Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ascot and Kempton.

Ascot

5:25 – Majestic Fighter – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Went close at Doncaster in May and bounced back from a lesser performance at Leicester when a neck 2^nd of 5 when dropped back to 7f at Sandown last month. Races off the same mark and has solid claims for yard among the winners.

Kempton

7:55 – Blame It On Sally – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The selection has returned from 25 month absence this season with two good efforts. He was ¾ length 2^nd of 7 at Lingfield and then was a bit unlucky in the run when a 4 ¼ length 5th of 11 at the same venue 22-days ago. A C&D winner for his previous yard, he needs the return of the cheekpieces to have the desired effect.  

8:55 – Royal Thunder – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – One of the least exposed of the nine runners. The 3-year-old has just had the four starts and made a promising handicap debut when a 1 ¾ length 3^rd of 12 here over a furlong shorter last time. Can race off the same mark here and looks progressive.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Salisbury and Clonmel.

Salisbury

3:55 – Makarova – 15/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner over C&D in the spring the filly put in a career best when a ½-length second of 12 to Adaay In Asia at Goodwood last time. The winner has gone in again at the Ebor Festival so the form looks solid. Looking at her eight rivals I can’t really look beyond Makarova.

4:26 – Cabinet Of Clowns – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Won a novice race over (7f) in June and has run respectably in two handicap starts since at Sandown and Newmarket. Both those runs have come over 7f and he shapes like the step up to a mile can bring out more improvement.

Clonmel

5:50 – Ms Eagleton – 7/2 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power A winner at Ballinrobe two starts back she ran just as well in defeat when a 1¾ length 3rd of 12 at Killarney on her handicap debut 51-days ago. Nudged up 1lb for that effort but the return to 1m 1f is a plus and given she’s only had five career starts could be capable of better.

6:50 – Takarengo – 10/1 @ Bet365 – Won this extended 2m handicap last year off 2lb higher and although he’s not the most consistent of horses, was well behind one of today’s Monas Melody and Bellewstown 8-days ago, he was a respectable 3^rd of 10 at Leopardstown on his previous start. Respected in the first-time visor for a yard in great from.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A poor month finally comes to end lets hope we can finish it on a winning note with September just a day away.

Hamilton

5:55 – Zig Zag Zyggy – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Not for the first time the selection did too much at the sharp end when 6^th off 11 here over 5f just 5-days ago. That made it 0-6 in the blinkers for the 7-year-old and that headgear has been removed for the return to 6f. A ground versatile, double C&D winner in the past a better run is expected here from him here.

6:25 – Shandy Star – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Previous C&D winner Coco Jack will be tough to beat but I’m going to take him on with the selection who is also a previous C&D winner, two starts back, who is surely better than he was able to show when down the field in a hot nursery at handicap two weeks ago.

Gowran Park

4:25 – Harbanaker – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Didn’t get the clearest of passages but ran well in the first-time blinkers when 3^rd of 14 at Dundalk two starts back and his cause wasn’t helped by a slow start when a respectable 5 ½ lengths 6th of 15 at Bellewstown 7-days ago. The first-time visor replaces the blinkers, and they could enable him to go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Epsom and Roscommon.

Epsom

4:25 – Kaaranah – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Tartan Chief has gone close on his last two starts he should be competitive again although he’s likely to face pressure for the lead. The selection a winner at last year’s Galway Festival when trained in Ireland, shaped like a future winner when a ½ length 2^nd of 11 to the Lingfield in May. Disappointed (9/2) when only 8^th of 15 for a handicap at Galway last time but was said to have been coughing after the race and that run can be excused. Better expected here with Jim Crowley booked 4 from 13 31% +7 when teaming up with trainer John Butler in the past 5-years.

5:35 – Brazen Bolt – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Has been in excellent form this season, winning over today’s distance at Ayr three starts back’ He’s continued in good form on two subsequent starts at York and latterly when a head 4^th of 6 at Musselburgh 24-days ago. Has handy draw in stall 1 for a prominent racer and should be nicely positioned in a race which doesn’t look like it will be run at strong pace.

Roscommon

7:00 – Derry Lad – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Libby shaped well on her handicap/stable debut when a 1 length 3^rd of 18 at Galway last month. The Joseph O’Brien trained 3-year-old has been raised 4lb for that effort but can win a race off her present mark. Preference though is for the selection who was a length 3^rd of 17 in the Ladies Derby at the Curragh last month. The 4-year-old is 1lb higher here but remains unexposed beyond 1m 2f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Goodwood and Yarmouth.

Goodwood

1:50 – Dusky Lord – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Stays 6f but has been campaigned over 5f this season. Posted a career best when a ½ length 2nd of 15 here at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Held up and had no chance from his high draw when last of 22 at York last time 11-days ago. The headgear he’s worn on his last two starts are left off and the return to smaller field may suit him better.

3:35 – Double or Bubble – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Runner-up here 12 months ago put in a career best when a 3 ½ lengths fifth of 13 to Alcohol Free in July Cup last time. A consistent mare she probably needs the ground to dry out further but if it does, she’s got a good chance of going one place better than last year.

Yarmouth

2:15 – Arqoob – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The lightly raced New Dimension returns from a break and a gelding operation and could be on a workable mark for his handicap debut. However, a chance his taken with previous course winner Arqoob. A winner at Sandown last month he bounced back from a below par effort at Goodwood when a 4½ lengths fourth of 15 in a hot handicap over today’s distance at Sandown 8-days ago. Probably vulnerable to better treated rivals off his present mark but is inform and should go well.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Beverley, Goodwood, and the Curragh.

Beverley

1:30 – Majestic – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Has improved with each of his four starts since switching to the turf. Got off the mark with an impressive success at Pontefract 13-days ago. Looks on a workable mark for his handicap debut.

2:05 –Kitsune Power – 9/4 @ Bet365 – Was suited by the step up to 1m 1f when 2nd of 16 to Ajero at Goodwood last time and would have got closer if handling the track. Up 4lb but going the right way and Saturday’s extra furlong should suit. The one to beat.

Goodwood

5:35 – Jadoomi – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Returned from a 9-month absence and gelding operation to make all to win a Listed race in France last month and seems likely to get an uncontested lead here. He’s got a bit to find on ratings with favourite Mutasaabeq but could get the run of the race.

Curragh

1:55 – Shelton – 3/1 @ Bet365 –  Bulit on the promise of her racecourse debut when winning here over 7f three weeks ago.  The step up to a mile should suit and with her Group 1 entries is clearly highly regarded by connections.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Thirsk, Ffos Las and Goodwood.

Thirsk

3:30 – Air To Air – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Yarmouth three starts back was well fancied for the International Stakes Handicap at Ascot. Returned 15/2 for that race he ran better than his final position of 11th of 21 suggests. Shaped like he remains in form when a neck 2nd of 4 at Doncaster when ridden by an inexperienced 7lb claimer. Today’s bigger field and stronger forecast should see him go close.

Ffos Las

4:25 – Haymaker – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Gained his second career success when making all to win over C&D 16-days ago. The handicapper has hiked the 3-year-old up 10lb for that win and he won’t find it as easy to dominate this deeper field. However, he’s lightly raced and unexposed over 6f so a chance is taken that he’s capable of better.

Goodwood

6:10 – Land of Winter @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection holds no secrets from the handicapper and is 5lb above his last winning mark. However, the rain has come at the right time for the 6-year-old, three of his career successes have come on soft/heavy ground and he should be well positioned in what doesn’t look like it will be strongly run race.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Chelmsford and Navan.

Chelmsford

2:45 – Rhythm Master – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bounced back to winning ways and produced a career best on RPR’s when beating The Attorney at Newcastle in June.  That was just his second start for new trainer James Horton and his first since a gelding operation. Off for 61-days but won at Newcastle off an even longer lay off. Up 2lb but hails from a yard that had a winner at York on Saturday and should go close.

Navan

3:35 – Molly’s Gamble – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 3-year-old looked much improved when winning a Killarney handicap last month. She improved again in defeat when a ½-length second of 18 at Galway last time. Had a wide draw to overcome that day and the short straight there didn’t play to her strengths. Navan’s 3 ½ f straight should be more to her liking.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Musselburgh & Kempton.

Musselburgh

3:20 – Idilico – 11/2 @ Bet365 – The first horse to catch my eye was class dropping top-weight Wise Eagle. He’s been mostly out of form of late by he’s a previous course winner and Danny Tudhope has been booked.  However, preference is for another course winner in the selection who won a Perth handicap hurdle last time, prior to that was a good 3 length 4^th of 13 at Carlisle on the flat and should be suited by today’s slightly longer trip.

Kempton

6:00 – The Mouse King – 3/1 – Coral & Ladbrokes – Seemed suit by the step back to 7f when running out an easy winner of a Southwell handicap 10-days ago. The return to the polytrack and a mile ask another question of the 3-year-old but he’s 7lb well in under a 6lb penalty and is too well treated to ignore here.

7:30 – Whimsy – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Has been an improver winning her last two starts at Salisbury. Up 5lb for her latest success but she was nicely on top at the finish last time and Callum Hutchinson takes off a handy 5lb which negates her rise in the weights. Went close on her last start on the polytrack and should go close in her hat trick bid.

8:30 – Breach – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Has only had the three starts since joining present trainer John Butler winning the first of then at Lingfield, from 1lb higher. The filly hasn’t had the best of passages on her last two starts including when 1 ¼ length 5th of 13 at Thirsk 19-days ago. Looks capable of another good run  from a handy draw in stall 2.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Three seconds yesterday, one beaten a nose and two by a head. It’s been a tough month. Beginning badly struggling for winners and indeed form. Then when the horses do run well, they end up the wrong side of three close results. This weekend could have ended up so much better.

Today’s selections are from Ballinrobe.

Ballinrobe

5:00 – Sheishybrid – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Got off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles when winning a Cork maiden earlier this month. She’s since finished runner-up on the flat. Looks on a fair mark for her handicap hurdle debut, is ground versatile and should be capable of more progress in the sphere.

6:00 – Glenmalure Lodge – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection been knocking on the door on her last two starts in handicap hurdles at the course. Strong at the finish when a head 2^nd of 14 here last time. Nudged up 3lb but a first career success shouldn’t be far away.

7:00 – Fan Des Blues – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Fan de Blues Is a consistent chaser, as he showed once again when a 3 lengths 3rd of 20 in the Galway Blazers Handicap Chase last time. Drops back 5 ½ f in trip but if anything I think that’s a positive for his chance as he’s yet to win beyond 2m 2f.

Cheers

John