00 – Passing Call – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The mare won three hurdle races between July & Aug, including C&D.  She returned from a 136-day with an encouraging 4^th of 13 here 21-days ago. Should be spot on fitness wise and the 1f drop distance will be in her favour. Good chance as long as the ground doesn’t ease too much.

Ripon

9:00 – Future Investment – 3/1 – Gen – The selection built on the promise of third placed effort behind Telecaster at Windsor when winning a valuable Chester maiden 28-days ago. The further they went that day the better he looked, and today’s slightly longer trip will suit. His Chester win cam on good to soft which he handled well. Good to firm ask another question of the gelding but he’s very much on an upward curve. Jockey Harry Bentley travels up from Nottingham for this one ride.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Bangor

3:00 -Kingston – 7/1 @ William Hill & Coral –  I’m hoping the rain stays away from Bangor as the selection needs a sound surface to be at his best. A winner over C&D last season. The 10-year-old can now race off a 4lb lower than last year’s winning mark. A good chance if the rain stays away!

Newcastle

7:20 – Ibraz – 4/1 @ William Hill – The selection is worth chancing against favourite Lush Life. The 4-year-old won twice on fast turf last season. Probably unsuited by soft ground on his Newbury seasonal return but ran better when 6^th of 10 at Newmarket 31-days ago. The drop back to a mile will suit and if he handles the synthetics for the first time, must be considered a strong contender.

Tipperary

8:00 – Eight And Bob – 2/1 @ William Hill – Did well over hurdles over the winter and the 7-year-old is rated 72lb lower on the flat than over hurdles. Trainer Willie Mullins has booked Colin Keane for the ride and the trainer has his horses in winning form. Looks too well handicapped to ignore even though he’s plenty short enough in the betting for an 18 runner handicap.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Listowel

3:50 – The Last Marju – 4/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection had a recent run on the flat winning at Sligo 13-days ago. Two from five since going chasing he makes his handicap chase debut here. Suited by a sound surface he should be spot on fitness wise after his recent run, which was his first for 226-days.

Gowran Park

2:35 – Mary Salome – 11/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes –  The 3-year-old shrugged off a poor seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown when battling on for a decisive success at Limerick 37-days ago. Up 6lb for that win but the filly has only had the 5 career starts so could be open to the improvement needed to win off her new mark.

Windsor

8:00 – I’vegotthepower – 5/1 @ Paddy Power or 4/1 – Gen – The selection was a progressive handicapper at around a mile in the summer of 2017. Two runs since returning from 670-day absence. Ran much better when 4^th of 8 at Sandown 11-days ago.  Used to be suited to quick ground so underfoot conditions should be fine.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Not great racing on Sunday, except over in France where it’s Prix Du Jockey Club (French Derby) Day at Chantilly, but there a few opportunities at the minor meetings.

Fakenham

3:00 – Regulation – 9/4 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The selection had looked to have lost his way over hurdles but made a winning debut over fences when beating two rivals at Stratford 14-days ago. It was a belated first start over fences for the 10-year-old who is handicapped to win again.

4:45 –Angel Of The North – 9/2 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – I know it’s a Lady’s Amateur Riders race, a race I don’t normally touch with a barge-pole. The selection dropped back into selling company to win at Stratford 14-days ago. Back in handicap company here but hopefully her confidence has been boosted by that win and she has the services of the most experienced jockey in in the race

Kibeggan

4:55 – Allee Bleu – 7/2 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – The selection is 0 wins from 9 runs over fences and is on a losing run that dates to February 2017. The selection has just had the three starts for Gordon Elliott and put his best run for the trainer when 3^rd of 8 here 16-days ago. That run came over 2m 4f but he steps up to 3m 1f here if his stamina lasts he’s handicapped to win off his present mark.

Day off for me tomorrow, so will be back on Tuesday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Epsom

3:10 – Bye Bye Hong Kong – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – One win from four runs as a juvenile but he’s improved from two to three and won both this season’s starts. The latter of those wins came when making all to win a Windsor Listed race. Steps up to Group company today but the 3-year-old gets the weight allowance from his older rivals and looks like the selection could get his own way out in front like he did at Windsor.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Epsom

3:10 – Kew Gardens – 5/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill – Last season St Leger winner. Didn’t enjoy the soft ground when runner-up in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester on his seasonal reappearance. Will be fitter today and this race has likely to have been the colts target. His trainer Aidan O’Brien has had five winners of this race in the past ten years and all five have been favourite – 5 winners from 5 runners + 5.1.

4:30 – Mehdaayih – 3/1 @ William Hill & Coral –  The selection had no problem with the step up in trip and class when winning the Cheshire Oaks on her last start. The daughter of Frankel showed an excellent turn of foot to stride clear of her rivals inside the final furlong. She showed at Chester that she’s a well-balanced filly who should be able to handle the Epsom undulations. The going was good to soft last time, but she showed at Yarmouth last October that she win on quicker ground. Has a favourites chance of following in the footsteps of stablemate Enable who won the Cheshire Oaks before winning the Oaks in 2017.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The rain that fell at Warwick didn’t suit yesterday’s selection. Let’s hope for better today.

Sandown

8:40 – New Jazz – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection wasn’t disgraced when 5^th of 11 on her handicap debut at Newmarket 14-days ago. The 1f step up in distance should suit the filly who looks capable of landing a handicap like this off her current mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Warwick

6:35 – Tanrudy – 7/2 @ Ladbrokes or 10/3 @ William Hill – The 5-year-old has still to taste victory after five starts under rules. But he’s shown enough promise on his two starts over fences to suggest he can win over the larger obstacles. Most notably when jumping solidly to finish 3rd of 13 at Worcester two starts back.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Leicester

3:40 – Mandarin – 3/1 – Gen – Looks on a winnable mark based on his best form. The selection has only had the eight career starts so is lightly raced for his age. Was well backed at Yarmouth 13-days but could only finish 5^th of 8, shaping like a step up in distance was required. It will be interesting to see if his backers return today with Silvestre De Sousa who rode the gelding to his sole career win back in the plate and the first-time tongue tie added.

Ayr

7:20 – Polyphony – 5/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The selection ended last season with improved performances to win at Musselburgh before finishing runner-up at Redcar on her last start 221-days ago. The handicapper has raised the filly just 2lb for that latter effort. If she’s fully tuned up for her seasonal reappearance, she can go close.

Cheers

John