Hi all,
A tough few days on the punting front. But what a great win by Hermosa in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday. She’s now the standout 3 year old mile filly. Granted she probably hasn’t beaten any top-class opponents, but you can only beat what’s put before you.
I’m taking today off, so there are no selections. Hopefully be back on Tuesday.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Curragh
4:25 – Hermosa – 11/4 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Won the English 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on her last starts and deserves to head the betting for the Irish version. In fact, the 11/4 available about the filly looks a bit of value too.
Fontwell
4:50 – Buster Edwards – 9/4 @ Bet365 – The selection had to battle to win over C&D 18-days ago. The first time cheekpieces clearly helped to bring about his improved performance. Up 6lb for his last win. The 6-year-old has only had the five starts over hurdles so remains capable of more progress on a sound surface.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
A couple of short priced winners on Friday that have helped to contain the recent slide in form for the service. I have four selections for you today from the Curragh, Chester, Goodwood & York.
Curragh
3:35 – Magna Grecia – 13/8 @ William Hill & Bet365 – The selections form is rock solid and although he has a bit to find on juvenile form with Too Darn Hot but I think he’s a better 3-year-old. I think he was the best horse at Newmarket in the 2,000 Guineas and can uphold his form with Skardu and beat Too Darn Hot.
Chester
2:20 – Pass The Gin – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selections sole career win came over C&D last summer on good ground. The filly made a good seasonal return when a strong finishing third to subsequent winner Leodis Dream at Sandown last month before finishing 1 ¾ length 4th back here 17-days ago from stall 9. The 3-year-old has a much better stall in three today. Trainer Andrew Balding win this race last year and he looks to have a great chance of winning it for a second successive year.
Goodwood
3:40 – Mirage Dancer – 6/5 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – The selection won this race last year and Group 3 over C&D last August. Both those wins came on good or quicker ground so no issues with underfoot conditions today. The 5-year-old doesn’t have the benefit of a recent run like he did last season but still is the one to beat on form. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has his horses in good form and he’s also 2 winners from 2 runners in this race in the past 10-years.
York
5:25 – Muraahin – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old shaped with promise on his three starts for previous trainer Own Burrows. First start for new trainer Jamie Osborne here and has been gelded in the off-season. On a potentially competitive mark of 74 for his handicap debut. Trainer has his runners in cracking form 3 winners from 7 runners 43% +34.50 in the past 14-days.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Goodwood
2:55 – Pennywhistle – 13/8 @ William Hill – The 3-year-old was on the back foot after stumbling at the start at Chelmsford on her handicap debut 15-days ago. She did well get to get within neck of the winner that day. A winner on good to firm as a juvenile there should be no problem with underfoot conditions for her. The handicapper has only raised her 2lb for her last run and she looks a solid mark leader here. #
3:30 – Private Secretary – 5/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The son of Kingman has improved with each of his four starts. He returned to action beating Sinjaari at Redcar last month before going on to win at Sandown 28-days ago. Was being seriously talked about as a Derby contender earlier in the week but connections have decided to come for this listed race before going on to Royal Ascot and the King Edward VII Stakes. Needs further improvement to win this but that should be forthcoming. Step up to 1m 3f shouldn’t pose a problem either for the colt who can take this on the way to better races.
Haydock
5:35 – Swansdown – 5/4 @ William Hill – Put in a much-improved performance on her final start a juvenile when a strong finishing runner-up on her nursery debut at Wolverhampton last November. The daughter of Dubawi is bred to better as 3-year-old and over distance 1m 2f+. Seasonal reappearance and first start for new trainer William Haggas off what looks a good mark of 65.
Curragh
7:05 – Constantinople – 13/8 @ Paddy Power – The selection won on his third at final start as juvenile at Thurles last October. Returned to action when runner-up in a Cork handicap 47-days ago. The son of Galileo went down just a short head that day and was unlucky in the run when making his effort a furlong out. Has been given time to develop since that tun and shows how highly regarded that he races in this Group 3 race here. Might be better over slightly further in time but looks the one to beat.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Goodwood
2:35 – Game Player – 5/2 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – Very much a distance specialist. All three of his career wins have come at 7f. The 4-year-old seemed to appreciate the slight drop in class when running out a comfortable of a Class 3 handicap at Lingfield 20-days ago. Up just 5lb in the weights and looks capable of going close again if the track doesn’t inconvenience. Should get the race run to suit and has a decent draw in stall 5.
Sandown
7:05 – Mekong – 4/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – Mark Johnston saddles three of the five runners but my choice is the Sir Michael Stoute trained Mekong. Progressive as a 3-year-old the selection looked the sort to do well as 4-year-old. The gelding ended last season when runner-up in an Ascot Listed race last October. One first time up last season so fitness shouldn’t be an issue and could improve for the step up to 2m. Both turf wins have come on heavy ground, but he’s also run well on a quicker surface. The trainer has an excellent record at Sandown in Group & Listed races – 10 winners from 23 runners 43% +15.64 13 placed 57% since the start of 2015.
7:35 – Regal Reality – 7/4 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – The selection won a Group 3 at Goodwood last season. He wasn’t the best away when 3rd to Beat The Bank 27-days ago but stayed on well to finish just 1 ½ lengths behind the winner. Of the first three home he may have needed the run the most. The colt looks the sort to better as a 4-year-old. He’s only had the six career starts and should be the step up to 1m 2f.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Another busy day on the selection front.
Ayr
3:05 – Universal Gleam – 7/4 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes -The 4-year-old returned to action after a 228-day absence and after both a gelding and wind-operation. A quick turnaround, that run came just five days ago, but if it’s not an inconvenience he’s the one to beat here.
3:35 – Yolo Again – 11/4 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – Both the selections two wins on turf when trained in Ireland came on good or quicker ground. The filly was 4th of 12 in the 3-year-old All Weather Championship at Lingfield on Good Friday, before being predictably outclassed in Listed company at Chelmsford over 6f on her next start. Ran better than her final position of 6th suggests at Chester 14-days ago. The going would have been plenty soft enough for her and she didn’t get the best of passages on two occasion in the final furlong. Back to better ground should see he go close.
Kempton
6:25 – Merchant Of Venice – 4/1 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – A winner at Newcastle and over C&D before doing well to get as close as he did finishing 3rd of 14, beaten just a length, from stall 14 over C&D. Up 2lb for his turf debut at Ascot. He was sent of the 11/2 favourite but didn’t get much of pace to chase down the stand side and could only finish 10th of 20. I think he remains better than his Ascot run. Again, not been favoured by the draw in stall 11 but a reproduction of his third placed effort twos start back puts him right in the mix.
7:55 – Koeman – 6/1 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – A few inform horses in this 1m 2f Class 3 handicap. The likes of Lexington Empire. Big Kitten, Sleeping Lion & Harbour Breeze all need respecting. Indeed there’s 2 ½ point between the foursome in the betting. The one I like is the Mick Channon trained Koeman. The 5-year-old has won over C&D in the past but has been running mainly on turf in the past 12 months. A winner off 4lb lower at Ascot last July. He returned from a 267-day break to with an excellent third placed effort behind Baghdad at Newmarket in a Class 2 handicap 17-days ago. Drop back to 1m 3f asks a different question of the gelding but he needs to win this if he’s to get into the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
A busy Tuesday with four selections for the service. Three of them racing at Nottingham and one at Wolverhampton.
Nottingham
3:45 – I Am Magical – 4/1 – General – The filly broke her maiden tag at the fifth attempt and on her second start for trainer Charlie Fellowes. Put in a much-improved performance on her handicap debut at Newmarket just 5-days ago. Quick turnaround under a 6lb penalty, if that’s not an inconvenience she’s very much a filly on the upgrade.
4:20 – Thanks Be – 4/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Another one trained by Charlie Fellowes. The selection put in a much-improved performance in the first-time hood when runner-up in a Haydock novice contest 24-days ago. No hood today for her handicap debut and the going will be quicker than it was last time. Still look capable going close here.
4:55 – Bailarico – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & BetVictor Twice course winner last season, including over C&D. The 6-year-old ticks the all-important boxes marked going, course and distance. The selection gets the first-time visor today and can go well as long as the ground stays on the quick side of good.
Wolverhampton
4:00 – Fields Of Athernry – 9/2 @ William Hill & BetVictor – The 3-year-old improved with each of his first three starts in novice company on the all-weather. Disappointed on his first start on the turf when last seen 36-days ago but a return to the synthetics and the C&D he won at his racecourse debut as juvenile can hopefully see him resume his progression.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
All three of today’s selections race at Carlisle.
Carlisle
3:15 – Ghayyar – 7/1 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – Won over C&D last June, off 1lb higher, before later winning at Beverley off 6lb higher a month later. Two poor runs so far this season but a return to stiff right-handed track can hopefully see the nicely handicapped 5-year-old bounce back.
4:15 – Ramesses – 13/8 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 3-year-old made a winning handicap debut at Leicester 23-days ago. He showed a good battling attitude to prevail that day. Has a 6lb rise in the weights to contend with but Sean Davis takes off 5lb and the gelding can win again.
4:45 – City Tour – 7/2 @ William Hill – The selection impressed when winning at Musselburgh on his seasonal reappearance. Was a shade disappointing on his next start at Beverley 33-days ago but has been gelded since. Back in Class 5 company today, if the gelding operation has worked, he can get back on track.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Market Rasen
5:10 – Return Flight – 7/1 @ William Hill & BetVictor –The selection was a 2-length runner-up in this race last year and can now race off a 9lb lower mark. He returned from 176-day break with a promising 3rd of 8 at Ayr 12-days ago and looks set for a bold show.
Stratford
4:10 – Alexander The Grey – 7/2 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill – Returns from a 253-day absence today. The 8-year-old looked set for his first career win when falling at the final fence here on his last start. Up 5lb now but can go close.
Stratford
5:20 – Ruby Yeats – 2/1 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill – The mare was in the process of running her best race over fences when brought down three out at Fontwell 11-days ago. She had jumped well enough up to that point and still travelling well enough to think she would have gone close that day.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
I was wondering when the service would get another winner. Well we finally came off the cold list when Migration swopped late to win the lucky last at Newmarket on Thursday evening.
I have selections running at Newmarket, Newbury and Leopardstown on Friday.
Newmarket
2:00 – Saikung – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-old showed promise on her three starts in maiden company and was then sent off the 5/2 favourite for her handicap debut at Chepstow 14-days ago. Sadly, for her backers she was too shade keen in the early stages of her race and eventually finished 3rd of 9, beaten 2 lengths. Clearly the market felt she’s started handicapping off a winnable mark of 69. Hopefully today’s field can help her settle better in the early stages of the contest.
Newbury
3:20 – Buckland Boy – 4/1 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill – The 4-year-old finally got of the mark at the 8th attempt when winning at Thirsk 18-days ago. His win was more notable for the fact that he was slow away from the stalls but still went onto win by 1 ¼ lengths. After the race his jockey told the Racing Post that the horse needs a more galloping track which he gets today. The handicapper has only raised him 3lb which looks lenient to me.
Leopardstown
7:05 – Rockfish – 6/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – The selection made it 5 wins from 16 runs when landing a Dundalk handicap 30-days ago. Must carry top-weight here and is 4lb higher than last time but can remain competitive of his new mark. His trainer Joseph O’Brien has clearly placed the gelding well and it’s worth noting should the 4-year-old go off favourite. As his trainer Joseph O’Brien is a healthy 28 winners from 60 runners 47% +42.26 A/E 1.56 44 placed 73% with favourites that had finished in the first three on their last run.
Cheers
John