Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ascot and York. Not the most exciting of prices but hopefully there’s one winner among the pair.

Ascot

4:50 – Al Azhar – 5/2 @ Bet365 – The selection made it 2-4 this season when beating ten rivals at Newbury two starts back. He wasn’t suited by a slow gallop when a ½ length 2^nd of 3 at Salisbury last time but today’s bigger field and better gallop can see the 3-year-old back to winning ways.

York

7:25 – Judith – 9/4 @ Coral & William Hill – Seven fillies & mares have been declared for the Listed Lyric Fillies’ Stakes (7:25).  The Gosden yard have saddled the winner of the race 3 times since 2015 and they have the likely favourite in in the selection The 3-year-old is unbeaten on both starts and looked a Group filly in the making when winning at Newmarket last month.

Cheers

John

Hi all.

Today’s selections are from Leopardstown and Sandown.

Leopardstown

6:30 – Pearling Path – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Fairyhouse the juvenile improved to finish a length 2^nd of 13 in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. Plenty failed to give their running in the Chesham, but he was still a bit green that day and is open to more improvement.

Sandown

4:40 – Hodler – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ryan Sexton is well worth his 5lb claim and he was seen to good effect when winning on the selection at Goodwood three starts back. The jockey is back on board again this afternoon and I’m expecting better from the 3-year-old than when only 6^th of 7 over C&D last time.  He drops a couple of notches in class so hopefully the ease grade can see him back to winning ways.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After a day off, I’m back and with the weather cooling it’s a busy Wednesday of action across Britain & Ireland.  Today’s selections are from Sandown, Naas, Lingfield and Leicester. It’s not very often I put up five selections but today is one of those days. It’s not because I’m confident about all of them more I find it hard to split four of them.

Sandown

8:08 – Maytree Respite –9/2 @ Bet365 – There’s not much between the selection and Dal Mallart but at the prices I prefer the selection who proved his effectiveness on quick ground and 1m 2f when running out a game winner at Newbury 13-days ago. He’s up 3lb which looks workable, and he should go close.

8:40 – Sovereign Duke – 13/2 @ Bet365 – It’s hard to know how much ability the 7-year-old retains and whether he wants really quick ground but he’s a nicely treated horse on his 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 12 over C&D last August. Admittedly not much sign of life on his Salisbury reappearance in May but he’s 6lb lower than when he ran here last season.

Naas

6:30 – Ano Syra – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Sacred Bridge is interesting in the first-time blinkers. However, she does have to give weight to some interesting rivals, and they include the selection who has been in tremendous form this season winning three of her four starts, including the last two. The 3-year-old may not have reached her class ceiling just yet and looks worth a try in Listed company.

Lingfield

2:45 – Tango Tonight – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection has proved her effectiveness on the tapeta surface on her last two starts and got off the mark at the fourth attempt when winning a Wolverhampton maiden (7f) in May. Has a workable mark for her handicap debut and shaped last time like the step up to a mile can bring out further improvement.

Leicester

7:55 – Eponina – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection made all to win over C&D in May and did the same two starts later at Catterick. She’s holding her form really well and there is a good chance that she will get her own way out in front here. As long as her jockey gets the fractions right, I can see the mare gaining another success.

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Cartmel and it’s a very early start to racing due to the hot weather.

Cartmel

12:30 – Catchmeifyoucan – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection won this race last year, from 2lb higher, and comes into this year’s race in good form having won at Uttoxeter 13-days ago. Looks capable of winning this race for a second time.

1:00 – Olympus – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A maiden over both codes but the 4-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s over hurdles when a neck 2^nd of 8 at Hexham last month. Only up 1lb for that effort, he looks to have a good chance of breaking his maiden tag if he taking to the track.  Trainer Ann Duffield has booked Gavin Sheehan for the ride and the jockey comes north for just two rides both for the trainer.

2:05 – Lermoos Legend – 7/4 @ Bet365 – The most solid of today’s three selections but that’s reflected in his short price. The 7-year-old won four chases on the trot last summer and although he was well beaten on his return from a 9-month break at Chepstow in April, he quickly resumed winning ways when successful over C&D last month. Now 2-2 over C&D, won this race last year off a much lower mark, he looked to have improved again in defeat when a length 2nd of 7 at Uttoxeter last time. Nudged up another 4lb but he might not have stopped his progressive ways just yet.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Yesterday was poor after two winners on Friday. Today’s selections are from the Curragh.

Curragh

2:10 – Order Of Australia – 6/4 @Bet365 – Made most to win this race 12 months ago and will be sharper for his 3^rd of 7 to Baaeed in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot his seasonal reappearance. The one to beat on ratings.

3:20 – West Coast – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Looked a useful filly when winning a Leopardstown maiden on her final juvenile start but was well beaten in the valuable Madrid Handicap in March on her seasonal return. Aidan O’Brien has given her 1 112-day break and I can see her bouncing back to form here.

3:55 – Rumbles Of Thunder – 100/30 @ Bet365 –  A winner of a Gowran Listed race in May was a bit below form when a 4 ¾ length 3rd of 7 to Aikhal in the Group 3 International Stakes (1m 2f) here last month. Back against her own sex today and shouldn’t be far away if back to her best.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newbury, the Curragh and Chester.

Newbury

3:30 – Miami Girl – 9/1 @ Coral – A good winner at Windsor last time,has a bit to find with Maria Branwell on their Queen Mary running but looks capable of going close for a yard that has won the last two renewals of the Super Sprint.

Curragh

3:10 – Brostaigh – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has trained on well from two to three and remains on the upgrade after wins in a Naas Listed race and last time in a Group 2 at Chantilly. Well worth her place in the line-up and set to go well.

Chester

3:08 – Navello – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Caught the eye last time, doing best of those who raced far side when a 2 ¼ length 6th of 12 to Celsius at Newmarket 8-days ago. A winner over C&D on his penultimate start all of five career successes have come on left-handed turning tracks.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Nottingham and Newbury.

Nottingham

3:10 – Juan Les Pins – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bought after a winning a claimer at Redcar the 5-year-old made a successful start to his career with Michael Appleby at Newbury 8-days ago. Has a 5lb penalty to carry in a better race but is competitive mark and can go in again.

Newbury

2:43 – Dancing Tango – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Set a modest enough gallop when a 5-length 3^rd of 7 at Goodwood last month and was done for speed by the two who finished in front of her. However, she’s shaped well on all three starts in maiden company and should relish the step up to 1m 4f.

3:18 – Zain Nights – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Runner-up on his last two starts here, including over today’s distance last time. The 3-year-old was the first off, the bridle but found plenty for pressure to finish a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 7 to a rejuvenated Parachute. He shaped like further would suit last time but connections opt for the first time cheekpieces and if they sharpen him up then he’s on a winnable mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Leopardstown and Longchamp.

Leopardstown

7:20 – Trevaunance – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Beat Thoughts Of June on her second juvenile start last season and the filly showed she had trained on when beating two rivals at Limerick on her seasonal reappearance last month. Needs to improve to win this but the yard is in great form and given she’s only had four career starts more progress seems likely.

8:20 – S’all Good Man – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Put in a career best on RPR’s when a 2nd of 10 in handicap at Limerick 7-days ago. The 6-year-old finished his race of well enough to think that he should be suited by today’s slightly longer trip. Has only had four starts on the flat and if he’s in the same form as last time should go close.

Longchamp

7:50 – Onesto – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Despite the small field for this Group 1 contest there should be a decent pace which will suit the selection.  A winner of a Group 2 at Saint-Cloud in May he a wide a draw to contend with in the French Derby and was doing his best work at the finish when 6½ lengths fifth of 15 to Vadeni. Has 1 ¾ lengths to find with El Bodegon on that running but the son of Frankel has the pedigree to even better at 1m 4f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Lingfield and Killarney.

Lingfield

7:30 – Vin Rouge – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection it together at the 14^th attempt when winning over C&D two starts back and followed up at Kempton last month.  He’s up 5lb but given his present form is one they all have to beat.

Killarney

7:10 – Cactus Tree – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Twice a winner at this time last year the 6-year-old has dropped 5lb below her last winning mark and shaped like her turn was near when 3 length 4th of 17 at Fairyhouse last time. Coming from off the pace she finished her race of well and although she’s yet to win beyond 7f she does stay a mile.

8:10 – White Strand – 7/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 3-year-old made a pleasing enough handicap debut when a ¾-length 2nd of 15 at Limerick (1m 3 ½ f) last month. Nudged up 1lb for that effort but showed he was effective on good to firm that day and looks worth chancing on a step up to 1m 6f here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Chelmsford and Killarney.

Chelmsford

6:20 – Karibana – 11/4 @ Bet365 – The selection has a good record at the track and bounced back to winning ways over C&D 26 days ago. The fitting of the first-time visor had the desired effect that day and if the headgear continues to work, he can defy a 4lb rise in the weights.

6:50 – Twilight Madness – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Has plenty of form at the track, including finishing a ½-length 3rd of 7 here over 6f last time. Looks worth another try over 7f and if his stamina hold out he’s competitively weighted.

Killarney

6:00 – Aristovic – 11/4 @Bet365 – A winner at Tipperary (yielding to soft) two starts back. The filly showed she’s an improving handicapper and is effective on quicker ground when winning over C&D yesterday.  A 7lb penalty probably won’t stop her provided the quick turnaround isn’t an inconvenience.

Cheers

John