Author: John Burke

Hi all,

A disappointing Saturday but we have had a good recent run. Today’s selections are from Leicester, Windsor, and Roscommon.

Leicester

4:25 – Cubanista – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Pam Sly is 7 from 29 24% +59.25 with her runners at Leicester in the past five years. The selection didn’t show much on his three starts as a juvenile. However, there was more to like about his ½-length 3rd of 12 on handicap debut at Wetherby (1m) last month. There might be a bit better to come from him despite the drop back to 7f.

Windsor

6:40 – Rum Cocktail – 7/2 – Gen – The selection has just had the three starts and last summer beat Sense Of Duty at Newmarket last summer and that one won a Listed race at Haydock on Friday. Handicap debut here and could develop into a useful sprinter this season. Morgan Cole takes of a handy 5lb for a yard among the winners.

Roscommon

6:30 – Empyrea – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Dermot Weld had a welcome winner at the Curragh yesterday and theirs a decent chance he could have another here with the selection. The lightly raced 4-year-old won a Listowel maiden over today’s distance on her final start of 2021. She shaped with plenty of encouragement when a 6 ¼ length 5th of 14 on her handicaps debut at Leopardstown 15-days ago. Looks on a competitive mark for a return to 1m 4f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

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

Curragh

2:45 – Power Under Me – 7/2 @ Bet365 – A winner of a Listed race C&D on his final start last season. The 4-year-old has returned to action in good form winning a Listed race at Cork. Needs to step up again into group company but could be capable of doing so this season.

4:30 – Moracana – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Made it 2-2 at Leopardstown when making a winning handicap debut/seasonal return last month. A 9lb rise in the weights makes life more difficult but she a progressive looking filly who looks capable of winning again.

Goodwood

2:50 – Surrey Gold – 4/1 – Gen – The rain that fell yesterday has come at the right time for Surrey Gold who’s two turf wins have come with soft in the going description.  He showed a good attitude to prevail at Newbury on his final start of 2021. Starts the season off 6lb higher  but looks capable of better  as a 4-year-ol.

Haydock

4:55 – Kingmania – 5/1 – Gen – The selection was a progressive handicapper last season winning her first two starts of a light campaign. Market expectations (2/1 fav) suggested the filly would make a winning return to action over a mile here last time but, she could only finish a 5-length 7th of 9.  Back down to 7f provided there’s no more rain I’m expecting a much better effort from her, despite a wide draw in 11.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Haydock and Worcester.

Haydock

4:15 – Hopeman Harbour –7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has shown enough in maiden/novice company to think that he can win races. Looks to have been campaigned with handicaps in mind. A mark of 61 looks workable for his handicap debut. The yard is 2-4 in the past 14-days and 2-5 with its runners at the track in the past 5-years.

4:45 – Rich King – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection looks to have improved for an end of season gelding operation finishing a 1½ lengths 2nd of 8 on handicap debut at Redcar last month. The third and fourth in that race have gone onto win so the form looks solid enough.

Worcester

5:15 – School For Scandal – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – No form on three hurdle starts but the former pointer made an encouraging enough chase debut, from 10lb out of the handicap, when a 13 length 2nd of 9 over C&D last time. Remains capable of better in the sphere and has a very low weight.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Sandown and Chelmsford.

Sandown

6:45 – Paradias – 7/1 – Gen – Brayden Star will be tough to beat afteran improved success at Salisbury 7-days ago. He’s well in under a 6lb penalty but I’m going to take him on with Paradias. The selection returned from a 7-month layoff with a 3-length 2nd of 13 to Atrium on handicap debut at Ascot last time. He travelled through the race like he’s on a winnable mark and just found another improver too good last time. He can win a handicap and hopefully its today.

8:20 – New Heights – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection built on her seasonal reappearance effort when a 1¼ length 2^nd of 9 at Windsor last time. She’s now 1lb above her last winning mark and looks capable of adding to her two career wins.

Chelmsford

7:05 – Arabian Warrior – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Has only had one start since November 2020, when down the field at Haydock last August, well backed that day 17/2. Lightly raced for a 5-year-old, he clearly hasn’t been the easiest to train but he looks better on the all-weather and trainer Saeed bin Suroor has his horses in good form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Kempton

Kempton

6:00 – Encouraged – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has returned from a spell in Hong Kong in good form this spring with form figures 321. He’s up 1lb for a neck success at Southwell 23-days ago. Stepping up to a mile asks another question of the 4-year-old but the dam’s side of the pedigree offers hope that a mile will be in range stamina wise.

7:30 – Thunderclap – 9/2 – Gen – Twice a winner here over a mile last August. The selection ended last season with a career best effort, beating 10 rivals by 5 lengths, when stepped back up to 1m 2f at Pontefract (heavy) last October. Returns off an 8lb higher mark but he’s probably capable of better as s 4-year-old. First try at 1m 4f but at Pontefract he shaped like he will stay and could even improve for it.

8:00 – Ivasecret – 5/2 – Gen – The selection returned from a winter break to make it 3-6 on the all-weather when beating four rivals at Lingfield 20-days ago. Up 2lb for that win and has stall 8 to negotiate but if he’s in the same form as last time will take the beating today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

On a low-key day of racing, today’s selections are from Nottingham & Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton

2:50 – G’Daay – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Theselection shaped like he was returning to form when a 4 ¾ length 5th of 19 at Ascot 10-days ago. Back on the all-weather today and is expected to go close from stall 5.

3:50 – Little Raven – 4/1 – Gen – Twice a winner on the tapeta in January, over C&D and latterly Newcastle, off 4lb lower. The 3-year-old wasn’t disgraced when a 5 ½ length 4th of 12 here over 7f last time. Return to a 1m is a positive and he shouldn’t be far away for the very much inform George Boughey yard.

Nottingham

3:10 – Phantasy Mac – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Has improved with each of her four starts since returning from a break. Comes into the race seeking a four-timer after the filly made all to make a winning turf debut over C&D 11-days ago. Up 5lb for that win but is going the right way and should be competitive.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Windsor and Carlisle.

Windsor

5:10 – Colombe – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection’s sole career win came for her previous yard over C&D last May. She’s yet to win on four starts since joining the George Boughey stable. First start since a wind surgery and if the procedure has had the desired effect, she looks on a winnable mark and the yard’s runner are going well.

6:40 – Inver Park – 11/2 @ Ladbrokes – Has run well on both starts this season, including when a 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 13 on his seasonal reappearance over C&D last month and showed he remained in form when a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 8 at Southwell (7f) last time. Back to 6f today but looks capable of adding to his two career wins.

Carlisle

3:05 – Tangled – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 7-year-old best two performances last season came over C&D and he’s back down to his last winning mark. An underwhelming performance but likely needed the run when a 6 ¾ length 4th of 6 at Pontefract 19-days ago. Better expected today returned to a track he goes well at.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s been a tough week or so for the service but we have had handful of winners in the last few days and things have turned around. Today’s selections are from Naas and Killarney.

Naas

2:45 – Matilda Picotte – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – There was plenty to like about the selection’s racecourse debut success in the Curragh 13-days ago. She was quickly to the front that day and had the race won between the final two furlongs. The time was good and she’s open to plenty of improvement.

5:15 – River Derwent – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of a Leopardstown maiden (1m) on his first start after switching to the Joseph O’Brien yard last August. The 4-year-old was an encouraging 3 ¼ length 2nd of 17 in a Curragh handicap on his seasonal return 13-days ago.  The return to a mile will suit the lightly raced 4-year-old who has only had two starts in handicap compony.

Killarney

5:00 – Esthers Marvel – 7/2 – Gen – The selection 0-23 over hurdles made it 1-2 over fences when jumping soundly to win a mares’ beginners chase at Kilbeggan 23-days ago. She had to dig deep from two out to prevail that day and I think she can give backers a good run for their money.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Navan, Thirsk, and Doncaster.

Navan

3:15 – Only Spoofing – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection has hardly beaten a rival on his three starts this season but he came into last year’s race in no form before winning, He has had the same preparation as 12 months ago and is 5lb below his year’s winning mark. The 20/1 available when the market opened has long gone but with ground set to suit, I’m still expecting a good run from the 8-year-old.

Thirsk

4:05 – Tinto – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Shaped with plenty of promise on his first start since switching to the Michael Dods yard when a 1 ¾-length sixth of 10 over C&D last month. He didn’t get the clearest of runs inside the final furlong that day and although he’s on a losing run that goes back almost two years. He’s on good mark when all the cards fall right.

Doncaster

6:05 – Lady Reset – 7/2 – Gen – Was well placed to win five races last season, including over C&D. She’s returned from a 7-month lay off with a couple of runner-up efforts over hurdles and although she’s back on the flat off a 4lb higher mark than for her last win at Sandown is expected to go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

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

York

3:00 – Rogue Bear – 9/4 @ Bet365 – The selection has developed into a consistent handicapper. Third of 22 in the Lincoln Handicap on his seasonal reappearance, doing best of those drawn high. He did even better on his next start when a ½ length 3rd of 17 in the Newbury Spring Cup. He’s been nudged up 2lb but the step up to 1m 2f looks worth a go and he’s a worthy favourite.

Newmarket

2:15 – Bad Company – 17/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-olddoesn’t’ have much in hand of the handicapper but he wins his share of races 5-17 on turf and posted a career best on RPR’s when a ¾ length 2^nd of 10 to Soto Sizzler over C&D last October. Not at his best on either start in 2022 but there’s a good chance he will get an uncontested lead here.

Aintree

7:35 – Empire De Maulde – 4/1 @ Bet365 – A winner over C&D last June and at Kelso, off 2lb lower, in October. Off for four months, the 8-year-old will be sharper for a recent spin over hurdles. He does need genuinely good ground to be at his best but that seems likely today.

Cheers

John