Author: John Burke

Hi all,

I have three selections for you today. I’m taking a day off tomorrow so hopefully we go into the break on a winning note.  Today’s selections are from Wincanton, Southwell, and Plumpton.

Wincanton

4:05 – Max Dynamo – 9/4 – Gen – The 12-year-old is seeking the four timer after two wins at Wincanton, including over C&D last time and Fontwell. The handicapper has hiked the veteran up 10lb for his last win but there’s a good chance that the handicapper hasn’t caught up with him yet.

Southwell

1:35 – Minella Hub – 7/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Another bidding for the hat trick after making 2-2 over fences after an eight-length win at Plumpton three weeks ago. He’s up 10lb for that success but he seemed to have plenty in hand that day and he’s open to further improvement over the larger obstacles.

Plumpton

3:40 – I See You Well – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The 9-year-old goes exceptionally well at Plumpton. Five of his seven career wins have come here and he’s 4-4 when racing here at around 3m 2f. He’s 4lb above his last winning mark but a return to C&D is a bib plus for his chance.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It wasn’t Cheltenham but it was two from three yesterday with Certainly Red winning at Kempron and the progressive Serious Charges making a winning handicap hurdle debut at Uttoxeter. Those wins meant a solid Saturday profit for the service. Today’s selections are from Chepstow

Chepstow

2:30 – Thomas Patrick – 9/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – You must go back almost four years since the selection won a valuable 3m handicap at Aintree. The 10-year-old has been in the doldrums for some time now but there was hint of a bit better when he finished a 10-length 2^nd of 14 to the improving Fairlawn Flyer at Ffos Las last month. It’s worth chancing that he can back up that performance here given his yards good form and his own tumbling mark.

3:35 – The Widdow Maker – 100/30 @ Ladbrokes & Sky Bet – Just the five for an intriguing novices’ handicap chase. The selection a three-time winner over hurdles made a winning chase when jumping soundly to win a Exeter novice chase 35-days ago. Back in handicap company today with a 7lb higher mark to contend with but is going the right way and can go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Kempton & Uttoxeter.

Kempton

1:30 – Certainly Red – 7/2 – Gen – A good ground winner over hurdles in the autumn. The selection has run with credit on both starts over fences. Last time finished an 8 length 8 length 4^th  of 6 over C&D last time and would have finished closer but for a mistake at the second last. Has a race like this in him on a sound surface?

2:05 – Siroco Jo – 100/30 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection 2-6 over hurdles, both successes coming on good ground. Bred to make a chaser he ran with promise on his first start over the larger obstacles when a 3 ¾ lengths 2^nd of 3 at Wincanton last month. Capable of more progress in the sphere.

Uttoxeter

1:50 – Serious Charges – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Comes into the race seeking the hat trick after wins at Exeter and Fontwell, both on good to oft. The step up to an extended 2m 5f suited the 5-year-old last time. Handicap hurdle debut off what looks a workable mark and remains capable of better for the step up to 2m 7f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Really sorry for the delay this morning. I had some serious Windows 10 issues to resolve.

Cheltenham

1:30 – Vauban – 15/8 @ William Hill – Looks the one to be with after his recent Grade 1 Leopardstown success. The selection could be a special and could be a Group horse on the level.

4:10 – Winged Leader – 11/2 @ William Hill & Bet365 – A multiple point and hunter chase winner, looks to have improved plenty this season as evidenced by his comfortable seasonal return win in a Thurles hunter chase in January. He’s a sound jumper of a fence and given he’s only an 8-year-old we may not have seen the best of him in the sphere.

4:50 – Concertista – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A chance is taken with the novice who made it 2-2 over fences when winning a Grade 2 mares’ only novices chase at Limerick over Christmas. The 8-year-old was successful in the Mares novices’ hurdle at the 2020 festival and finished runner-up the Mares Hurdle last season. Given she’s only had two starts over fences she’s capable of better and could find the improvement necessary to win.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Cheltenham

2:50 – Conflated – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has started to get his act together over fences and bids for the hat trick after his recent win the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival. Although it’s hard to see him beating the favourite, if that one is at his very best, the selection is capable of more improvement

3:30 – Thyme Hill – 9/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The selection had to miss last year’s race due to a setback, won the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at Aintree last April. The 8-year-old bounced back from a poor run in France when finishing 1 ½ lengths behind Champ in the Long Walk. He’s got previous Cheltenham Festival form, finishing third to Envoi Allen in the 2019 Champion Bumper and when finishing a slightly unlucky 1 ½ length 4th of 19 to Monkfish in the 2020 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle over C&D.

4:50 – Dinoblue – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – The mare has been one of the taking horses on the preview circuit. She jumped quickly and accurately for a novice when winning her sole start over hurdles at Clonmel in January. She’s open to plenty of improvement and looks an exciting prospect.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Two more selections from Cheltenham for you today.  Edwardstone’s win the Arkle saved the day. It might have been even better as Telmesomethinggirl was still going well when bought down two out in the Mares Hurdle.

Cheltenham

3:30 – Energumene – 7/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The rematch between Shiskhin and Energumene with Chacun Pour Soi added to the mix. If the latter could transfer his high-class Irish form to Cheltenham, he would have a big chance but I don’t think he will. I think it’s between the big two in the betting. His winning form here gives Shishkin the edge. However, there is just 1 length between the pair on their Ascot running and the 3/1 available about Energumene makes him the value play here.

5:30 – American Mike – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Until Facile Vega’s Leopardstown’s win the selection had been the ante post favourite for this. The 5-year-old has won both his start in good times and his form looks as good as the favourite. Like Facile Vega, he looks an exciting prospect and at the prices is the pick.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s day one of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and today’s selections are from there.

Cheltenham

1:30 – Jonbon – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old is getting better with racing and his turn of foot could be decisive at the finish.  The drying ground is in his favour and I think he can get the better of the Dysart Dynamo and stablemate Constitution Hill.  

2:10 – Edwardstone – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has won his last four starts over fences, albeit in small fields than today. A neat and accurate jumper of fence. Over hurdles, I thought the 8-year-old was better on a flatter track, although he did finish his race off well enough when fifth in last season’s County Hurdle. The track niggle apart he’s the one to beat.

4:10 – Telmesomethinggirl – 4/1 @ William Hill – Won the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle here 12 months ago. Yet to win on her three starts this season but posted a career best on RPR’s when a 1¼ lengths 3rd of 9 to Royal Kahala in a Grade 3 mares’ hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas. She was attempting to give the winner 5lb that day when her yard wasn’t in form. Looks the one to beat if reproducing that effort here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Stratford, Taunton, and Wolverhampton.

Stratford

2:55 – Corran Cross – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner last summer when trained in Ireland. He’s been running well, since switching to his new yard and was in the process of running a good race when coming down two out at Wincanton when last seen in action.  Has been kept away from soft ground but should be able to win more races on a sounder surface.

Taunton

3:45 – Dibble Decker – 2/1 @ Bet365 – The selection ran well when a ¾-length 2nd of 7 on his handicap hurdle debut Warwick last time last time. Up 3lb for that effort but is going the right way. More than capable of going one better.

Wolverhampton

7:00 – Floating Rock – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Sky Bet – Returned from a 4-month absence with a decent enough effort when a 4 ¾ length 4^th of 8 here over 1m 4f. The 7-year-old was doing his best work at the finish last time and should be suited by the return to 2m.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are all from Naas.

Naas

2:20 – Deploy The Getaway – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Finished a ¾-length second of 6 to Slip of The Tongue in listed novice hurdle at Punchestown last time. Both are open to further improvement but the selection does get 4lb form the winner here and is the pick at the prices.

2:55 – Macs Charm – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection bids for the hat trick after handicap hurdle wins at Navan & Gowran Park. He’s been hiked up 12lb for his latest success but looks capable of further progress.

3:30 – Kashi – 4/1 – Gen – Remains a maiden after ten starts over hurdles but has been running consistently well in handicap hurdles, placing on three of his last four starts, and the top-weight deserves to get his head in front.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Disappointed not to get the double up yesterday. Today’s selections are from Sandown and Navan.

Sandown

3:35 – Scene Not Herd – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Made it 3-3 since going over fences when beating three rivals at Ludlow when last seen in action in December. Back from an 80-day break today and 5lb higher than last time.  He’s going the right way and given the quality of his jumping he’s the one to beat here.

4:10 – Powerstown Park – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The return to better ground suited the selection when he made it 2-2 at Hereford last time. Up 6lb in a deeper race but he’s going the right way and looks the solid choice here provided the ground doesn’t get too soft.  

Navan

4:35 – Mercury Lane – 9/2 @ Bet365 – A heavy ground 2m 7f hurdles winner at Thurles 12 months ago. The 8-year-old seems to be getting better with each start over fences, putting in a personal best when a 14 ½ length 5^th of 18 at Naas last time. It was an extended 2m 4f at Naas and he shaped like a step up to 3m over fences will suit.

Cheers

John