Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections and there are plenty of them are from Ayr and Kempton.

Ayr

4:20 – Do I Dream – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The filly isn’t the most consistent, but she was a unlucky in the run when a ½-length 2nd of 9 at Thirsk last month. Nudged up 2lb for that effort but remains on a competitive mark if remaining in form. Her hold up style means she needs at the cards to fall right but hopefully she should get the strong pace she needs.

4:50 – Albegrey – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is 4lb higher than when winning at Ripon back in May. However, the 3-year-old looked as good as ever when posting a career best on RPR’s when a 1¾ lengths 3rd of 12 at Carlisle last time. The drop back to a mile looks a plus and there’s a race to be one with him off his present mark.

5:20 – Shimmering Sands – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Did well to come from the rear in a steadily run race and trouble in the run to win at Leicester last time. He’s up 5lb for that win but looked to have plenty in hand at the line and the 3-year-old should still be ahead of his mark. Up 3f in distance here but there’s a good chance he will stay.

Kempton

7:15 – Mountain Road – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Seems to be slowly getting the hang of racing. The 3-year-old improved for the step up to 1m 6f when 2^nd of 7 at Chelmsford City two starts back and then progressed again when a nose 2nd of 8 over C&D 9-days ago. Likely needs the forecast strong pace materialize and if it does, he can get off the mark for the first time.

7:45 – Cabinet Maker – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Overcame a troubled passage to make it 2-4 over C&D two starts back. Might be best to put a line through his last run when last of 14. Held up in the rear in a race where few got into it from behind, he also didn’t get the best of runs 1f out. Takes a drop back in class here and is expected to go close.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ayr and Chelmsford.

Ayr

4:10 – Sun Hill – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is one of the least exposed of the ten runners. The 3-year-old returned from a 4 month break with a promising 2 ¾ length 3rd of 9 on handicap debut at Thirsk last month. He can race off the same mark here and should prove to be better than a 59 rated horse.

Chelmsford

7:00 – Apollo One – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Not as good on turf on his last two starts but the 4-year-old is better judged on his 1 length 3^rd of 10 over C&D in May. Down to a handy mark and has good draw in stall one for a front runner.  William Buick up for the first time and a big run is anticipated.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Both today’s selections are from Yarmouth.

Yarmouth

3:20 – Shaara – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The Gosden yard have won this Listed race three times since 2016. They run the improving Shaara who made it 3-4 when winning on handicap debut at Nottingham last month. The step up to 1m 2f suited her that day and she’s a filly going the right way. looks capable of winning in pattern company and she’s my pick against the favourite Ville De Grace.

5:37 – Media Guest –15/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection’s career win came over C&D on good to soft ground last September. He can be tricky ride and isn’t the easiest to win with. However, he’s run well on his last two starts here over 6f and should appreciate the return to 7f. The 4-year-old can win off his present mark if in the mood.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Worcester and Kempton.

Worcester

2:05 – Clear The Runway – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old completed a spring four timer when winning at Cartmel in May. Given his busy spell in the early part of the year he was due a break and if he returns in the same form, he’ll be a tough nut to crack even off 6lb higher. 

Kempton

8:00 – Primi Ordinis – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The filly has shaped with promise on her last two starts in novice company including when a 4 ¼ length 3^rd of 8 at Windsor last month. The step up to 1m 4f and the switch to handicap company is expected to bring out more improvement.

8:30 – Croachill – 7/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Must be respected on her 6 ½ length 3^rd of 10 to State Occasion in a fillies’ handicap (1m 2f) at York’s Ebor Festival last time. A winner at Doncaster in June, the step back up to 1m 3f could see her back to winning form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Doncaster and the Curragh.

Doncaster

3:55 – Haskoy – 9/2 – Gen – Made it 2-2 when winning the Listed Galtres Stakes at York last time. Given she still showed signs of inexperience that day and came from the rear in a steadily run race she did well to win. Trainer Ralph Beckett has run three fillies in the race since 2008 and all three have placed. The fact that connections have decided to supplement Haskoy looks significant.  We haven’t seen the best of this promising filly yet. Will she have the experience to win this on just her third career start?  I think she will.

Curragh

1:50 – Above The Curve – 4/1 @ Bet365 – We haven’t seen the 3-year-old since she won the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp back in May. She acts on soft ground, is open to further progress and Ryan Moore takes the ride rather than any of the three Aidan O’Brien runners in the field.

2:25 – Romantic Proposal – 9/1 @ Bet365 – If Highfield Princess reproduces her Nunthorpe performance she’ll be hard to beat but I’m going with last year’s winner Romantic Proposal to make back-to-back wins in this Group 1 contest. The selection had looked set for a good season when winning on her seasonal reappearance at Naas but was forced to miss the King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and disappointed on firm ground in the July Cup. Provided the ground doesn’t get to testing I think she’ll win.

3:00 – Tahiyra – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The half-sister to the smart Tarnawa. produced a good turn of foot to quicken clear of her rivals to win a Galway maiden on racecourse debut There should be plenty more to come from her and she could be biggest rival to favourite Mediate.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

For anyone wondering there were no selections on Thursday and of course none yesterday.  I’m back today with a couple from day one of what looks a cracking Irish Champions Weekend.

Leopardstown

3:10 – Beamish – 6/1 @ Ladbrokes – The soft ground just swings it towards the selection ahead of stablemate Earl Of Tyrone. Beamish lost his unbeaten record when only 3rd of 8 over C&D last month. He shouldn’t be judged to harshly on his latest run as he would have preferred more of a stamina test and he’s 2-2 on soft ground.

4:20 – Raadobarg – 13/2 @ Ladbrokes – Irish Lincolnshire winner Raadobarg has got 6lb to find with the favourite Jadoomi on official ratings, but he goes well on testing ground and when he won the Irish Lincolnshire, he had looked a Group horse in handicap. Hopefully on his preferred ground he’ll be able to show that he is one.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Doncaster, Cork and Kempton.

Doncaster

3:35 – Novemba – 7/2 – Gen – The German challenger gets to race on an easy surface for the first time this season and although she hasn’t been disgraced on her last two starts on quick ground softer ground suits her better. Looking at the pace map she could get an uncontested lead which enhances her chance.

Cork

6:45 – Bossy Parker – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Showed improved form to win a on his nursery debut at the Curragh last time. Now 6lb higher but looks the type to progress further if handling today’s much easier surface.

Kempton

8:30 – Matched – 9/4 @ Coral – Improved for the step up to 2m and the fitting of the first-time blinkers when successful at Lingfield 18-days ago. He’s up 7lb for his latest win but could be up to defying it if the headgear continues to work.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Catterick and Leicester.

Catterick

2:20 – Obee Jo – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won this corresponding race 12 months ago, off 4lb higher. He hasn’t been as his best on recent starts and was a disappointing 100/30 favourite here (good to firm) last time. Needs a strong pace to chase and good to soft ground though and when gets when his optimum conditions he’s on a winning mark.

Leicester

2:40 – River Usk – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Caught the eye returning from a 9-week layoff when a 5-length 5th of 15 at Redcar 10-days ago. Shaped as if today’s extra furlong will suit and looks interesting off a mark of 63 for his nursery debut.

3:50 – Fight For It – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I’m going to take a chance here with winning hurdler Fight For It. The 4-year-old plugged on late when 3^rd of 6 to Thanks Monica at Salisbury (1m 2f) last month and should be suited by the return to 1m 4f. The booking of Hollie Doyle 4-10 when combining with trainer John O’Shea suggests better is expected today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Perth and Galway.

3:20 – She’s A Rocca – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Gained a second career success over hurdles when coming from behind to win at Southwell in June. Raised 5lb for that win and must prove her stamina for beyond two miles. However, I think she’ll stay and is the pick

Galway

7:15 – Malina Girl – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is in good form finishing runner-up on her last three starts over fences, putting in a career best on RPR’s at Wexford last month.  The step up in trip is a plus for the 5-year-old and off just a 2lb higher mark is capable of a first success over the larger obstacles.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Haydock and Kempton.

Haydock

3:30 – Minzaal – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Yes, no 4-year-old has won this race in the past ten years. However. His form is strong in the contest of today’s race he beat Go Bears Go two starts back and then finished ¾ length 2nd of 14 to Highfield Princess in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time.  He’ll get a good tow into the race from the likes of Art Power and Naval Crown and is the pick.

4:05 – Nomadic Empire – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Ran big race when a back to form 1 ½ length 4th of 22 to Bergerac at York 17-days ago. All three of the 4-year-old’s have come between August and October and all of them have come on good to soft or quicker. He’s 5lb below his last winning mark and provided the ground doesn’t get to soft will win before the autumn is out.

Kempton

2:40 – My Mate Ted – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Left this seasons’ previous from well behind when winning here on his all-weather debut 18-days ago. In a deeper race here but only up 4lb and is open to more improvement.

Cheers

John