Author: John Burke

Hi all,

It’s the start of the Cheltenham Festival. I was going to try to avoid having to many selections at the festival, but I couldn’t really find anything soild at any of the other meetings. So, today’s two selections both come from Cheltenham.

Cheltenham

3:30 – Buveur D’Air – 11/4 @ William Hill & Coral – Giving 7lb to Apple’s Jade is going to be a tough ask for double Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air. Laurina’s form isn’t as good as the other two but she could be capable of a lot better. Here trainer certainly thinks she is. At the prices I am happy to go with Buveur D’Air to make it the three on the bounce in the race, especially as the ground looks perfect. He’s also set to go off at a value price.

5:30 – Ok Corral – 4/1 @ William Hill & Betway – If there is a top-class chaser in the field it’s going to be the selection.Like Buveur D’Air, he’s owned by JP McManus & trained by Nicky Henderson. The 9-year-old is very lightly raced for his age, just the nine starts. He made it 2 from 2 over fences when winning a 3m listed chase at Warwick 59-days ago.

I think he could win an RSA Novices’ Chase, but connections resisted going for that shorter race and kept to their plan to go for this marathon trip. He ran well when runner-up in last years Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on soft ground so more rain won’t be an issue. Like all the field, stamina must be proven but if he stays, he wins although he’s price is plenty skinny enough.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A disappointing run from Printing Dollars at Warwick on Sunday. Let’s hope for better today. I have three selections for you from Taunton and Plumpton.

Taunton

4:00 – Rolling Dylan – 5/1 @ William Hill & Bet365 – You must respect Achille on his bid for the hat tick. However, the selection who has twice placed here in the past and handles the going, looks capable of going close. The 8-year-old can win handicap chase like this but he’s not the most reliable of horses. Respected off the same mark as when a ½ length third Cogry at Cheltenham three starts back.

5:40 – Toodlepip – 5/1 @ Paddy Power or 9/2 @ William Hill & Coral – The filly was thrown in the deep end for her racecourse debut at Huntingdon. She did better when 4^th of 7 at Doncaster, 44-days ago. The hood is added to the tongue tie today and the 5-year-old is bred to win races in the sphere.

Plumpton

2:20 – Alrightjack – 3/1 @ Bet365 or 11/4 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection won a Fontwell NHF race back in November. He the ran well below market expectations on his hurdle debut at Wincanton on his next start, sent off 3/1 that day. He showed that running was all wrong with a decisive win on soft ground at Lingfield, 21-days ago. Step up to 2m 4f should see more improvement from the 5-year-old and he can go in again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another winner yesterday to keep the consistent profits run going. I have just the one selection for you on Sunday.

Warwick

5:00 – Printing Dollars – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –  Comes into the race looking for the hat trick after two wins at Exeter. The latter of which came in her handicap debut 16-days ago. The handicapper has put the mare up 11lb for that success. An extra three furlongs to race here and up a notch in grade. On the positive side she’s progressive, consistent and more likely to give her running.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I do tend to find Saturday’s tough, due to the amount of competitive racing. However, I still have a couple of selections for you from Wolverhampton & Kempton.

Wolverhampton

3:15 – Island Of Life – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –  The 5-year-old has now won her last three starts, including last time out over C&D back in January. Steps up into listed company today but the daughter of Dubawi looked an improving mare when last seen and if fully tuned after her 66-day break she can go well for inform trainer William Haggas.

Kempton

8:00 – Treacherous – 11/4 @ William or 5/2 @ Coral & Bet365 –  Comes in to the race looking for the hat trick after wins at Newcastle & over C&D 21-days ago. Four of the selections five career wins have come. The 5-year-old did well to win from not the best of positions. The handicapper has nudged him up 2lb for his last gasp nose win and he takes a slight steo up in class. Still he looks more than capable of going in again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A winner and a second for the service on Thursday. I have selections from Leicester, Sandown and Newcastle for you today. So, lets get cracking.

Leicester

4:30 – Waitinonasunnyday – 2/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill – Broke his maiden tag under rules when winning over C&D 10-days ago. The 6-year-old has a 7lb penalty to carry but looks capable of going in again with quick ground in his favour and a track that suits. His chance would be enhanced if he can get to the head of affairs again.  

Newcastle

6:30 – Fair Cop – 7/4 @ William Hill or 13/8 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – The Andrew Balding trained mare returns from 582- day layoff. First run on the tapeta but did place on her only start on the polytrack one her racecourse debut. If she is returning in form a mark off 77 looks workable for a mare whose family do improve with age.

Sandown

4:45 – Duc De Beauchene – 4/1 – Gen –  Seemed to show improved form when stepped up to 2m 4 ½ f at Plumpton. The handicapper has only put him up 4lb for that Plumpton win and he looks capable of winning again. Plumpton success was on soft ground so underfoot conditions shouldn’t inconvenience.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Well Kavanagh’s Corner did the business for us at Exeter on Tuesday.

Looking at Wednesday’s cards I couldn’t find any solid betting opportunities so I will be giving it a miss.

See you all on Thursday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Looks like my infection was a little more serious than first thought. Well the antibiotics have kicked in and hopefully it’s all systems go now.

Newcastle

2:30 – Chase The Wind – 4/1 @ William Hill & Coral – A sold jumper the selection was runner-up at Sedgefield 53-days ago. That was the 10-year-old’s first run since a wind-op. He’s down to a winnable mark and looks capable of going one better.

Exeter

4:45 – The Pine Warbler – 5/1 @ William Hill – The 10-year-old remains after 13 starts under rules. However, he showed the benefit of a wind op when runner-up at Uttoxeter 64-days ago. Takes a slight drop in class here and even under 12-1 he’s capable of winning this if reproducing that Uttoxeter run.

5:15 – Kavanagh’s Corner – 11/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes –  A winner over C&D last April (Heavy) he’s since shown he can handle less demanding ground. Looks capable of winning this on his ½ length second at Hexham(soft) two starts back. Hopefully a 69-day break since a disappointing run at Huntingdon will have freshened up the consistent 10-year-old.

Wolverhampton

6:30 – Dream Magic – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Goes well over C&D, twice a winner. The 5-year-old looked to be coming back to winning form when runner-up here 34-days ago. On a winnable mark if building on his last run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another tough day for finding solid betting opportunities, despite four meetings across Britain & Ireland.

Fakenham

4:50 – Chambard – 5/2 – Gen –  The selection got his head in front at the fourth attempt over hurdles when winning at Exeter, two starts back. The 7-year-old then improved on that effort when runner-up at Ludlow, 26-days ago. Up in trip to 2m 4f but on a track like Fakenham the extra distance shouldn’t be an issue. Can continue the good form of the Venetia Williams stable.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

There are no selections on Sunday.

See you on Monday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I haven’t managed to shake off the bug. So, another short post today. Both today’s selections run at Newbury

Newbury

2:40 – Dolos – 8/1 @Bet365 & William Hill – is one of three Paul Nicholls trained runners in this 2m 4f handicap chase.  The 6-year-old fits the right profile for the race, putting in a good jumping display when winning at Sandown 28-days ago. That win came over 2m and his best form is over that distance. If he stays, I think he can win, especially should he get a decent pace to chase.

4:05 – Molineaux – 9/4 – Gen – The 8-year-old won a novices’ handicap chase over todays distance at Wincanton two starts, before finishing runner-up in what looked a good race at Exeter, 8 days ago. That last run came over 3m so today’s drop back in distance is a slight concern back in non-handicap company. Sill capable of going well here.

Cheers

John