Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Taunton and Wolverhampton.

Taunton

3:45 – Couldbeaweapon – 7/2 @ Bet365 – A winner at Worcester in October and the 5-year-old has run just as well in defeat on his last two starts placing at Uttoxeter and Southwell 19-days ago. Looks set for another good run here.

Wolverhampton

6:30 – Lhebayeb – 12/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Remains a maiden after 15 starts which is never a good sign but the filly has finished in the places on her last two starts over C&D. Doesn’t have the best of draws in stall 10 but if new jockey Rob Hornby can get her settled better than last time she could gain that elusive first success.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Kelso, Doncaster and Leopardstown.

Kelso

11:53 – Smackwater Jack – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winning hurdler the selection returned from a mammoth 26 month layoff when an encouraging 18 ¾ length 5^th of 8 at Chepstow 26-days ago. That was just the 8-year-old’s second start over fences and with that run under his belt can go close here for a yard among the winners.

Doncaster

12:45 – Moriko De Vassy – 4/1 @ Bet365 – A bumper and hurdle winner at the track the 5-year-old made promising enough debut over fences when a length 2nd of 5 at Wetherby last month. Might well have won with a better round of jumping that day. Not badly treated on his hurdle form and goes well on good ground.

Leopardstown

12:00 – Ballykeel – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Jumped better than his previous two starts over hurdles when a 7 ¼ length 3rd of 7 in a beginners chase at Thurles last time. Looks handily weighted for his handicap chase debut and should be able to win races in the sphere.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Leopardstown and Newcastle.

Leopardstown

1:45 – Flooring Porter – 13/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Runner-up 12 months ago before winning the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. The 7-year-old finished a 12 length 4th of 9 to Home By The Lee in Lismullen on seasonal return. He wasn’t subjected to hard race when his chance was gone that day and is the one, they all must beat.

Newcastle

6:25 – After John – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Two from two since switching to the all-weather and bids for a C&D hat trick after his latest success 26-days ago. Has a 4lb rise in the weights to contend with but can defy it if in the same form as last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Chepstow, Leopardstown and Wetherby.

Chepstow

1:40 – Perseus Way – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – A useful flat handicapper was pitched into the deep end on juvenile hurdle debut when a promising 2 ¼ length 2nd of 8 to Scriptwriter in Grade 2 at Cheltenham. Didn’t need to reach that level of form when comfortably seeing off four rivals at Leicester last month. Gets 5lb from Scriptwriter and remains capable of better for a yard that won last year’s race.

Wetherby

1:35 – Bass Rock – 11/10 @ Bet365 – A useful handicap hurdler the 6-year-old showed he can make up into a much better chaser than hurdler when beating six rivals on his chase debut a Carlisle last month. He jumped very well that day. Handicapper has raised him 7lb for his Carlisle success but I will be disappointed if he cant defy the rise in the weights back up in trio.

2:45 – Eclair D’Ainay – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – First run since February for the 8-year-old who is also returning from wind surgery. The softer the ground the better for the selection who has a good chance of following up last year’s win in the William Hill Castleford Handicap Chase even off a much higher mark.

Leopardstown

1:10 – Chacun Pour Soi – 11/8 @ Bet365 – The selection’s form figures at Leopardstown are 21111 with one of those successes coming in this race in 2020. Making his seasonal return here, he’s won first time up in the past, the 10-year-old is vulnerable to younger legs but this C&D suits him and provided he’s evens or bigger is the pick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Happy Christmas, and hope everyone has had a lovely day including those that don’t celebrate Christmas.

It’s a feast of racing over the next week or so and the best of it can be seen live on ITV. Today’s selections are from Wetherby, Wincanton, Market Rasen and Newcastle.

Wetherby

2:45 – Schiehallion Munro – 100/30 @ Bet365 – A three time course winner who won this race 12 months ago and followed up here in February of today’s mark. The 9-year-old made an solid return to action on seasonal reappearance and was still going well enough when unseating his rider in better race at Aintree earlier this month.

Wincanton

1:28 – Sizable Sam – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hadn’t run particularly well on first two starts over fences last season. However, there was much to like about his neck 2nd of 11 at Exeter (good to soft) last month. Nudged up 3lb for that effort but is 1lb below his winning mark over hurdles. Softer ground will suit the 7-year-old better as will a return to Wincanton where his form figures are 22111. 

Market Rasen

1:47 – Poker Master – 4/1 – Gen – An improving handicap hurdler since pulling up at Southwell in January winning five of his last six starts including the last two over C&D. Up 4lb for the latest of those successes 22-days ago which makes life tougher but could be up to the task.

Newcastle

2:35 – Heroique De Maulde – 3/1 @ Bet365 –  Won twice over fences when trained in France and was an encouraging short-head 2nd of 7 over C&D on debut for James Ewart last month. The winner has gone in again since so the form is working out nicely and he shouldn’t be far away from 4lb higher.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

My final selections before Christmas as British racing takes a three day break and given my efforts this month Its needed.  Hopefully we can go into Christmas with a winner.

Today’s selections are Ffos Las and Ayr.

Ffos Las

1:40 – Bowtogreatness – 6/5 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner over hurdles last winter including here. The 6-year-old very much caught the eye on chase debut when a short head 2^nd of 9 at Exeter last month. Up 5lb for that effort but won’t be long in winning over fences. He’s close to my cut off point price wise but if you can get evens and above he’s worth support.

Ayr

12:30 – Atlantic Dancer – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Isn’t the most consistent of mares but she won a C&D handicap hurdle (soft) in March. Just 3lb higher in a similar race the 9-year-old is weighted to be competitive if ready to roll after a 262-day absence.

3:30 – Lisloran – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Landed a bit of a touch when showing improved form to win a C&D handicap chase (soft)23-days ago. Up 6lb for that success but the 6-year-old is lightly raced enough to think that he could be capable of a bit better, and is taken to go in again.

Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas.

I will be back on Boxing Day.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Hereford and Lingfield.

Hereford

2:15 – Credo – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Has been raised 13lb after impressive success at Ffos Las last month. That was just the mares second start over fences. Despite the possibility of a steadily run race I will be disappointed if she can’t follow up in the Hereford feature race.

Lingfield

2:30 – Grandeur D’Ame – 5/1 @ Bet365 – A winner over hurdles at Fakenham last autumn. The 6-year-old made an encouraging debut over fences when a 7 length 3rd of 11 at Chepstow last month and should be capable of more progress in the sphere with that run under his belt.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Plumpton and Southwell.

Plumpton

2:30 – Le Patron – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – One win from five starts when trained in France, seemingly running to a decent level on soft ground. Carries top-weight on stable debut for Gary Moore but Caoilin Quinn takes off a handy 5lb.

3:00 – Grand Turina – 8/1 @ Bet365 – The mare won twice last December and can race off the same mark as for the last of her successes at Warwick on New Year’s Eve. Disappointed on subsequent starts at the end of last season and has no great record fresh. However, she’s on a handy mark if freshened up and ready to roll after her break.

Southwell

2:13 – Cliffcake – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Six wins from 13 starts since joining Ray Bowring last year and is 2-2 over C&D. Low key effort on heavy ground at Doncaster last time can easily be forgiven and the 4-year-old is interesting back here for a small yard in great form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Punchestown, Kempton and Chelmsford have survived, and today’s selections are Punchestown and Chelmsford.

Punchestown

12:40 – Carnfunnock – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A dual bumper winner the 5-year-old jumped soundly when making a winning hurdle debut at Ayr 20-days ago. Probably didn’t beat much that day but he’s capable of further improvement in the sphere and does get weight from three of his rivals.

3:40 – Mel Monroe – 4/1 @ Bet365 – I’m taking on the Willie Mullins favourite Blizzard Of Oz with the selection. The mare a winner of a point made a highly encouraging debut under rules when a 1 ¼ lengths 2nd of 12 at Galway 50-days ago. She had travelled well through the race that day and was only headed in the final 50yds. Takes on the geldings here which is tougher but has scope for further progress.

Chelmsford

7:30 – Thomas Equinas – 13/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The 3-year-old remains a maiden after seven starts but has shaped with enough promise to suggest he can win a handicap like this. Returned from a 9 week absence with a career best when a 2 ½ length 4^th of 11 over C&D 11-days ago. Slowly away, he raced out wide but was still bang there 1f out when his earlier efforts took its toll. Looks weighted to go close given a better start.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Should Thurles be able to race this afternoon I have two selections from the Irish track.

Thurles

12:44 – Tenzing – 6/4 @ Paddy Power – A winner of his sole start over hurdles at Cork (3m ½ f) in April. The 5-year-old was quickly sent over fences on is seasonal return when a 3 lengths 3rd of 12 to Gerri Colombe at Fairyhouse last month. The type to do much better over the larger obstacles he was doing his best work at the finish that day and will be suited by the return 3m today.

2:44 – Ney – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Showed improved form to win on handicap hurdle debut Cork last month. The 4-year-old produced a decent change of gear between the final two hurdles at Cork and although he’s been raised 8lb for that success looks the type to win more races.

Cheers

John