Author: John Burke

Hi all

Today’s selections are from Wincanton and Ludlow.

Wincanton

2:15 – Iron Mike – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner on the flat. The selection remains an 11-race maiden over both hurdles and fences. He’s only had three starts over the larger obstacles though and looked on a winnable mark when a 3-length 2^nd of 9 to one of today’s rivals Esprit De Somoza over C&D two starts back. He gets 6lb from the winner here and was possibly unsuited by softer ground back here last time. The more drying of the ground the better his chance.

2:45 – Whydah Gally – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a personal best when a 3 ½ length 2nd of 8 in handicap hurdle at Lingfield 65-days ago. Based on that effort the 6-year-old looks on a workable mark for a yard back among the winners after a quiet spell.

Ludlow

3:00 – So Said I – 4/1 @ Sky Bet & BetVictor – A stablemate of Whydah Gally. The mare won an Exeter mares’ only novice hurdle two starts back and wasn’t disgraced against the boys when a 7 ¾ lengths 4th of 16 to Ardhill on her handicap debut at Ascot last time. Back against her own sex here and looks to have started off in handicaps on a competitive mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Plumpton and Dundalk.

Plumpton

2:35 – Uallrightharry – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Last success came over C&D in October 2019. However, he hasn’t had a lot of racing since and his best performances have come at the track. The 10-year-old was a 1 ¾ length 2^nd of 11 in the 2020 Sussex National and a was a ½ length runner-up two starts back.

Dundalk

2:50 – Slade Runner – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A former C&D winner. The selection returned from a 6-month absence with an excellent 2-length 4^th of 10 here 12-days ago. Doing his best work at the finish over 5f that day he will be suited by the return to 6f.

4:20 – Crystal Pool – 11/2 – Gen – Ran well on turf last season winning twice and ran much better over C&D two weeks ago when a 4 ¼ length 5^th of 14 than she had done on her previous run after a break. Doing her best work at the finish that day. If she can avoid a slow start wont be far away here.

Cheers

John

Morning all,

I need to break the losing run and quickly. Today’s selections are from Southwell, Exeter, and Newcastle.

Southwell

4:20 – Bert Kibbler – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection showed plenty of speed when winning over C&D 17-days ago. He’s a progressive all-weather handicap sprinter and although he’s up 5lb for that latest success he’s going the right way and can go likely go in again.

Exeter

3:10 – Branson Missouri – 9/4 @ Bet365 – Trainer Harry Dunlop doesn’t have many jumps horses and Branson Missouri gave him a rare NH success when winning at Uttoxeter last month. The drop back to 2m and heavy ground seemed to suit the mare that day and although she’s been raised 7lb for that there should be more to come from her.

Newcastle

2:55 – Omar Maretti – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Come On Teddy will be a tough nut to crack in this novices handicap chase. However, the selection made a promising chase debut at Market Rasen 23-days ago. Unbeaten on two hurdle starts early last year. There was plenty to like about his ¼ length 2nd of 7 under top-weight last time. He’s open to more improvement and will surely land a race like this sooner rather than later.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Wolverhampton, Chepstow, and Punchestown.

Wolverhampton

6:30 – Clap Your Hands – 4/1 @ Bet365 – A three-time course winner, including C&D in February 2020. The selection returned from a 19-month absence with an encouraging 3 length 3^rd of 6 here over an inadequate 1m 1 ½ f 22-days ago. Capable of surprising, previous race winner and favourite, Rainbow Dreamer.

Chepstow

2:00 – Farne – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The mare ran well on her chase debut when a 9 ¼ length 3^rd of 8 to The Glancing Queen in listed mares’ novice chase at Warwick last month. Twice a winner last season over hurdles, including here, the 8-year-old is open to further progress over fences.  

Punchestown

3:35 – Kingston Kid – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won a handicap hurdle at Tramore two starts back and improved again when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 18 at Limerick 20-days ago. Up 3lb but seems progressive and stays 3m.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Not a good day at the office yesterday. Today’s selections are from Punchestown, Southwell and Kelso.

Punchestown

1:45 – Robyndeglory – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won twice in the autumn at Killarney and Limerick before failing by just 1 ¼ length to complete the hat trick at Tramore two starts back. Predictably found Grade 2 company to hot at Limerick 20-days ago but will appreciate the return to handicap company and racing against her own sex again.

Southwell

12:55 – Masqool – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner over C&D two starts back, off 3lb lower. He didn’t get any luck in the run when a 5 ¼ 4^th of 12 when a beaten favourite here last Sunday.  Shapes like he remains in good form and shouldn’t be far away.

Kelso

3:10 – Saint Xavier – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Looks set to get the run of the race here. A winner at Auteuil in November he was a respectable 4 length 4th of 12 at Haydock 17-days ago. Today’s extra two furlongs will suit the 10-year-old and he rates the pick.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Kempton, Wetherby and Warwick.

Kempton

3:50 – Royaume Uni – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Let’s get the negative out of the way first the selection hasn’t run on ground as soft as this since he was trained in France and has been withdrawn from his last two starts on account of soft ground. On the plus side the 5-year-old was a good 4 ¼ lengths 3rd of 12 to Lively Citizen at Cheltenham last month and remains capable of better.

Wetherby

2:12 – Hollywoodien – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Is now 1lb below his last winning mark and shaped well on his first start for seven months when a 7 lengths 3rd of 9 at Carlisle last month. He can be an in an out performer but he’s a useful handicap chaser at his best and is competitively weighted.

Warwick

2:25 – Surrey Quest – 5/2 @ Bet365 – The selection made it 2-2 over hurdles with an impressive success in a novice hurdle at Doncaster 17-days ago.  Well suited to plenty of ease in the ground. He’s up into graded company today but is an improver and we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Catterick and Bangor.

Catterick

1:10 – Jessiemac – 9/2 @ Bet365 or 4/1 -Gen – The selection hasn’t been disgraced on either start since returning to the smaller obstacles and is now 4lb below her last winning mark. Ground versatile, the mare stays 3m 2f and shouldn’t be far away in a moderate looking handicap hurdle.

Bangor

2:00 – Potters Venture – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Lightly raced but the selection hasn’t really built on the promise of his novice hurdle success at Chepstow in November 2019. There has been a bit of encouragement on both his chase starts this season although he did fall at the ninth at Chepstow last month. Step up to 3m should suit the 8-year-old and he’s on a workable mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I’m off tomorrow so let’s hope I can go out with a winner today. Today’s selections are from Exeter and Southwell.

Exeter

3:05 – Lightonthewing – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – On heavy ground for the first time since winning at Wincanton in February, off 3lb lower. Has been down the field on both starts this season but those runs came on good & good to soft ground. It will be interesting to see how he fares in the pre-race betting given he’s on a good-looking mark.

3:35 – Galactic Power – 15/2 @ Bet365 – Looks an interesting one here. He ended last season with a couple of solid placed efforts at Huntingdon and Taunton. Granted he’s 12-year-old now and hasn’t won since February 2018 but he’s on a competitive mark and first time up could be the time to catch him.

Southwell

7:50 – Toptime – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Back to form effort when a staying on neck 2nd of 14 here over 5f last month. Has won over 6f in the past so step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem. Just the one start on the tapeta so unexposed on the surface. He’s been nudged up 1lb for that performance but he remains on a handy mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Taunton and Wolverhampton.

Taunton

3:00 – Arrivederci – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – First run for 11 months but the 7-year-old did win his first two starts last season so shouldn’t be lacking for fitness today.

Wolverhampton

6:30 – Atiyah – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a C&D winner. The filly hasn’t been out of the first two on her last four runs here. First start for 83-days when a 2 ½ length 4th of 10 at Southwell last month. Entitled to come on for that run and should get closer back here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Southwell.

Southwell

1:10 – Biplane – 6/1 @ Bet365 or 11/2 @Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Newcastle in the autumn. The filly had a luckless run at that venue two starts back but fared much better when a ¾ length 2^nd of 14 to one of today’s rivals Lucayan over C&D last time. Gets 2lb from that one today but remain open to further progress.

1:40 – Masham Moor – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Returned from a short break with an improved success at Newcastle last month. The 5-year-old has been raised 5lb for that win but hasn’t had to many goes over a mile on the all-weather and could do better yet.

3:10 – Aberama Gold – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The top-weight was in good form on the all-weather last winter winning three times between October & December. His best performance arguably came in defeat when beaten a nose by Venturous at Wolverhampton in March. No wins in 2021 means the 5-year-old is now 5lb below his last winning mark. He returned from a 6-month absence with an encouraging ¼ length 6th of 9 at Wolverhampton 10-days ago.

Cheers

John