Author: John Burke

Hi all,

The losing run came to end yesterday courtesy of Pammi’s win at Perth last evening.  Let’s hope we can build on that success today. Today’s selections are from York and Perth.

York

2:25 – Noon Star – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Finished in the runner-up in last season’s Musidora over C&D. She was only having her second start since the Musidora. When winning the Nottinghamshire Oaks 16-days ago on her first start for 10 months. Lightly raced she’s open to further improvement as a 4-year-old.

Perth

3:55 – Overthetop – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A chance is taken with selection who is returning for the first time since February 2020. He has the back form to be competitive on his handicap hurdle debut even off top-weight, if he’s retained most of his old ability.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Were in a horrendous run of form but hopefully we can bag a winner or two today.

York

3:00 – Minzaal – 5/2 – Gen – Comes into the race with most upside. The 4-year-old won the Gimcrack over C&D as a juvenile. He wasn’t seen out until October last season and only had two runs. The best of them came on his final start when a 2-length 3^rd of 20 to Creative Force in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot. He looked a smart sprint prospect for this season that day and could be a Champion sprinter in the making. If he’s ready to roll first time up he can win this.

5:15 – Honour Your Dream – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has the best form of those juveniles to have run but he does face several interesting newcomers.  The selection has improved with each of his two starts and still looked a bit inexperienced when making his effort at Ripon last time. He’s open to a bit more progress and hopefully put his racecourse experience to good use here.   

Perth

7:40 – Pammi – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The mare’s best form has come here, including 3 wins from 6 runs 5 placed when running here over around three miles. Has been running poorly since winning over C&D last September, off a much higher mark, but posted a much better effort when a 5 ½ lengths 2nd of 10 at Ayr last month.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Beverley and Lingfield.

Beverley

3:40 – Kylie Rules – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – On a losing run that goes back to August 2019. However, she shaped like her turn might be near when a 1 length third of 11 here last time. Up 1f in distance but all four of her course wins have come over the distance and she should get a decent pace to chase.

4:10 – Pavlodar – 7/2 : Bet365 – Gelded over the winter the selection shaped with promise when a neck 3rd of 13 at Windsor last month. It looked improve form from the 3-year-old and although he’s been nudged 1lb he’s got a handy draw in stall 2 and won’t be far if staying today’s longer trip.

Lingfield

7:45 – Promoting – 8/1 – Gen – The selection looks interesting on his handicap debut. The 3-year-old shaped with some encouragement when a neck 2^nd of 9 at Kempton on his final juvenile start.  He still looked a bit green when asked for his effort that day. Likely needs to improve to defy an opening mark of 73 but that’s possible stepped up to 1m 2f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Musselburgh, Catterick, and Windsor.

Musselburgh

3:20 – How Bizarre – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has a solid record at Musselburgh with three wins, including two over C&D. He put in another solid effort when ½ length 2^nd of 12 here two starts back. Did too much out in front last time at Beverley but the blinkers he wore that day are removed and he returns to his favourite venue with a good chance.

Catterick

4:00 – Ghadbbaan – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Came from behind to win at Doncaster two starts back. That was just the 6-year-old’s second start since switching to the Tim Walford yard. He didn’t handle soft ground at Pontefract last time but returned to a sounder surface he’s expected to be seen to better effect with Ryan Sexton taking off a handy a 7lb.

Windsor

7:10 – Turn Back Time – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner on the all-weather at Lingfield (7f) last August. The filly was within a nose of following up in a Pontefract nursery a month later. She raced like the run was needed when a 8^th of 10 at Yarmouth last month.  The return to a mile will suit the filly and if she reproduced her best juvenile form looks set for a good run with William Buick booked for the ride.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s three selections are from Leopardstown.

Leopardstown

3:35 – Enthrallment – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was unlucky in the run when a neck 2nd of 10 on handicap debut here over 1m 2f last month. He’s an improving handicapper who should be suited by today’s extra two furlongs. Trainer Dermot Weld has been struggling for winners in the previous two weeks, albeit they did have a winner at Naas yesterday, but that aside Enthrallment remains the pick.

4:35 – French Claim – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The colt looked much improved when comfortably beating four rivals at Cork on his seasonal return. He might prove even better at 1m 4f, as the season progresses, but he fully deserves to take his chance here. He has a Derby entry and I think this potentially smart middle-distance performer can get the better of Stone Age and Duke De Sessa.

5:35 – Moracana – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection was strong at the finish when winning over C&D on her handicap debut last month. Lightly raced for a 4-year-old she’s unexposed, likely capable of more progression and is 2-2 over C&D. She has an 8lb rise in the weights to contend with and is 4lb worse off with runner-up Entropy. However. I think she can confirm form with that one. Stall 15 isn’t ideal but she can overcome it.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Naas and Ascot.

Naas

3:25 – Tosen Lydia – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection comes into the race 2-2 and showed she had trained on from two to three when making all to win over a mile here in March. Step up in trip to 1m 2f should suit and she’s open to more improvement.

5:35 – Ano Syra – 8/1 @ Bet365 – A Dundalk maiden winner in January. The filly showed he was just as effective on the grass when winning over C&D on her handicap debut 12 -days ago.  There was plenty to like about how she hit the line that day. Up 7lb and in a better race here but there should be more to come from this improving filly.

Ascot

2:20 – Stowell – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Returned from a 9-month absence with an encouraging 2 ¼ length 3rd of 7 to Max Vega in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at Newbury last time, not subjected to a hard race after his chance was gone. A winner of a C&D maiden here 12 months ago he should take a step forward from his reappearance.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ascot and Downpatrick.

Ascot

4:00 – Tylos – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection was well backed to make a winning handicap debut before finishing a 6 ½ length 5th of 15 at Newmarket last month. Capable of better and the drop back to 7f can suit, Yard is among the winners.

5:10 – Prontissimo – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Got off the mark on turf when winning a C&D handicap last September, off 5lb lower. Below form in a Group 3 here the following month but that was on soft ground. Too keen when last of six on his reappearance 15-days ago. The 4-year-old should be ready for today with William Buick in the saddle for the first time

Downpatrick

6:50 – Ask The Leader – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Both the mare’s career wins have come at the track. She won a good ground handicap hurdle here in August and followed up in October. Both those success came over further than 2m 1 ½ f but she shouldn’t be inconvenienced by today’s drop back in trip.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Chester and Chelmsford.

Chester

2:40 – Mr McCann – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – Won three times in a productive juvenile campaign, ending last season with an all the way win at Epsom. Could be hard to peg back around here if getting an uncontested lead. First start for Hugo Palmer and he holds a Derby entry.

4:50 – Abbado – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Showed he handled the track when winning here on soft ground last September and followed up under his penalty at Chelmsford later that month.  There should be more improvement to come from him as a 3-year-old and for the step up to 1m 4f. Trainer Sir Mark Prescott doesn’t send many runners to Chester but he’s 3-5 + 6.75 with those that have run here in the past 5-years.

Chelmsford

6:30 – Midheaven – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection improved with each of her three juvenile starts, ending last season with a convincing success in a Lingfield novice in December. The step up to 7f suited her that day and there should be more progress forthcoming from her this season.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Gowran Park.

Gowran Park

5:50 – Mighty Blue –7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A disappointing run over hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival last time but the selection won this last year and looks capable of back-to-back wins in the race.

6:20 – Sultanov Swing – 2/1 – Gen – The 4-year-old overcame greenness on her racecourse debut to beat 14 rivals in a C&D maiden three weeks ago. Looks a very useful prospect who’s open to plenty of improvement and hold a Group 1 entry.

7:50 – Carirose – 3/1 – Gen – Almost landed a bit of gamble when a head 2^nd of 16 at Tipperary 13 -days ago. Lightly raced, the market support she received last time suggests connections think she’s a nicely treated filly.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Wetherby.

Wetherby

6:40 – Mutanaaseq – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection isn’t exactly a winning machine 3 wins from 28 starts but he looks well treated on his best efforts of last year. A 3 ½ length 4^th of 11 at Redcar last time, in a 0-90 handicap, was a step in the right direction and he races in 0-70 company here.

7:40 – Merry Secret – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Bounced back to winning ways in the first-time blinkers when winning at Thirsk (good to firm) just three days ago. He has a 5lb penalty to carry for that win but provided this race doesn’t come to quick must go close on ground that suits.

Cheers

John