Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Final day of the month and another profit made. Not as big as I was hoping for at one point but a profit is a profit. Today’s selections are from Plumpton and Wolverhampton.

Plumpton

3:25 – Mellow Ben – 3/1 @ Gen – On a losing run that goes back to the autumn of 2019 but is well treated on the best of his form and bounced back to form from an 81-day break when 3^rd of 9 at Kempton 17-days ago. The drier the ground the better for the 9-year-old and the yard had a double at Kempton on Saturday.

Wolverhampton

8:00 – Shabs – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Not much signs of ability on his first three career starts but improved for the step up to 7f on his handicap debut, when beaten a nose into second over C&D last month. The front two pull nicely clearly of the rest and the selection can race off the same mark here.

8:30 – Street Poet – 6/1 @ Bet365 – A ten-time winner on the all-weather, including 4-12 over C&D. The 9-year-old returned to form when a 1 ½ length 2^nd of 9 at Chelmsford two starts back. Not in the same form at Southwell last time but on a mark, he can win off when all the cards fall right.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Naas and Fontwell.

Naas

2:00 – Blackbow – 11/8 @ Bet365 – Despite Paul Townend opting for Cash Back. I’m going with the selection. The drop back to the minimum trip suits the 9-year-old. He should get an uncontested lead here and if Danny Mullins gets the fractions right, he will be hard to pass.

3:30 – Magic Word – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has improved with each of her three starts over hurdle. Posting a career best when a 3 ½ length 2^nd of 18 over C&D last time. There is a small handicap hurdle like this in the filly off her present mark.

Fontwell

2:50 – Monmiral – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Last season’s high class juvenile hurdler, won a Grade 1 at Aintree, bids to get his career on track after a very poor run in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his seasonal reappearance. Clearly comes with risks attached after that run and the stable isn’t back in top gear just yet either. However, a reproduction of last season’s best would make him hard to beat.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Phew, Punk Poet got us back among the winners at Dundalk yesterday and it looked like it might be two with Young Butler finishing a close-up second at Exeter. Today’s selections are from Kempton and Fairyhouse.

Kempton

1:50 – Impulsive One – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection impressed when putting a career best on RPR’s when winning at Musselburgh 20-days ago. A right-handed, sharpish track seems to suit him. The drier the ground the better and he won’t be far away here.

4:10 – Herbiers – 6/1 @ Bet365 or 11/2 @ Paddy Power – Made it 4-8 over hurdles when winning at Doncaster (2m 3 ½ f) 91-days ago. That was the 5-year-old’s first start beyond an extended 2m. Step up to 2m 5f asks a new question of him stamina wise but he remains progressive and despite a 7lb rise in the weights can be competitive.

Fairyhouse

3:08 – Enniskerry – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection who is 2-4 over hurdles put in a career best when a ½ length 2^nd of 10 to M C Muldoon at Galway 212-days ago. Long absence to overcome but the yard is 3-4 in the past 14-days so no concerns on stable from. Best form last spring/summer came on a sound surface but if he’s as effective on today’s softer ground. He’s of plenty of interest on his handicap hurdle debut.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Two selections today from Exeter and Dundalk.

Exeter

3:20 – Young Butler – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Took advantage of weak looking race when winning a Plumpton maiden hurdle last month. Looked like he would be suited by a more strongly run contest last time and the step up to 2m 7f can elicit more improvement from the 6-year-old.

Dundalk

5:00 – Punk Poet – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & Ladbrokes – A winner over C&D in October, off 3lb lower, the selection returned from an 8 weeks absence with a 5 ¼ length 7^th of 14 over C&D two weeks ago. He wasn’t the best away that day and couldn’t take up his customary prominent position. Not given a hard race inside the final furlong.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I’m running late this morning. Today’s selections are from Ludlow and Kempton.

Ludlow

3:00 – Coolnaugh Haze – 11/2 – Gen – Made most to win a Plumpton maiden hurdle 23-days ago. That was just his third career start and second over hurdles. Gets the 4-year-old weight allowance for his handicap hurdle debut and looks capable of better in the sphere.

3:35 – Slate House – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection isn’t the horse he once was but he’s finished runner-up on his last two starts over fences at Wincanton & Taunton. Came up against an improver in Revels Hill last time. He might be vulnerable to stronger stayers, even over a sharp 3m like Ludlow’s, but is handicapped to win a race like this.

Kempton

7:30 – Sip and Smile – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Has won both his career starts at Newcastle. The latest of them coming 19-days ago. Handicap debut off what looks a workable mark and if he’s as effective on the polytrack as the tapeta won’t be far away here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Now just two selections from Taunton and Southwell.

Taunton

3:05 – Premiumaccess – 11/4 @ Bet365 – The selection isn’t the most consistent of chasers last season but he put in a much better effort when a 7 ¼ length 3^rd of 8 at Fontwell 15-days ago. That was the 7-year-old’s first start for 11 months and he should be sharper here.

Southwell

7:00 – Copper Mountain – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –The filly has won two of her last three starts, including a comfortable success over C&D 9-days ago. The application of the first time cheekpieces and the step up to a mile contributed to her improved form. Has a 6lb penalty to carry here but that that shouldn’t anchor her if the same form as last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the one selection today.

Navan

4:05 – Farouk D’alene – 6/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has 8lb to find with stablemate Run Wild Fred on official ratings but he’s only had three starts over fences. A winner here (2m 4f) on his chase debut. He’s since finished runner-up to Master McShee in a Grade 1 at Limerick and a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 7 to Stattler in Grade 3 novice at Naas. He was just beaten by a stronger stayer on the run-in last time but looks a Graded chase winner in waiting.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Haydock and Lingfield.

Haydock

2:05 – Third Wind – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection built on the promise of his Ascot reappearance in December when a 7 ¾ lengths 3rd of 7 to Sporting John in a Pertemps Series Qualifiers at Warwick last month. He won this race 12 months ago and flat track like Haydock really suits. It was soft ground when he won 12 months ago but he should be fine on heavy.

3:50 – Hillcrest – 5/4 @Bet365 – Hard to look beyond the improving favourite. The selection won his first three starts over hurdles, including a Listed novice hurdle at Cheltenham two starts back. He didn’t get past the third hurdle when hampered by a faller and unseating his rider in a Grade 2 at the same venue on Trials Day. Granted an extended 3m on heavy ground asks a different question of the 7-year-old but he shapes like a stayer.

Lingfield

3:45 – Pirate King – 3/1 @ Bet365 – A four-time C&D winner. The 7-year-old is now down to his last winning mark. Better for his Southwell return when a 1 ¼ lengths 4th of 10 over C&D last month. Doing his best work at the finish, after a slow start, and with Ryan Moore booked, a big run is expected.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Sandown, Leicester, and Chelmsford.

Sandown

4:05 – Dr Kananga – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection made all for an impressive 12 length success when beating 16 rivals at Chepstow (3m 2f) 13-days ago. He’s up 12lb for that success. The drop back to 3m shouldn’t be an issue on testing ground. He’s now 2-5 under rules and is capable of better provide this race doesn’t come to quick.

Leicester

3:55 – Zamani – 3/1 – Gen – Zamani’s sole hurdle win came on soft ground at Fontwell in December 2019. However, the 6-year-old hasn’t been running well on his last three starts. The reapplied cheekpieces that saw him finish 2^nd of 8 at Plumpton last time over fences are retained for a return to the smaller obstacles. Can go well for a yard 2-6 in the past 14-days.

Chelmsford

8:30 – Enfranchise – 13/8 – Gen – The filly has been running well on the all-weather this winter and made it 3-8 when overcoming trouble 3f to win a shade cosily over today trip at Lingfield 20-days ago. Up just 3lb for her more recent success and capable of going in again here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Wetherby and Kempton,

Wetherby

3:50 – Shuttergate – 5/1 @ Bet365 or 4/1 -Gen – The selection ran out a decisive winner of a Warwick handicap hurdle two starts ago. The 8-year-old then ran respectably when an 8 ½ length 4^th of 10 at Chepstow 30-days ago. Would have benefited from a better overall gallop last time and looks capable of going close here.

4:22 – William Cody – 7/2 @ Bet365 or 3/1 – Gen – Just the four starts over hurdles for the 5-year-old who posted a personal best last time when a ½-length 2^nd of 5 at Fakenham (good to soft) last month. This just his second start in handicap company and if he handles to today’s softer ground can win a moderate handicap like this. Trainer Pam Sly is 7 -23 +16.50 with her hurdlers at Wetherby in the past five seasons.

Kempton

6:30 – Freedom And Wheat – 6/1 – Gen – The 6-year-old twice a winner in late 2020, including over C&D, off 4lb lower. Off for 12 months the selection ran better much better than on his return when a 1 ¼ length 3^rd of 7 to one of today’s rivals Lafan. Looks on a competitive mark and Entitled to get closer to the Lafan here on 3lb better terms.

Cheers

John