Author: John Burke

Hi all,

A winning start to the month. Let’s hope we can continue in the same vein on Bank Holiday Monday. There’s plenty of betting opportunities today and my selections are from the Curragh, Beverley, and Kempton.

Curragh

4:05 – Layfayette – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection’s form this season is hard to knock. He made a winning return to action in a Listed race at Naas before posting a career best to win a Group 3 over C&D 22-days ago. There’s no reason to think why he can’t go close again in the same grade.

Beverley

3:16 – Scotch Mistress – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer David O’Meara has a good record with his 3-year-olds in handicaps at Beverley – 13 winners from 53 runners 25% +37 and hopefully the selection can add to the trainers winning tally here. The filly showed improved form when getting off the mark at the third attempt at Chelmsford in November. First start since that success and she does need to improve for her handicap/turf debut but given this is only her fourth start that seems likely.

Kempton

3:55 – Malystic – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection comes into the race fresher than most and he posted a career best on RPR’s when a neck 2^nd of 7 at Ayr last month. Ground should be fine and today’s intermediate (2m 2f) trip could prove deal for the 8-year-old. Nudged up 2lb for his Ayr performance but remains on a competitive mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A frustrating and ultimately losing month but we had a fair few go close so it could easily have been a lot different. It’s the start of a new month and I’m hopeful that we’ll be in profit at the end of May.  Today’s selections are from Newmarket.

Newmarket

3:00 – Ville De Grace – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ended last season in fantastic form winning a Listed race at Yarmouth and a Group 3 here over 1m 2f. Although she drops back 1f in trip she looks the sort to do even better as a 4-year-old.

4:15 – Super Stars – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection improved with his each of his three juvenile starts last season Handled good ground effectively at Goodwood on his last start and looks the sort who could develop into a useful middle-distance handicapper this season.

4:50 – Haymaker – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Showed ability on his first three juvenile starts last season. Although he didn’t improve when 4^th of 8 on his nursery debut, he well backed and shaped better than the bare result. He’s back from a gelding operation and a 296-day absence and if ready to roll looks on a workable mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Punchestown and Newmarket.

Punchestown

3:50 – Telmesomethinggirl – 6/1 @ Bet365 – I’m going to take on favourite Epatante with the Telmesomethinggirl. The selection won last season’s mares novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and looked set to go close in this season’s Mares Hurdle when she was bought down two out. Epatante will be tough to beat but I don’t think we have seen the best of the selection yet.

Newmarket

3:00 – Twilight Calls – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is plenty short even given he’s got plenty to find on official ratings.  However, there was plenty to like about his comfortable success in a C&D handicap here on his seasonal return. The gelding operation looks to have been a big success. Fast ground and five furlongs look his optimum conditions and could prove he’s up to Group company as a 4-year-old.

5:25 – Loves Me Likearock – 5/1 @ Bet365 – A twice winning juvenile on the all-weather last season she proved her effectiveness on turf when a ½ length 2^nd of 12 to Anadora over C&D 17-days ago. It was a career best by the filly who looks capable of further improvement.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newmarket and Goodwood.

Newmarket

3:00 – Shine So Bright – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Having his first start since a poor run at Ascot last July. However, fitness shouldn’t be an issue as he’s 2-3 when returning from a 121+day absence. No issue with the going either as his three career successes have come on good/good to firm ground. A previous C&D winner he’s down to a good mark and with a useful 7lb apprentice booked the selection is taken to return to winning ways this afternoon.

Goodwood

3:15 – Silence Please – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection must be respected on her first start since switching to the Andrew Balding yard. The mare won a Listed race on her seasonal return in 2020 and is the highest rated of these filly’s & mare’s. Looks capable of going close if ready to roll first time up.

3:50 – Twilight Madness – 2/1 – Gen – Had main market rival Chipstead 3 ½ length behind in second when winning at Newmarket last July and meets that one on better terms here. The 4-year-old returned from 3-month absence with an excellent effort when a head second of 8 at Southwell last time. This is just his 10th career start so we might not have seen the best of him yet.

4:25 – Wineglass Bay – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The James Ferguson yard is tremendous form 4 winners from 7 runners +14.08 in the past 14-days and he can have another win with the selection here. The 3-year-old got off the mark when winning at Southwell (7f) on final juvenile start. Handicap debut over a mile but is bred to improve for the step up in trip and rates the pick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Punchestown and Lingfield.

Punchestown

4:15 – Grange Walk – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Grange Walk was in the lead and looked to be going as well as Mt Leinster when falling two out at Fairyhouse last time. Provided his confidence hasn’t been dented by that mishap he’s got to go close, especially as he’s 5lb better off with the winner today.

7:10 – Minx Tiara – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection comes into these mares only handicap chase in good form having won a handicap chase at Limerick last month.  She’s now 8lb higher but goes well on a sound surface, has only had three starts over the larger obstacles and is capable of more.

Lingfield

1:00 – Eight Of Diamonds – 9/4 @ Bet365 – Trainer Sean Woods & jockey James Doyle have an excellent record when teaming up -7 winners from 18 runners 39% +17.34 – The pair combine with the selection who returned from 4 month lay off and a gelding operation to finish an encouraging 1 ¾ length 2nd of 7 at Wolverhampton last month. He’s on a decent mark and can win this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Punchestown.

Punchestown

4:15 – Glengouly – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A faller on his hurdle debut the selection has since gone onto win twice at Gowran Park and Leopardstown. The return to 2m 4f will suit the improving Willie Mullins trained 6-year-old who has been aimed at this race since winning at Leopardstown.

5:20 – The Nice Guy – 9/4 – Gen – The first three home in the Albert Bartlett: The Nice Guy, Minella Cocooner and Bardenstown Lad renew rivalry. Today’s 3m might well suit the front running Minella Cocooner better than Cheltenham but he does have 5 lengths to find with the selection who looks capable of more improvement.

7:45 – Dorans Weir – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – There was plenty to like about the mare’s win a Listed bumper at Fairyhouse 24-days ago. The 6-year-old has the best form on offer and is a worthy favourite for a yard that saddled the winner of this corresponding race in 2013.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

To many selections this month have running well and placing rather than winning. Today’s selections are from Punchestown and Nottingham.

Punchestown

6:00 – Love Envoy – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – There’s €100,000 in guaranteed prize money on offer for this valuable bumper and I was impressed with the selection when he made a winning racecourse debut in a Naas bumper last month. Trainer Liz Doyle has her horses in good from and is 3 from 7 +19.5 with her bumper runners in 2022.

Nottingham

3:00 – Piastrella – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner at Beverley as a 2-year-old. The filly seemed to have improved from two to three when finishing a 2 ½ length 4^th of 14 at Beverley on her handicap debut 13-days ago. Might have needed the run that day but is capable of more improvement.

4:05 – Angel Power – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Might prefer slightly easier ground but seems to handle a quick surface to. An improving filly in the second half of 2020 winning a Group 3 at Newmarket and Group 2 in Italy. Didn’t win any of her three starts last season but if she was to return to her best then would have a big chance. There doesn’t look to be much pace on here so I’m hoping the mare is sent to the front.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Naas and Windsor.

Naas

6:15 – Mooneista – 2/1 @ Bet365 – I will be disappointed if the race fit Mooneista can’t win this Listed sprint. Runner-up at Cork on her seasonal reappearance the 4-year-old won this race 12 months ago and will like the good ground.

7:45 – Lucky Number – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection bounced back to form out of the blue when a 4 ¼ length 3rd of 14 at Dundalk 24-days ago. That was the 6-year-olds first start for 8 months and the first time cheekpieces he wore last time are retained. If he can build on his last time out effort, he’s on a workable mark.

Windsor

6:55 – Mercian Hymn – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A chance is taken with the hat trick seeking selection who returns to turf today. The 4-year-old improved for the step up to 1m 4f when winning handicaps at Wolverhampton and Kempton at the end of last year. Now 9lb higher than for the last of those successes the rise in the weights shouldn’t inconvenience him provided he handles the drop back to 1m 2f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Wetherby and Bath.

Wetherby

4:40 – The Armed Man – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is on a losing run that goes back to August 2020 but that also means the 9-year-old has dropped down the handicap and is now 10lb below his last winning mark. Likely just needed the run when a 3 ½ length 3^rd of 15 at Thirsk 15-days ago. All career wins at 6f but today’s 5 ½ f intermediate trip could be ideal.

5:45 – Mostly Cloudy – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection was upped in distance to 1m 2f on his first start for 5 months Made steady headway from the rear that day, to finish a never nearer 6 ¾ length 4th of 11 at Nottingham (1m 2f) 8-days ago. Today’s further step up in distance could elicit more improvement the 3-year-old who is bred for middle distances.

Bath

4:20 – My Boy Charles – 17/2 @ Bet365 – Trainer Adrian Wintle runs two Blue Hero and My Boy Charles and I fancy the bigger priced of the pair who makes his seasonal reappearance. The selection’s sole career win came here over 1m 2f last August and he maybe better over that distance but he also went close over C&D on his seasonal return last May.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

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

Sandown

5:15 – Press Your Luck – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is 8lb higher than when winning a competitive handicap hurdle at Kempton last month. However, the 7-year-old is going the right way and must have a good chance of landing the hat trick for the very much inform Chris Gordon stable.

Haydock

3:45 – Kingmania – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Chris Wall has started the new turf season in good form 2 winners from 3 runners in the past 14-days. The selection made it 3-3 over 7f when winning at Doncaster in June before putting in a near personal effort on RPR’s when a 1 ½ length 4th of 11 at Newmarket. Best efforts have come on good to firm ground and she’s capable of better as 4-year-old.

Navan

4:46 – Kyprios – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Seemed to enjoy the sound surface when making a winning seasonal reappearance at Cork 12 months ago. The 4-year-old hasn’t been seen since disappointing in the Lingfield Derby Trial last May. A full brother to Search for A Song & Falcon Eight he has the potential to improve over staying trips this season.  

Cheers

John