Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are Beverley, Salisbury, and Tramore.

Beverly

2:45 – Arnold – 9/2 @Bet365 – Won this 5f handicap in 2018 and last year from 1lb lower. He’s a quirky sort who must be delivered as late as possible so today’s forecast strong pace will suit. Quick ground really suits, and he’s got a handy low draw. A solid second at Newcastle last time. If all the cards fall right and the 8-year-old won’t be far away.

Salisbury

4:15 – Sinjaari – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won a Sandown handicap two starts back and ran better than his 10 ½ length 17th of 18 in Golden Mile Handicap at Goodwood suggests. He got no sort of run in the straight that day and wasn’t subjected to hard race when his jockey realised, he had no chance of placing.

Tramore

7:00 – Vischio – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Two wins on the flat this spring the mare was a 3-length 7th of 18 to Outback Flyer at the Galway Festival last time. Was set too much to do that day and better is expected today in a lesser race.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Angel Amadea came within a short head of giving the service a much-needed winner. Today’s selections are from Beverley, Kempton and Gowran Park.

Beverley

3:40 – Bin Hayyan – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Was an unlucky neck 2nd of 12 over C&D three starts back. Hasn’t run anywhere near to that form at Epsom, didn’t seem to handle track, and York last time. Is on a winnable mark if the return to C&D sees a return to form.

Kempton

7:25 – Huddleton Mac – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Didn’t really built on the promise on his juvenile season last year but did end 2021 with a 1 ½ length 2nd of 9 over C&D last November. Has been gelded since last seen in action and if he’s ready to roll on his belated seasonal reappearance he should be there or thereabouts.

Gowran Park

7:35 – Mullacash Buzz – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Was caught close home when a ½-length 2nd of 14 to Zaur over C&D 18-days ago. He gets a 6lb pull in the weights with the winner and is entitled to reverse placings this evening especially as he looks to be better drawn.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Lingfield and Carlisle.

Lingfield

3:00 – Angel Amadea – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –  Remains an eight-race maiden but had shaped with promise when a 2 ½ length 4^th of 13 at Kempton two starts back. Did too much out in front when only 4^th of 7 at Newbury 49-days ago. Has been dropped another 2lb, is down in class and William Buick who rode her at Kempton is back in the saddle. Yard had a winner at Kempton yesterday.

Carlisle

6:15 – Golden Duke – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Leicester three starts back has remained in form by finishing runner-up on his last two runs.  His cause hasn’t been helped by starting slowly and the first time cheekpieces have been applied today. If the first-time headgear can enable to break on level terms, he’s got a good chance for a trainer who is 5 winners from 12 runners 42% +14.50 with his 3-year-olds at Carlisle in the last five years.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ballinrobe. Windsor and Kempton.

Ballinrobe

6:55 – Listentillitellyea – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has been steadily progressive on her last three starts, including a career best when a nose 2^nd of 20 to Darkened at the Galway Festival. Up a further 3lb for that effort and had has top-weight to carry here but looks to have a good chance of gaining a first win.

Windsor

8:10 – Millicent – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Got off the mark at the 15^th attempt when overcoming an interrupted passage to win an amateur rider’s race at Salisbury 16-days ago. The switch to a new yard seems to have suited the mare and although she has a 4lb rise in the weights she could be capable of defying it for a yard who has its runners in great form.

Kempton

3:30 – Greek Flame – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has been knocking on the door on her last two starts since going handicapping. Putting in a career best effort when a head 2^nd of 8 at Chester (1m 2 ½ f) 23-days ago. Up 2lb but is likely raced and capable of better. As a half-sister to 2m winner Sleeping Lion she should stay 1m 4f and looks set to go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Deauville and Haydock.

Deauville

2:55 – Perfect Power – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was very disappointing in the July Cup behind Naval Crown and Artorius but today’s extra furlong will suit him, and it might be worth forgiving him his Newmarket performance. He won here 12 months ago, and slightly easier ground will suit the 3-year-old.

Haydock

5:15 – Rich King – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-old won a C&D handicap two starts back and although he wasn’t at that level of form when 4^th of 9 at Southwell last time. That run came after a 10 week lay off and he also raced in the unfavoured inner part of the track that day. Better judged on his Haydock performance when he looked progressive.

5:45 – There’s The Door – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Have Secret looks more than capable of winning a nursery if he breaks on level terms. However, preference is for the selection who put in a much-improved performance when winning a C&D novice here 22-days ago. Evidently well suited by quick ground. She does need to find improvement for the step into handicap company but that seems likely.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I don’t seem to have got my eye in so far this month. It’s time to get among the winners and hopefully it will be today.

Today’s selections are from Haydock, Redcar, Ascot, and the Curragh.

Haydock

2:25 – Mr McCann – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – A productive juvenile campaign yielded three wins including here. He was well backed (7/2) and shaped well enough when a 3 ½ length 5^th of 6 in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester on his seasonal return. He didn’t stay the extended 1m 2f that day and wasn’t disgraced when 4^th of 11 I in a hot German 2,000 Guineas. Poor run in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot last time but a return to a turning track should see the front runner back to his best.

Redcar

2:52 – Give It Some Teddy – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A five-time winner at track, including four over C&D. The 8-year-old shaped like he was about to hit winning form when a 3 ½ length 4th of 16 at Thirsk last Saturday. He drops in 0-80 company here and is 2lb below last season’s winning mark.

Ascot

4:30 – Berkshire Breeze – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Andrew Balding targets the Shergar Cup and I think he’s got a good chance here with the selection. The 3-year-old is a six-race maiden, but he’s finished runner-up on his last two starts, including when a head 2nd of 6 to Bague d’Or on handicap debut here last time (1m 6f). A better run race back over 1m 4f should suit and he can surely win a race off his present mark.

Curragh

5:25 – Master Matt – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I’m taking a bit of a leap of faith here with Master Matt who has hardly beaten a rival on his last two starts. He won this corresponding race in 2019 and he had shaped with promise when 3 ¾ lengths 4^th of 11 over C&D on his seasonal return. The harder they go up front the better for this previous C&D winner and given his trainer’s form he could bounce back today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Musselburgh, Haydock, and Tipperary.

Musselburgh

2:40 – Ravenscraig Castle – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Two wins last summer and an excellent ½-length 3^rd of 20 to Valley Forge in the valuable Melrose Handicap last August. The selection wasn’t suited by the drop back to 1m 4f when down the field in the Old Newton Cup last time. He’s better judged on his 1 ¾ length 4^th of 13 to Dark Jedi two starts back and he gets 4lb form that one today.  Might be better suited to a more galloping track but he did close here last September and he should be there or thereabouts.

Haydock

8:37 – Colinton – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Has won four times since joining present trainer Katie Scott earlier in the year.  The latest of those wins came over C&D, off 4lb lower in May. The 4-year-old quickly bounced back from a poor effort in a much better race at Ayr when a ½-length second of 6 at Pontefract 12-days ago. Off the same mark here and could get the race run to suit on in front. Good chance if he’s effective on softer ground as he is good.

Tipperary

8:25 – Sequoiaspirit – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Trainer Ray Hackett is 3-10 +27 with his runners at the track in the past 5-years one of those winners was the selection who won this race 12 months ago with today’s jockey in the saddle. That success came from 1lb lower, and the 5-year-old comes into the race in good form having gone close over hurdles last month.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Leopardstown and Sligo.

Leopardstown

6:15 – Cleveland – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Won Chester Cup in May and finished runner-up to the improving Get Shirty in the Copper Horse Handicap (1m 6f) at Royal Ascot. Now with Joseph O’Brien, stays in same ownership, he’s capable of better and although he drops back to 1m 4f still makes plenty of appeal with Ryan Moore in the saddle once again.

Sligo

7:35 – Guido Reni – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hardly a prolific winner as his 1 win from 24 starts over hurdles shows. However, he does have plenty of pieces of form that give him a decent chance. Although the 8-year-old hasn’t won at Sligo he’s not finished outside the first three on all four starts at the track, including when a 6-length 3rd of 11 here (2m 1f) last month. Step up to 2m 4f is fine and the booking of Rachel Blackmore takes the eye.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Kempton and Sligo.

Kempton

8:20 – Duke of Verona – 100/30 & Coral & Ladbrokes – Seemed suited by the step up to 1m 6f when returning to winning ways at Salisbury last time. He’s only been raised 1lb for his Salisbury success and I think there’s more to come from him returned to the all-weather (2 wins from 4 runs). Ryan Moore is an interesting jockey booking and he’s today’s selection despite the drop back to 1m 4f here.

8:50 – Murau – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Gained a second career success when winning over C&D last time. That was a personal best from the 4-year-old who was having his start beyond 1m 4f. Up 4lb for his latest win but he’s unexposed over staying trips and I will be surprised if he can’t rate a lot higher than a mark of 80.

Sligo

8:30 – Barometer – 9/2 @ Bet365 – A late starter the 7-year-old is a nine-race maiden, but he posted a career best performance on RPR’s when 1¼ lengths 2nd of 15 to one of today’s rivals Gracesolution in a Killarney handicap three weeks ago. He gets a handy 7lb pull with that one today and with Colin Keane booked I think he can get his head in front today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A poor start to the new month but there’s a long way to go. Today’s selections are from this evening’s cards at Kempton & Roscommon.

Kempton

7:50 – Scot’s Grace – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Scot’s Grace is taken to get the better of Prop Forward and Nationwide in a competitive looking Class 2 handicap over 6f. The selection, a previous C&D winner, has a handy draw in stall 4 and put in her best effort of the season so far when a ¾ length 3^rd of 7 to Crazy Luck at Chester last month. She did well to get a close as she did there given, she was slowly away. This is just her second start in handicap company, and she can race off the same mark as last time.

8:50 – Tulane – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The selection won a similar handicap over C&D in January off today’s mark and shaped last time on turf like she might be about to hit winning form soon. Looks set to go well in what looks a very ordinary race.

Roscommon

6:25 – Walking The Walk – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A 19 race maiden over jumps isn’t the most solid of win bets. However, the 7-year-old has run respectably on his last two starts over fences and was doing his best work at the finish at Limerick 13-days ago. My angle here is the booking of Rachel Blackmore for the ride as she’s 2 winners from 7 rides 29% +7.50 when combining with trainer Philip Rothwell.

Cheers

John