Author: John Burke

Hi all,

A profit gained courtesy of Fifty Shades winning at Warwick on Wednesday.

Wetherby

5:05 – Fingerontheswitch – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is 2 wins from 2 runs over C&D. He returns from a 152-day lay off today, so fitness must be taken slightly on trust, but if he’s fit to go today, he would go close on the form of his 3^rd of 12 in the Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton back in November. Five of his six career wins have come on good ground so no issues with underfoot conditions for the 9-year-old.

Newcastle

7:00 – What Will Be – 5/2 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – Has been running with credit on his last two starts at Lingfield. Wasn’t helped by a wide draw on his last start when 3^rd of 12 but was doing the best of those coming from off the pace that day. Jamie Spencer who was on board last time keeps the ride. It’s trainer Olly Murphy’s only runner here today at track where he’s 1 win from 2 runners.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the one winner yesterday but no damage done if you took an early price about Urtheonethatiwant.  Plenty to get stuck into on Wednesday.

Nottingham

3:35 – Bowerman – 5/1 @ Paddy Power – The selection is the most interesting runner in this Class 3 handicap over 1m ½ f. The 5-year-old returns from a 489-day lay off and makes his turf debut today. A winner of his last two starts including on his seasonal reappearance back in April 2017.  He clearly hasn’t been the easiest to keep sound. However, the entire had looked a horse with potential when last seen and more than capable of defying a mark of 94. Both is wins have come off 145+ day lay offs so fitness shouldn’t be an issue and his trainer Roger Varian has made a bright start to the new season with 5 winners from 9 runners 56% in the past 14-days.

Lingfield

2:50 – Rewaayat – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old is having his first run since a gelding operation and makes his handicap debut in this 7f, Class 5 handicap. Showed enough in maiden/novice company to think he can win a handicap like this off a mark of 64.  Trainer Charlie Hills is among the winners and he also has an excellent win strike rate with his all-weather handicap runners at the track that are sent off favourite – 5 winners from 10 runners 50% +5.5 6 placed 60% since the start of 2015.

Warwick

4:50 – Fifty Shades – 4/1 @ William Hill – Trainer Christian Williams sets punters a bit of a poser as he runs two in this handicap chase. Preference is for the selection whose open to more improvement than his stable mate and holds him on the form of their running at Fakenham last month. Good ground suits the 6-year-old and the step up to 3m 5f could also be bring out a bit more improvement.

5:25 – Raising the Bar – 11/4 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The Nicky Henderson trained 7-year-old returned from a 614-day absence when 4^th of 12 to the useful Winston C, at Sandown, on his belated hurdle debut two starts back. Not disgraced when runner-up to an improver at Fakenham 37-days ago, when stepped up to 2m 4f. The extra furlong of today’s race should suit as will this more galloping track. Henderson & jockey Nico De Boinville have an excellent record when combining in handicap hurdles at the track – 5 winners from 10 runners 50% +22.88 7 placed 70% since 2015.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Southwell

4:50 – Nachi Falls – 11/4 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – Would probably have won but for a couple of mistakes at the final two hurdles when beaten 1 ¼ lengths into second at Taunton, five days ago. Races off the same mark here and racing on similar going.

Exeter

4:10 – Urtheonethatiwant – 5/2 – Gen – The 6-year-old has improved with each of his three starts since going handicapping. Arguably put up a career best when beaten just a ½ length into second at Taunton 30 days ago. Up 6lb for that effort but the front two pulled clear of the third that day. Looks the one they have to beat.

Pontefract

3:30 – Kinks – 4/1 – Gen – The selections best juvenile form came on his first three starts last spring although he did finish a ¾ length 3^rd of 25 in the Newbury Super sprint last July.  Looks on a competitive mark for his seasonal reappearance and has been gelded since his last run. Trainer Mick Channon is 5 winners from 19 runners 26% +12.50 with his 3-year-old runners at the course in the past 5-years.

5:00 – Alfred Boucher – 5/4 @ Bet365 –  Shaped well on all three of his maiden runs last season, improving with each run according to Racing Post Rating’s. A good fourth on his debut at Nottingham, he improved to finish a ½ length second at Newbury. Ended his juvenile campaign beaten a short head in driving finish by the useful Mohaather, who went onto win the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes and is now rated 108.

The gelding is bred to get further than the 6f he ran over last year; indeed, his dam side of the pedigree is full of middle-distance winners. This trip may prove short of his best but it’s a stiff 6f and he can be placed to win races this season.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A frustrating day on Sunday with both selections finishing runner-up in their respective races. Let’s hope we can go one better this afternoon.  I have selections from Windsor and Redcar.

Windsor

4:20 – Beyond Equal – 7/2 – Gen – Won four times last season, including a win over today’s distance at Salisbury back in October. Returns from a 187-day break but if ready to go look capable of being competitive off 5lb higher than for his last win. Trainer Stuart Kittow traditionally has a good record with his runners in April.

Redcar

3:30 – Forest Of Dean – 13/8 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The John Gosden trained 3-year-old seemed to relish the step up to 1m 2f when a decisive winner at Newcastle 39-days ago. Handicap debut today off 83 and not hard to think there won’t be more improvement for the colt.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another tough day trying to find solid betting opportunities but I have a couple running at Cork.

Cork

3:45 – Who’s Steph – 13/8 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The filly put up a career best when finishing runner-up in a Group 2 on Irish Champions Weekend. Not guaranteed to stay today’s 1m 4f on pedigree but shaped on her last start like it would suit as she was doing her best work at the end of that race.

The four-year-old is making her seasonal reappearance in this Listed race but fitness shouldn’t be an issue as she won first time up last year. The one they all must beat!

4:15 – Constantinople – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I have backed the son of Galileo for the Derby at big odds. So, its slightly surprising to see the Aidan O’Brien trained 3-year-old running here in a handicap. Ended last season with a 10-length win in a 1m Thurles maiden. In all truth he probably didn’t beat much but you couldn’t fail to be impressed with the manner of his win.  

On pedigree he did well to win as a 2-year-old, His full brother Bondi Beach improved as 3-year-old, finishing runner-up in the St Leger and another sibling Unicorn finished 3rd in the 1m 6f Melrose Handicap at York. Long term, this 1m 2f trip will be on the short side for the colt but he will surely rate higher than 97 this season.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Nice to get a couple of winners on Friday to end the short losing run.

There are no selections today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sedgefield

4:25 – Chasma – 11/8 –  The 9-year-old is 2 wins from 4 runs here at Sedgefield and returned to winning ways for the first time since November 2017 when winning at Newcastle 8-days, Carries a 7lb penalty for that success but remains on a winnable mark if in the same form as at Newcastle.

Aintree

2:20 – Itchy Feet – 3/1 @ WH & Ladbrokes –  The selection put in a career best when 3^rd in the Supreme Novices’Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. This was only the 5-year-olds 4^th career start so he remains opens to a bit more improvement. The one to beat if he runs to his Cheltenham form.

4:40 -Champ – 11/4 – Gen – Was runner-up in the Ballymore’s novices’ hurdle last month. Takes a big step up trip here but looks capable of going in sooner that than later. He’s bred for 3m but sometimes races like he doesn’t want a marathon. Trip.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The first day of the Aintree Grand National Festival and I have couple of selections from that meeting.

Aintree

1:45 – La Bague Au Roi –13/8 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – Is the one they all have to beat on form. The mare has won all four of her starts over fences. She missed Cheltenham to come here and hopefully connections decision to miss that festival will be rewarded.

2:50 – Clan Des Obeaux – 5/2 @ William Hill & Bet365 –  I’m a bit surprised that the King George winner isn’t the favourite. The 7-year-old impressed when winning at Kempton and then at Ascot in February. Looked like he either failed to get 3m 2f, when 5^th in the Gold Cup, and/or wasn’t suited by the track. The return to a flat track and today’s drop-in trip to 3m 1f should be more in his favour.

Chelmsford

7:00 – Main Street – 13/2 @ Paddy Power – The selection is interesting returning to Chelmsford, 2 wins from 2 runs, including C&D, for his previous trainer. Now with David Elsworth, the 4-year-old ran well when a close up 3^rd at Lingfield two starts back. Has a strong form although he needs to settle better than he did on his last run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

On the eve of the Aintree Grand National Festival, I have selections running at Kempton & Wincanton.

Kempton

7:15 – Rashdan – 4/1 – Gen – The selection makes his seasonal reappearance off what looks a winnable mark, 1lb lower than for his last win at Newcastle back in July. Has won off a layoff in the past so shouldn’t lack for fitness.  Doesn’t find as much as expected in a finish and the cheekpieces return, replacing the visor the 4-year-old won on his last start.

Wincanton

4:45 – Tomorrow Mystery – 6/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ran as well as could be expected when 3^rd of 8 at Taunton 34-days ago, on her first run since a wind op. The mare makes her handicap debut against her own sex today and drops back in trip.  A winner on the flat in 2017 for her previous trainer. There should be a race like this in the 5-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It was a hitting the cross-bar sort of day.

Lingfield

4:30 – Queen Of Paris – 9/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill –  The selection remains a maiden after six starts but has shown enough to suggest there is a modest handicap in here off a mark of 64. Ran well enough at Kempton on her last start when 4^th of 12 but look like she needs a good even gallop to be seen at her best.

Cheers

John