Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Always good to get the month off to a winning start. Today’s selections are from Ayr, Newbury and Leopardstown.

Ayr

2:25 – West Cork – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Won the valuable Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance in November and ran just as well when a 5 ¼ length 4^th of 26 in the County Hurdle last month. He can make up into good 2m novice chaser next season but looks like he has another nice pot in him over hurdles on decent ground.

Newbury

1:35 – Royaume Uni – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection took advantage of a drop-in class and the step up to 2m 3f when a 7-length winner at Fontwell 24-days ago. Both his hurdle wins have come on good ground so connections will be hoping the ground doesn’t deteriorate before post time. He’s up 6lb for his last win but if the favourite Punctuation fails to handles the better ground, he could be the one to take advantage.

Leopardstown

4:20 – Brazil Power – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Got off the mark on his nursery debut for George Boughey at Kempton on his final juvenile start last season. Has since switched to Joseph O’Brien yard (same ownership) and makes his stable debut off just 4lb higher. The selection holds a Group 1 entry and shaped last time like he will be suited by the step up to mile.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The start of a new month. Today’s selections are from Leicester and Dundalk. It’s April Fools Day, I just hope my selections don’t make me look the fool.

Leicester

3:20 – Sea Sylph – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection is having her first start since switching from William Haggas to Alan King. Twice a winner last season, including on her seasonal reappearance in June.  Poor final run last season when upped into Listed company at Bath but she’s better judged on her previous run when winning at Bath off 2lb lower. Despite reservations about soft ground she’s the pick.

4:25 – Dashing Dick – 9/1 @ Bet365 – Plenty of consistent efforts last season from the 4-year-old with his sole success coming over today’s distance at Yarmouth, off 3lb lower. Best efforts came on good ground but he does seem to handle good to soft. Likely needed the run when a 7-length 7th of 8 to The at Kempton 20-days ago.

Dundalk

8:20 – Storm Eliza – 17/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection’s sole career win came over C&D in January 2021, off 1lb higher. The mare returns for the first time for 288-days and if she ready to roll after her long absence is handicapped to go close. Her small yard are 1-2 in the past 14-days which gives me hope she can go well.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A much better second half of the month than the first. Let’s hope we can end the month with another profitable day. Today’s selections are from Chelmsford and Lingfield.

Chelmsford

4:40 – Love Poems – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A steadily improving mare who was a winner over C&D in October. The selection returned from a 3-month absence with another solid effort when a neck 2nd of 11 at Lingfield 22-days ago. The first time cheekpieces are applied and a mark of 62 looks workable.

6:15 – Blue Flame – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has returned from a 9-month absence in good form with form figures 212 putting in a personal best when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 8 at Kempton 36-days ago. Nudged up 2lb but remains on a competitive enough mark.

Lingfield

5:15 – Storm Melody – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner over C&D in December off 1lb lower. Back from a 7-week layoff when a useful 2 length 3rd of 7 at Wolverhampton two weeks ago. Drops a couple notches in class today from last time and can hopefully take advantage of it.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Lingfield and Market Rasen.

Lingfield

1:30 – Smart Connection – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Finished a head 2^nd of 9 here over mile two starts back and showed he remained in from when 1 ¾ length 4^th of 12 at Newcastle 20-days ago. He’s run mostly over around a mile but looks worth another try over 1m 2f.

Market Rasen

3:30 – Guernesey – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – You can’t knock the selection’s consistency with his form figures being 23222 since winning at Exeter on October. Only beaten a head at Wincanton, off today’s mark, 9-days ago and look sure to be there or thereabouts once more.

4:40 – Edward Dantes – 7/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Got off the mark at the second attempt over fences with a comfortable success here over 2m 3f two starts back and looked set to follow up off a 9lb higher mark when coming down three out at Newcastle 17-days ago. If the none the worse for that mishap can go in off the same mark as last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton

7:30 – Carey Street – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The usually consistent selection bounced back to his best after a short break when a ½ length 2^nd of 10 over C&D three weeks ago.  Nudged up a 1lb for that effort and on career high mark. It’s hard to say he’s well handicapped but he should give his running once more.

8:00 – Dayman – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection showed much improved form to beat 11 rivals here (7F) 17-days ago. Today’s 1 ½ f longer trip should suit and he’s capable of more improvement now switched to handicap company for the first time.

8:30 – Killearn – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection finished a 5 ¼ length 4th of 12 to Dayman here last time. That was the 3-year-old’s first start since September and he was sent off the well backed 11/8 favourite.   He looked one paced that day so the step up to 1m 2f could be a plus for the top-weight.

Cheers

John

Hi all

A dreadful day at the office on Sunday. Today’s selections are from Newcastle.

Newcastle

6:30 – Phoenix Star – 4/1 @ Bet354 – The selection’s form figures over C&D are 2122. He’s often races in the rear so tends to be hostage to fortune pace wise. However, if he gets a decent enough gallop and is ready roll after a short break the 6-year-old can go close.

7:30 – I Know How – 7/2 – Gen – I Know How is 5-15 over C&D, including a win here 12 -days ago. Nudged up 4lb for that success but given his present form another big run can be expected.

8:00 – Lucky Lucky Lucky – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a career best effort here over 5f when last seen in action 146-days ago. Given the 3-year-old’s absence his fitness must be take on trust. However, he’s only 1lb higher than last time and he shaped that day like a return to 6f would suit.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Carlisle, Doncaster, and Naas.

Carlisle

4:43 – Magna Sam – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bids for the hat trick after two comfortable successes at Musselburgh. Up 7lb for the latest of those wins last month but the handicapper may not have caught up with the progressive 8-year-old just yet.

Naas

3:50 – West Coast – 7/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Aidan O’Brien could have another smart filly on his hands in the shape of the selection. The daughter of Dark Angel produced a nice turn of foot to win a Leopardstown maiden on her third and final start last season. Well suited to good ground and the drying conditions enhance her claims.

Doncaster

3:45 – Lexington Knight – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of Windsor maiden last June, he maintained his form in handicap company through the season ending the campaign with a credible 2 ¾ length 2nd of 6 at Newmarket. The selection has been gelded over the winter and looks capable of going close from the inform Richard Hannon yard.

4:50 – Throne Hall – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Won first time up at this meeting 12 months ago.  Has since switched to Archie Watson who saddled the winner of this race last year and the selection has the form to go close in this company.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The return of the flat turf season in Britain & Ireland this afternoon and a competitive day’s racing across all codes the afternoon. Today’s selections are from Doncaster and Kempton.

Doncaster

4:10 – Groundbreaker – 6/5 @ Bet365 – Trainer Andrew Balding won this 1m 2f maiden in 2019 and he’s got a strong contender here with the selection. The 3-year-old shaped with plenty of encouragement on both juvenile starts at Kempton, still looking green when a head 2^nd of 10 last time. That the best form on offer of those have raced.

5:16 – Carter Cowboy – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection remains an eight-race maiden but the 4-year-old’s career best effort did come over C&D (good to firm) last June. Looks fairly treated on that effort and shouldn’t be far away if ready to roll from a 220-day absence.

Kempton

2:05 – Felix – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hasa good record on the all-weather and ran well when 5^th of 14 in a Group 1 at Meydan three weeks ago. The consistent 6-year-old can hopefully take advantage of the 3lb he gets from favourite Fancy Man here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Two winners on Wednesday and for a few strides coming to the last I thought it would be 3-3 on the day.

Today’s sole selection is from Chepstow.

Chepstow

3:31 – Dancing Shadow – 100/30 @ Bet365 & Sky Bet – The selection might be a 13-year-old but she showed that he could still be competitive in this sort of handicap chases in the autumn. Best effort this season when 1 ½ length 2nd of 7 at Sandown in November, He now races off 5lb lower. Ran no sort of race when pulled up in the veterans chase final last time. Back from a break here with his yard’s runners going well. He will be fine on the going and given his normal good jumping he shouldn’t be far away on a going day.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Haydock & Ludlow.

Haydock

2:10 – Hurricane Ali – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Shaped with promise after a 5-month layoff off when 6^th of 15 at Doncaster two starts back. Sent off the 7/2 favourite when a well beaten on heavy ground at Uttoxeter last time. Al three career wins have come on good/good to soft ground so a return to a sound surface looks a big positive to his chance.

Ludlow

4:40 – Just The Man – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner over C&D (good) back in October. The 6-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when a neck 2^nd of 9 to Black Poppy at Hereford (good) on his last start over hurdles. The winner has since gone in again at Newbury off 5lb higher so the selection should go well off 4lb higher here.

5:10 – Equua Miller – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Had looked regressive but has hinted on his last two starts that he can still win a race. The 9-year-old shaped well enough when a 9-length 6^th of 11 at Huntingdon two starts back and ran even better when a ¾-length 2nd of 9 at Kempton last month. He’s been nudged up 2lb for that effort but remains well treated on his back form.

Cheers

John