Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Another disappointing day at the office. Today’s selections are from Lingfield and Taunton.

Lingfield

2:35 – Mucho Mas – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Must be respected in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (2:35). The top-weight has finished runner-up on his last two starts. The most recent of them on chase debut/seasonal return when a neck 2nd of 11 at Bangor last month. Open to further improvement over fences and, although he’s up 2lb, can surely win over fences.

Taunton

2:50 – Itso Fury – 3/1 @ Coral – Has started the season well winning at Warwick & Ludlow over hurdles. The 5-year-old look progressive and seems likely on a good mark for his handicap hurdle debut. Yard won this last year and look to have a good chance of another success in the race.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Hereford and Wetherby.

Hereford

2:50 – Pass Me By – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner over this sort of trip over hurdles at Huntingdon last November. The 6-year-old improved on chase debut when a 3 ¼ length 2nd of 11 at Worcester (heavy) last month. That was his first start for 10 months so he’s entitled to strip fitter here and should win races over fences now stepped up in distance.

3:20 – Bonnie Bresil – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Caught the eye when a 4 ¼ length 3^rd of 15 on her handicap hurdle debut/seasonal return at Exeter 19-days ago. Raced like she was a nicely treated mare that day and today’s drop in trip should suit. Can go close for a very much inform yard.

Wetherby

3:10 – Knickerbockerglory – 6/4 @ Bet365 – Ended last season with novice hurdle successes at Ludlow and Perth and beat sole rival on chase debut at Ffos Las (soft) 17-days ago.  This is a much tougher ask but his jumping was sound last time and there should be plenty more to come from the 6-year-old who goes well on soft ground.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Sedgefield.

Sedgefield

12:55 – Fiston Du Mou – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Bounced back to winning ways and put in a career best effort when running out an 8 length winner over C&D (soft) 19-days ago. This marathon trip clearly suited the 7-year-old and although he’s 9lb higher can go in again.

2:55 – Rocco Storm – 11/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Hexham two starts back the selection followed up off 12lb higher over C&D (soft) 19-days ago. Up further 8lb but going the right way and must have a good chance of landing the hat trick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Musselburgh.

Musselburgh

12:50 – Massini Man – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ended a losing and gained his first win over fences when winning over C&D 19-days ago. That was the 9-year-old’s first run since joining the Sandy Thomson yard. Nudged up 3lb for that success but expected to close again.

2:30 – Monte Igueldo – Evens @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner over hurdles on seasonal return before following up on chase debut at Huntingdon 22-days ago. Up 7lb for that success but the 5-year-old is capable of more improvement and can go in again for an inform yard.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A good Friday was followed by a poor Saturday. Hallowed Star was closing when falling four out. My second selection Foxy Rascal was weak in the betting and was found to have bled from the nose when down the field at Wolverhampton.

I was looking at State Man in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown (2:05) but he’s a shade of odds on so isn’t a bet for me.

Today’s selections are from Exeter and Uttoxeter.

Exeter

3:35 – Forever Blessed – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Looked a smart prospect when winning his first two starts over hurdles last season. We haven’t seen the 4-year-old since he was badly hampered and pulled up in the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow in December. Remains one to be interested and could be nicely treated for his handicap hurdle debut.

Uttoxeter

1:23 – Bear Ghylls – 7/4 @ Bet365 – A top class novice hurdler two seasons back. He returned from a 20 month absence running ultimately better than his 10 ½ length 3rd of 7 to Beauport in the Colin Parker Intermediate Chase at Carlisle last month suggests. Should be sharper for that run and will surely win races over fences.  He’s a shade of odds against which just makes him a bet for me.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Punchestown and Wolverhampton.

Punchestown

1:03 – Hallowed Star – 11/10 @ Bet365 – Won a valuable handicap hurdle (2m 7f) at the Galway Festival and made all to win Galway beginners chase on his second start over fences last month. The 7-year-old will probably prove better over further but this doesn’t look the strongest of Grade 2’s. and he’s taken to take the step up in class in his stride.

Wolverhampton

5:00 – Foxy Rascal – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – The 3-year-old returned from a 4 month absence and wind surgery to finish an unlucky length third of 11 here over 5f 19-days ago.  The return to 6f should suit the filly and she can race off the same mark as last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ascot and Chepstow.

Ascot

12:55 – Thunder Rock – 15/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A useful novice hurdler last season winning four times. Bred to be a better chaser than a hurdler and 6-year-old made a winning debut over the larger obstacles at Uttoxeter (2m) 21-days ago. Has 7lb rise in the weights to contend with but the return to further over fences should bring out further progress and he can go in a gain.

1:30 – Kandoo Kid – 7/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked a useful novice hurdler when winning over C&D (soft) on hurdle debut last October. He hasn’t been seen for 384-days and returns form wind surgery but if he’s ready to roll he’ll be hard to beat under his penalty.

Chepstow

1:45 – Credo – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The mare has won over bumpers and hurdles and shaped nicely on her first start over fences when a head 2nd of 5 at Hereford 10-days ago. Jumped well enough last time to suggest that she can win races over the larger obstacles. Due to go up 3lb and with a bit more progress can win this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Market Rasen

Market Rasen

12:47 – Lady Babs – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – The mare returned to form when a 4 ½ length 2nd of 11 at Sedgefield 14-days ago. Both her career wins have come here including one over C&D and she’s never been out of the first two when racing at the venue.  Probably wouldn’t want the ground to get too soft but has won on good to soft in the past.

2:30 – East Street – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Steadily progressive over hurdles and mase it 2-5 over timber with a battling success at Hexham in April. Seasonal reappearance for the 6-year-old but he did win first time up 12 months ago. The Sue Smith yard has been struggling for winners, but the yard had one at Hexham on Wednesday. Bred to be a better chaser than a hurdler and look interesting on chase debut with Brian Hughes up for the first time.

3:05 – Bridge North – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Caught the eye when an 8 ½ lengths 5th of 11 at Aintree on his seasonal return. He came in good for support that day (5/1). However, it proved too much of speed test returned to 2m 4f. Today’s softer ground a step up to 2m 7f will see him in a much better light.  Yard couldn’t be in better form either 6-16 (38%) in the past two weeks

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Good to get back among the winners yesterday. However, it should have been two. I wasn’t happy with the ride Jason Hart gave Going Underground at Newcastle last evening. Granted he can be a tricky ride who must be produced as late as possible, but he over did the waiting tactics and let the winner get first run.

Today’s selections are from Hexham, Warwick and Kempton.

Hexham

3:23 – Fringill Dike – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Made it 4-4 at Hexham when winning a novice hurdle in September. Granted he was a well beaten favourite at Carlisle on his handicap hurdle debut last month. However, slightly better ground and return to this venue could see the 5-year-old show us that his mark is winnable one.

Warwick

1:45 – Get Up Mush – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Shaped with promise when a 4 ½ length 3rd of 12 on hurdle debut at Carlisle 27-days ago. Needs to improve again but a chance is taken that the 4-year-old is capable of doing so.

Kempton

8:00 – Gold Medal – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Recovered from an awkward start to finish a neck 3^rd of 10 here (6f) last month. The 4 year-old was doing his best work at the finish that day and looks worth another try at 7f. Same mark today as last time and has a handy enough draw in stall 4.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Fakenham, Lingfield and Newcastle.

Fakenham

1:22 – Sabbathical – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won this race last year off a 2lb higher mark. Expected to be spot on fitness wise after his recent return to action over hurdles 23-days ago and must have a good chance of repeating last year’s success.

Lingfield

3:30 – Bobalot – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Made a winning seasonal return at Ffos las 20-days ago. The 5-year-old improved for the step up to 3m on his handicap hurdle debut that day. Has a 5lb contend with here but is unexposed over staying distances and can go in again.

Newcastle

7:15 – Going Underground – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection won over C&D last month and looked unlucky when a ½-length 3rd of 14 back here 11-days ago. Nudged up 2lb but should remain competitive.

Cheers

John