Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ludlow and Chelmsford.

Ludlow

3:49 – Gemirande – 100/30 @ Bet365 – The quick ground has meant a quiet autumn for Venetia Williams, but she had a runner finish runner-up at Ascot on Saturday. The selection shaped well enough on three chase starts last season including when 2^nd of 5 in handicap at Carlisle in March. Interesting on return to action stepped up to 3m 1f.

4:19 – Blenkinsop – 5/1 @ Coral & Bet365 – Shaped with promise on three starts in novice company last season. Seemed to find 2m around to short when a running on 4th of 7 here in May. On pedigree should be well suited by the step up to 2m 5 ½ f and looks to have been brought along with handicaps in mind.

Chelmsford

2:25 – Mister X – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner on nursery debut at Brighton two starts back the colt did well to get as close as he did when a 1 ½ length 3rd of 10 at Kempton on all-weather debut 15-days ago.  Doing his best work at the finish after being poorly positioned. Can race off the same mark here and set to go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Kempton and Dundalk.

Kempton

6:30 – Soar Above – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Eight time course winner Soar Above is back on the mark he won off over C&D in April. Not as good on grass on his last three starts but he’s a much better horse here and is expected to go well.

7:00 – Apollo One – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old is on a losing run of 13 but was back to form when a 3 ¾ length 3rd of 9 to City Walk at Chelmsford last time.  He’s on a winnable mark and he might get the run of the race out in front.

Dundalk

2:30 – The Mpex Kid – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Has returned from a 6 month absence with solid efforts in big field handicaps at the Curragh and Leopardstown. Latest run on all weather in April resulted in a C&D success from 1lb lower. Just had the three starts on the all-weather and with Siobhan Rutledge taking off a handy 5lb is expected to be bang there.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s a new month and fingers crossed that will see the service back in profit after a tough October.

Redcar

2:30 – Kapono – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The selection bounced back to winning ways with an improved effort on heavy ground here (6f) 8-days ago. That success came in an apprentice race which means the 6-year-old doesn’t have to carry a penalty here. Steps up 1f in distance today but has won over 7f in the past and wil be hard to stop if in the same form as last week.

3:05 – Millebosc – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Dubai Souq is 2-2 on soft ground including a comfortable success in this race 12 months ago. He’s got obvious claims given he has the same set up here. However, preference is for the selection who is having his first start since switching to the William Haggas stable. The 4-year-old’s sole win came on heavy ground as a juvenile and he’s standout piece of form came when 1 ¾ length 3^rd of 19 to St Mark’s Basilica in last year’s French Derby. Granted he’s lost his way since but if revived by the stable switch he’s well handicapped in this company.

Warwick

3:45 – Hawthorn Cottage – 5/1 @ Bet365 –  A winner here (3m) last year, the mare is 7lb lower then winning over around today’s distance at Kempton 12 months ago.  The mare has lost her way since that success, but hopes are pinned on the re-fitting of the cheekpieces reviving her. All five of her career wins have come in the said headgear.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Hereford and Kempton.

Hereford

12:20 – Lilly Glitters – 11/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection won this race 12 months ago, off 7lb lower and returned to action seemingly in good form when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 9 at Bangor 6-days ago.  Off the same mark here and both hurdle wins have come on good ground. Looks to have a good chance of making it back to back wins in the race.

3:45 – Ben Buie – 11/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won off higher marks at the end of 2021 including over C&D (good) last November and was a solid 4 ½ length 2nd of 7 at Stratford when last seen in action 95-days ago. In a race which seems to lack any improvers he’s weighted to win if returning in form from his break.

4:45 – Silverscape – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A previous course winner and two from four on the all-weather. The 3-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when ½ length 2^nd of 13 to one of today’s rivals Natchez Trace over C&D 40-days ago.  Returns from wind surgery and should go close once more.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Carlisle.

Carlisle

12:50 – Cedar Row – 9/2 – Gen – Trainer Jonjo O’Neill has a good record with his novice hurdlers at Carlisle in October & November – 5 winners from 12 runners 42% +11.5. He runs Cedar Row who won a point in April and is bred to appreciate 2m 4f and further on his hurdle debut.

2:30 – Bear Ghylls – 5/2 – Gen – Hasn’t been seen since finishing 4th of 7 to Bob Olinger in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. He’s won fresh in the past, so the absence probably won’t be an issue.  It won’t be easy against more experienced chasers but he’s very much a chaser in the making.

3:05 – Navajo Pass – 9/4 – Gen – A useful hurdler two season back but struggled for form on five starts last season. Bounced back to form when winning a heavy ground handicap on the flat at Haydock 16-days ago. That should have restored the 6-year-old’s confidence if nothing else. Looks well treated back over hurdles being 21lb lower than at the start of last season. On soft ground he looks the biggest threat to the favourite.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Wetherby and Ayr.

Wetherby

3:00 – Indefatigable – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Won this Grade 2 hurdle 12 months ago and despite her 6lb penalty has strong claims of back to back wins in the contest. The mare ran well off a 6 month absence, on the flat at Pontefract 12-days ago and will have put her spot on fitness wise.

4:45 – Geryville – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Won over 2m 3f on seasonal return/first start for Micky Hammond at this meeting last year and the followed up at Newcastle (2m 7f) in March. The 6-year-old looks the sort to do better over fences this season and goes well off a break.

Ayr

3:08 – Marown – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Won two novice chasers including C&D in the 2020/21 season. Didn’t return to action until February this year and never really fired on three starts. Has in the weights and the 8-year-old should do better this season for a yard 5-12 in the past 14-days.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newmarket and Wetherby.

Newmarket

3:15 – Dual Identity – 5/4 @ Bet365 – Plenty short enough in the betting but he brings some strong form to the race. A winner at Sandown in July. He was a strong finishing 2^nd of 15 back at the same venue a month later. Ran a cracker from his low draw when a 1 ¼ length 3^rd of 28 in the Cambridgeshire here last month. The 4-year-old was only headed in the final 50 yards by two who raced far side that day. Up 4lb but remains on a competitive mark.

5:00 – Alternative Fact – 4/1 – Gen – Returned from a 7 month absence with an encouraging effort when 5^th of 20 here last month and the 7-year-old stuck to he’s task well when a neck 2^nd of 7 at Nottingham 23-days ago.  On a two year long losing run but he’s well suited to soft ground and is on a winnable mark.

Wetherby

2:55 – Tuddenham Green – 5/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Just the four for the Wetherby feature but they are all last time out winners. Preference is for the selection who looked an above average recruit to the juvenile hurdling division when winning at Chepstow 20-days ago. He’s should keep improving with racing, for a yard who has saddled the winner of this contest twice since 2011.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Lingfield and Stratford.

Lingfield

4:00 – Crystal Caprice – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection three wins from 5 runs this season put in a career best on RPR’s when 1 ½ length 3rd of 10 in a similar race at Newmarket last month. From a family that do with age she’s capable of better and if she handles the surface, no reason why the daughter of Frankel won’t, must be high on the shortlist.

4:35 – Street Kid – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – In a handicap where a couple of 3-year-old’s a returning from long absences the selection is the solid option. Unexposed on the all-weather, 2 wins from 5 runs, 4 places the 4-year-old was a head 2^nd of 14 over C&D 77-days ago.  Up 2lb on return but yard among the winners and has a handy low draw.

Stratford

2:40 – Templehills – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The 11-year-old’ best performance last season came when winning here over slightly further last October, off 5lb higher. Not the most reliable but was on a going day last time when a 3 ½ lengths 2nd of 5 here 24-days ago.

3:15 – Moonlighter – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looks well handicapped and must be respected on first start for the inform Kim Bailey yard. The 9-year-old completely lost his way but if he was to get close to the form of his neck 2^nd of 10 to Greaneteen in the valuable Haldon Gold Cup on seasonal reappearance in Nov 2020 off 18lb higher or his win at Sandown in January 2021 off 20lb higher he would comfortably see of his rivals.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selection comes from Chepstow.

Chepstow

4:20 – Wayfinder – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Took his Chepstow form figures to 1211 and 2-2 over C&D when winning here in April. Up 4lb on his seasonal reappearance but will be tough to beat back at his favourite venue albeit in a deeper race. Interesting that trainer Rebecca Curtis opts for the first time cheekpieces for the 8-year-old on his hat trick bid.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Chepstow and Bangor-On-Dee.

Chepstow

3:45 – Fern Hill – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Has arguably the best form over fences he finished runner-up on three of his four starts over fences. He’s a winnable mark on his seasonal return although his best form has come over further than 2m 3f. A chance is taken with the top-weight who can put his chase experience to good use.

Bangor

3:30 – Betterforeveryone – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has placed and shown ability on maiden hurdle starts at Wincanton and Warwick. Looks the type to improve for the step up in trip on handicap company. Trainer runners have also hit form of late which is another positive.

4:05 – Lemon Drop – 5/1 @ Bet365 –The selection had a wonderful season winning five times in handicap company which is some achievement. Ended last season with a solid 3 ¼ length 4th of 13 at Haydock in April. Handles some ease in the ground and isn’t handicapped out of this.

Cheers

John