Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ayr, Newton Abbott, and Windsor.

Ayr

3:45 – Belle Of Annandale – 100/30 – My initial fancy was for the very well handicapped and class dropping Highwaygrey but at the prices I have to take him on. Belle Of Annandale got within a short head of breaking her maiden tag over C&D 7-days ago. The horse that beat her that Flying Moon reopposes here but is 5lb worse off. Granted she got the run of the race out in front that day and that seems likely again today. Not sure why she’s as big a price as she is. It could be the early money for Highwaygrey or concerns over quick ground although she seemed very effective on good last time

Newton Abbot

3:45 – Al Muffrih – 4/1 @ Bet365 – A very useful handicapper on the flat a few seasons back when trained by William Haggas. The 7-year-old has had four starts over hurdles since joining D J Jeffreys and will be suited by today’s quick ground. More encouragement to be gleaned from his handicap hurdle debut 9 ¾ length 4th of 12 at Uttoxeter 15-days ago. Both trainer and jockey have been among the winner in the past 14-days

Windsor

7:35 – The Princes Poet -9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection hasn’t built on his seasonal reappearance 2^nd of 10 over C&D on three subsequent starts. However, a return to C&D, form figures 112, and Buick back in the saddle, form figures 12, could see the 4-year-old bounce back to winning ways.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Super Saturday is here and another busy day of racing to navigate. Today’s selections are from York & Ascot.

York

3:30 – Misty Blues – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Got off the mark at the third attempt when showing a good attitude to prevail at Pontefract 20-days ago., Her dam was a useful juvenile and trainer Tim Easterby thinks she could be as good. Slight concern that a stiffer 6f may suit her better but she’s taken to follow up stablemate Atomic Lady’s success in the race 12 months ago,

4:40 – Winter Power – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won this race 12 months ago before going onto win the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes here last August. Has run poorly on both starts this season but this is her time of year and this her track. She’s 5lb clear of her rivals on official ratings and the one they all must catch. Looks to big at 2/1.

Ascot

4:45 – Kings Joy – 8/1 @ Bet365 – There’s been plenty of money for Washraa in the early betting and you can see why after her promising 8^th of 28 in the Sandringham Handicap over C&D last time. However, preference is for Kings Joy who was just one place and ¼ length behind on the other side of the track that day. The filly had gone close on her Kempton handicap debut two starts back and remains capable of better after just four career starts.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Plenty of fancies on a very busy Friday of racing and I’m not sure if I have put up five before. Indeed I could have put up seven!

Today’s selections are from Newmarket, York and Ascot.

Newmarket

4:10 – La Maquina – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Wonthis corresponding race 12 months ago off today’s mark. Same ground today and he also return from a lay off like he did last year.

4:45 – Celsius – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A progressive handicap sprinter a couple of seasons back who seemed to lose his way last season. The 6-year-old bounced back to winning ways to take advantage of a declining mark at Ascot on his seasonal reappearance in April. Needs a strong pace and quick ground which he should get here and although he’s up 4lb he remains on a winnable mark if backing up after another lay off.

York

2:05 – My Little Queens – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked suited by the step up to 1m 3f when coming from off the pace to finish a ¾-length 2nd of 14 in the Cumberland Plate at Carlisle last time. Today’s extra furlong should see more progress from her with Silvestre De Sousa booked.

5:00 – Peggy Sioux – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The selection finished a ½ length 3^rd of 27 in the Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. She might well have won but she went for home a stride early that day. Up 3lb but remains on a fair mark in a lesser race than last time.

Ascot

4:00 – Hello Jumeirah – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A Kempton maiden winner in April. The filly bounced back from a poor run in the Cheshire Oaks when a 1 ¾ length 2^nd of 9 at Haydock last time. Missed a race at Haydock last Saturday due to soft ground. Looks on a fair mark for her handicap debut and can go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

There’s plenty of racing over the next few days which doesn’t make life easy, but it is what it is.  Today’s selections are from Carlisle, Doncaster, and Newbury.

Carlisle

4:30 – Million Thanks – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Persist will be popular after her run at Royal Ascot. However, I’m going with Million Thanks. A Musselburgh maiden winner on his return he looked like he was coming to win his race 1f out before finishing a short-head 2^nd of 9 at Pontefract last month. Get’s the first time cheekpieces today and hopefully they will enable him to see out his race better.

Doncaster

3:45 – Cliff Cake – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The selection has a very likeable profile winning 7 of his 19 starts and he made it 4-4 over 7f when beating 11 rivals at Thirsk last month. Up a further 6lb for that success but Ryan Sexton takes off a handy 5lb which negates the weight rise.

Newbury

7:08 – Miramichi – 7/1 @ Bet365 – A four-time winner last season, including over C&D. The four-year-old was back to form when a 1 ½ length 3rd of 7 to Parachute here last time. He was just outstayed over 1m 4f that day and the drop to 1m 2f is a positive. Although he does face several unexposed 3-year-old’s he’s capable of winning off around his present mark .

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Kempton and Fairyhouse.

Kempton

6:45 – Moliwood – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Posted his best two RPR’s over C&D earlier in the year, including a win over C&D in January. Ran too bad to be true when tailed off at Newmarket 54-days ago. It’s probably best to draw a line under that run and better is expected here from the 4-year-old.

7:50 – Rose’s Girl – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection is an eight-race maiden, but she’s been running well since March and arguably posted a personal best when a ¾-length second of 11 at Lingfield last month. The blinkers she wore last time are retained although she’s been raised another 2lb after that performance.

Fairyhouse

8:30 – Golden Days – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The mare got off the mark at the 18^th attempt when beating 13 rivals at Cork two starts back and showed she remains in from when finishing a 1 length 3^rd of 24 back at the same venue last month. The first time cheekpieces she wore that day are retained and she’s only been raised 6lb for her last two efforts and is the pick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Pontefract, Ffos Las and Wolverhampton.

Pontefract

3:15 – Roman Mist – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Thunder Beauty heads the betting after her 3 ½ length 2^nd of 7 to Saffron Beach in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot and must be respected but preference is for the consistent selection who won a Kempton Listed contest in April and then arguably ran a career best when a 1 ¾ length 3rd of 10 to Bashkirova in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom last time. She’s the pick despite giving away 3lb to the favourite.

Ffos Las

7:20 – Abel Kane – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection wins his fair share of races 6-24 on turf and the 5-year-old put in a seasonal best when a neck 2nd of 6 at Windsor last time. Off the same mark here, he stays 7f and is now 2lb below his last winning mark.

Wolverhampton

3:30 – August Place – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Has shown ability in maiden/novice company and was an encouraging 5th of 11 over 7f here 15-days ago. That was the 3-year-old’s first start for 6 months and he should strip fitter today. Handicap debut stepped up to an extended 1m 1f but he’s bred to stay 1m 2f so today’s distance should bring eke out further improvement with James Doyle booked.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Worcester and Ripon.

Worcester

1:35 – Lord Bryan – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection might be an 11-year-old, but he’s taken advantage of some leniency from the handicapper to win his last three starts, the first two at Ffos Las and over C&D 23-days ago. Has an 8lb rise in the weights to defy here but he won last June off 1lb higher so there’s still scope of his new mark.

Ripon

6:45 – Overstate – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looks a modest five race maiden but there was more encouragement to be gleaned from his 3 ½ length 4th of 9 at Yarmouth last month. Shapes like the step up to 1m 4f could bring out a bit more progress in the 3-year-old and if it does, he shouldn’t be far away.

7:15 – Sydney Bay – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection put in a much-improved performance on his handicap debut when a 1 ½ length 5^th of 13 at Redcar 16-days ago. He shaped even better than his final position suggests as he was making good headway when not getting a clear run 1f out. Interesting to see the 3-year-old stepped up to a mile from 6f but he looks on a winnable mark if he gets the breaks here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ayr and Chelmsford.

Ayr

2:52 – Glasses Up – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Five-time C&D winner, including this race in 2018, Glasses Up looks set for a big run here. The 7-year-old bounced back to form when a 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 13 to Dark Jedi here in a better race 15-days ago. He drops back 3f in distance but the first time cheekpieces are applied and if the forecast showers arrive to ease the ground a bit, I can see him going close.

4:02 – Cassy O – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bounced back to winning ways when making all at Redcar two starts back. The 5-year-old ran arguably just as well under a 5lb penalty when a 3-length 5^th of 14 in the Carlisle Bell 11-days ago. He did best of those who came from off the pace the last day and although he drops back to 7f, given his present form this previous C&D winner looks set for another big run.

Chelmsford

3:20 – Bounce The Blues – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The consistent selection makes her all-weather debut today. Runner-up on her last two starts she can go one place better here. She does however face a real Chelmsford specialist in Internationalangel who is 4-4 over C&D and looks a tough rival to my fancy. However, if she takes to the surface Bounce The Blues is the pick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Haydock, Sandown, and Leicester.

Haydock

2:40 – Eshaada – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day. She looked a bit rusty when only 5th of 6 under her Group 1 penalty in the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury on her return to action. Today’s easier ground will suit the selection and if she bounces back to her 3-year-old best she’s the one to beat.

Sandown

4:45 – Land of Eagles – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Produced a good effort when a length 2^nd of 6 at Yarmouth on his handicap debut two starts back, before digging deep to prevail in a Chepstow novice last time. He shouldn’t be far away with William Buick back in the saddle.

Leicester

5:00 – Divine Magic – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection a promising 3^rd of 11 to Heredia at York two starts back wasn’t well placed in a steadily run race last time when occupying the same position at Newmarket last time. A winner over C&D last season she’s capable of winning this with Benoit De La Sayette taking off a handy 5lb.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The start of a new month and hopefully July will prove as profitable as June. Today’s selections are from Doncaster and Sandown.

Doncaster

3:20 – Regional – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – There was plenty of money around for the selection before his respectable 3 ¼ length 6th of 14 to Mr Wagyu at Epsom last time. He might just have needed the run after a 4-month absence that day. Provided he handles the drop back to 5f he looks the one to beat.

3:55 – Sandbeck – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection made it 3-5 when winning at Haydock 13-days ago. The return to the minimum trip suited the 3-year-old and she once again showed her effectiveness on quick ground. When she’s on a going day she’s clearly a talented filly but she’s been well beaten on her other two starts albeit one was on good to soft and the other poor performance came at Ripon, a track which not all horses handle.

Sandown

4:38 – Happy – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – There’s a good chance that the selection will get an uncontested lead. The 4-year-old made all to win at Beverley on his seasonal return and has run well on both his last two starts, in slightly better races than this, at Goodwood and latterly Ayr. He’s the pick of his jockey can get the fractions right on track that suits prominent racers.

Cheers

John