Author: John Burke

Hi all

Today’s selections are from Sandown and Naas.

Sandown

5:42 – Spirit Of The Bay – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won four of her five starts last season and although she’s not won so far in 2022 she’s gone close on a couple of occasions arguably putting a seasonal best when a 2 length 2nd of 12 at York 17-days ago. Must have solid claims today.

6:12 – Ikhtiraaq – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has made all to win two small field handicaps at Yarmouth and Pontefract. The 3-year-old is going the right way and a 6lb penalty may not prevent the hat trick form being landed. He won’t find it easy to dominate this field as his last two starts but he’s going the right way.

Naas

5:30 – Alma Libre – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Probably found a combination 1m 4f on soft ground taxing her stamina when 7th of 15 at Galway last time. Prior to that the 4-year-old had been knocking on the door on a sound surface including when a ½ length 2^nd of 18 at the Curragh two starts back.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s a busy Saturday with plenty of fancies from York, Sandown, and Chester. Today’s post is out earlier than normal as I’m out this evening and its why there are more selections than usual, as I don’t have the time to reduce the shortlist.

York

1:50 – Alflaila – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has improved with each start this season finishing runner-up to race favourite Mighty Ulysses two starts back. He’s since gone onto win a Pontefract Listed race (1m). Although neither horse is guaranteed to appreciate today’s extra furlong. If they go an even gallop, I think Alflaila can reverse placing with the favourite.

Sandown

2:40 – Defence Of Fort – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked a very useful prospect when forging clear to beat 11 rivals on his racecourse debut last month. He has Group 1 entries, is open to plenty of improvement and should be suited by Sandown’s stiff finish.

3:50 – Ajero – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Failed to stay 1m 4f when 2^nd of 17 to Candleford  in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot two starts back. However, he went one place better dropped back to 1m 1f at Goodwood three weeks ago. Up 7lb for his Goodwood win but he remains unexposed on the flat and today’s 1m 2f should suit him well.

5:35 – Chipstead – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Was in great form this time last season completing a Bath hat trick of 5f wins between August & September.  Struggled to reach that level of form on his first four starts this season but bounced back to something more like it when a ½ length 2^nd of 15 in the Fitzdares Sprint Series Final at Windsor 19-days ago. Should win this if in the same form as last time.

Chester

3:05 – Loft – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – It’s not often that you get a Grade 2 Belmont Park winner running at Chester, but we do here with the selection. The German challenger shouldn’t have any problem with the track and even with a 7lb penalty to carry for winning in a higher grade, he’s my strongest fancy of the day.

3:40 – Titan Rock – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Has dropped below his last winning mark and looked to be coming into form when 4 ¾ length 5^th of 17 in a Goodwood handicap 24-days ago. He was doing his best work at the finish that day from the widest draw. Better drawn in stall 4 today and showed he handled track when a head runner-up in last year’s race. Big chance for the inform John Quinn yard.

4:15 – Sampers Seven – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner in 2020 the mare has returned from missing the whole of 2021 in decent enough form. She was only beaten a neck on her return to action at Haydock in May and bounced back from a couple of low-key efforts to finish a 2 ½ length 3^rd of 11 here over 5f last month. The runner-up has won since so the form looks decent.  Given she was drawn out wide in stall 11 it was a good effort to finish as close as she did last time. Better drawn here in stall 4 and although she has an extra ½ f to race, I think she will stay it with a more economical ride and the inform Jason Hart in the saddle.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from York and Newbury.

York

3:00 – Royal Scotsman – 100/30 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection must give 3lb to some promising unbeaten colts. However, he is proven in the class and is progressing with each race. Stall 11 might not be the best but if he can get some cover his turn of foot could be key inside the final furlong

3:35 – Royal Aclaim – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – An easy winner on her juvenile racecourse debut last year, looked equally as good when following up on her seasonal return at Bath after a 13-month layoff. Looked a potential 5f Group 1 sprinter in the making when winning a Listed race over C&D last month. Handy low draw to work with and despite her short price is the pick.

Newbury

2:50 – Auditor – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has developed into a useful handicapper for the step up to 7f winning his last two starts at Newmarket. Up just 3lb for his latest success and stepped up to a mile here but have a good chance of following up given his present vein of form, if the ground is on the quick side of good.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from York and Killarney,

York

2:25 – Shouldvebeenaring – 3/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Richard Hannon has won this valuable sales races four times since 2016 and he’s only got one runner in this year’s race. The selection built on his racecourse debut 4th when improving to win a Ripon novice 9-days ago. Not raced since but this has likely been the target and he’s open to further improvement.

4:10 – Mimikyu – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is going the right way winning her last two starts at Haydock and when making all to win on handicap debut at Newmarket last time. Bred to be better than 99 rated filly and her full sister won Journey was a Group 1 winner at 1m 4f. Big chance for a yard that’s one this twice since 2015.

Killarney

7:05 – Insane Bolt – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The improving Herring Island seemed to relish the mud when winning on his seasonal return/handicap debut at Roscommon last time. The step up to 1m 6f could suit and if the ground is testing, he will be tough to beat.  However, I’m going with Insane Bolt who finished third in last year’s race and hails from the vert much inform Peter Fahey yard – 3-10 in the past 14-days). The 6-year-old shaped like his turn might be near when a ¾ length 2^nd of 15 at the Galway (soft) last time. He’s ground versatile but his best form over hurdles has come on a good/good to yielding going.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Day 1 of York’s Ebor Festival.

York

3:00 – Aikhal – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The son of Galileo seemed to relish the step up to 1m 2f when an impressive winner of a Group 3 at the Curragh in June. If as expected the step up to 1m 4f suits he’s a a big chance here and can get the better of likely favourite Secret State.

3:35 – Native Trail – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –  I’m taking on Baaeed and Mishriff here with the selection. You can’t knock the 3-year-old’s consistency. He was only a head behind Mishriff when 3rd of 6 to Vadeni in the Coral Eclipse. He finds plenty pressure, but the Irish 2,000 winner lacks an instant change of gear, but York’s long straight can play to his strengths.

5:20 – Ramazan – 6/1 @ Bet365 –  Mrs USA looks very progressive and will be popular with punters, but the selection looked to have improved plenty for the step into nursery company when winning at Haydock (soft) last month. Up 7lb but going the right way. The runner-up at Haydock has won twice since so the form looks solid enough.  Trainer Richard Fahey won this in 2012/2015/2016.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Hamilton, Kempton and Chelmsford.

Hamilton

4:45 – Glam De Vega – 13/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Handicap debutant Glam De Vega should be suited by the step up to 1m 1f in the Hamilton feature. Given he’s by Lope De Vega and his dam won soft ground any further ease in the going shouldn’t inconvenience the colt either. A best priced 13/8 isn’t very exciting but he looks the best bet on the Hamilton card.

Kempton

3:00 – Moon Island – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Did well at Kempton last season with form figures 211 with the win coming in a C&D nursery last October. Disappointing on both turf starts earlier this season and there is a possibility that the daughter of Oasis Dream hasn’t trained on. However, she been given a short break and the return to the all-weather and the fitting of the first-time tongue tie mean she’s worth a chancing here.

Chelmsford

8:05 – Engrave – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – All five of the mare’s career wins have come over C&D and she was back to form returned to the all-weather when a 2-length 2nd of 9 here 7-days ago. Only beaten by an improving 3-year-old that day and she’s off the same mark here. A quick turnaround shouldn’t pose any problem for her as she 2-2 when racing within 7-days of her last run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Catterick and Windsor

Catterick

3:20 – Key Look – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has yet to win this season but her length 2^nd of 13 at Doncaster 16-days ago was a step back in the right direction. That was a seasonal best by the mare and the previous C&D winner is back down to a winnable mark.

3:55 – Obee Joe – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Previous C&D winner Obee Joe has run a bit than his recent form figures suggest. He drops into Class 6 company for the first time this season and is now 3lb lower than for his last success which came over C&D last September.

Windsor

6:50 – La Roca Del Fuego – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Treacherous is lurking on a winnable mark but preference is for the selection. The 6-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when ½-length 3rd of 20 to Birkenhead at York last time. A winner over C&D in April he should be there or thereabouts in a slightly lesser race.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

This month has been dire so far. I need to gain the winning thread before the start of York’s Ebor Festival.  Today’s selections are from Pontefract.

Pontefract

4:10 – Flint Hill – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection likes it here and his C&D form figures are 1214. He also finished a highly respectable neck 2^nd of 13 here over 2m 2f two starts back. Shaped as if still in good form when 7^th of 13 at York last time and a return to Pontefract can see him go close again.

5:20 – Dream Together – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Another previous C&D winner and a winner at Haydock in April off today’s mark. The 5-year-old has remained in decent form since finishing a close-up second back at Haydock and was 5^th of 15 at York last time. All three of his career wins have come on good to firm ground and he has a handy low draw in stall 3.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newbury and Newmarket.

Newbury

3:35 – Chindit – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot two starts back and then finished a respectable 4 ¾ lengths 6th of 7 to Baaeed in Group 1 Sussex Stakes last time. He’s 4-6 over 7f, including the Greenham Stakes over C&D last April and although he has a 3lb penalty for his Ascot success he could be up to defying back in calmer waters.

4:45 – Castel Gandolfo – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Fergal O’Brien and daughter Fern combined to win this amateur rider’s handicap 12 months ago and have good chance of back-to-back wins with the selection. Castel Gandolfo is a very useful handicap hurdler, officially rated 123. The 5-year-old has only had three starts on the flat and looks very interesting off a mark of just 75 here.

Newmarket

2:10 – Australian Angel – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Recent Doncaster winner Atlantis could be set for more improvement for the step up to 1m 6f. However, preference is for Andrew Balding trained more exposed than Atlantis, but she’s improved for racing beyond 1m 4f. She beat two rivals at Sandown last time and is just 3lb higher here and more improvement could be forthcoming.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Nottingham, Thirsk and Newmarket.

Nottingham

3:25 – Pons Aelius – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Consistent form figures of 22212 this summer from the 3-year-old who posted a career best on RPR’s when a head 2nd of 6 at Sandown (1m 6f) 16-days ago. Capable of going close again if suited by the step up to 2m.

Thirsk

6:07 – Khabib – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes- Alligator Alley drops in class here and was unlucky in the run at Doncaster last week. He’s going to pop up in one of these 5f sprint handicaps before long but at the prices I prefer the selection who has been running well on turf since winning a 5f handicap at Newcastle in March. He was beaten just a short head over C&D three starts back, from 1lb lower. Back from a 76-day break and if in the same form looks set for a good run.

Newmarket

7:58 – Chasing Aphrodite – 4/1 @ Bet365 – You can’t fault the selection’s two efforts on quick ground. A winner at Leicester on his racecourse debut in May he followed up under a penalty over C&D last month. Must be feared on his handicap debut and looks set to go close with conditions set to suit once more

Cheers

John