Hi all,
Today’s sole selection is from Plumpton.
Plumpton
2:30 – Lusitanien – 9/2 – Gen – Has shaped a bit better than his form figures over hurdles suggest. Last headway but not subjected to a hard race when 6th of 17 on his handicap hurdle debut/seasonal return last month. Before being brought down at third at Sedgefield 10-days ago. Remains capable of a better you would think.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Today’s selections are from Cheltenham.
Cheltenham
1:15 – Notre Pari – 7/1 @ Bet365 of 13/2 – Gen – The selection remains a maiden after five starts over fences. Travelled well for a long way when a 4 ¼ length 2nd of 5 at Carlisle last time. That was his first run for 7 months and he drops back from 2m 4f which should suit. Is on a workable mark if his jumping holds together.
3:35 – Wynn House – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Made it 3-6 over hurdles when winning a mares’ only handicap hurdle at Wincanton last month. Up 3lb which life tougher for her but she’s going the right way and is effective on a sound surface.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Slowly but surely, I’m getting there. I wish my sense of taste and of course with-it appetite was fully back to normal. However, fingers crossed I’m feeling well on the way to clearing the virus.
Six long days since the services’ last selections. Let’s hope we can return with a winner on Friday. Today’s selections are from Cheltenham & Dundalk.
Cheltenham
1:15 – Lively Citizen – 7/1 – Gen – A winner of a handicap hurdle last November before putting a personal best when runner-up in this race 12-months ago. Should be sharper for last months seasonal return at Sandown. Vulnerable to any progressive sorts in the field but course form puts him firmly in the mix.
1:50 – Rose Of Arcadia – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Shaped with plenty of encouragement on her seasonal reappearance when a 3 ½ lengths 3rd of 7 to Wynn House in mares handicap hurdle at Wincanton last time. Looks the type who will improve for going over the larger obstacles and looks to have a big chance on her chase debut.
Dundalk
7:30 – Cityman – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection is on a losing run that goes back to September 2019 but has become well treated. Returned from a 4-month layoff with a promising 1 ¾ length 4th of 9 here 7-days ago. Should be spot on fitness wise today and will surely take advantage of a decent mark sooner rather than later.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Well, my third lateral flow test came up positive and I’m just waiting for the result of my PCR. To be honest I’m feeling well below par and I haven’t even watched any of the racing over the past two days.
Sorry, everyone I haven’t got the energy or the inclination to write any comments so its just selections today. I hope you can appreciate why.
Today’s selections are from Sandown, Chepstow, and Aintree
Sandown
1:50 – Third Time Lucki – 2/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Chepstow
1:57 – Gericault Roque – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Aintree
3:15 – Pounding Poet – 15/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John
Hi all,
All today’s three selections are from Kempton’s tea time card.
Kempton
5:00 – Red Ruby Empress – 8/1 @ Ladbrokes – Won her first two starts for trainer Sean Curran in May/June. Both those two successes came on grass and although the filly is 0-7 on the all-weather, she did finish a head 2nd of 10 here in February. Looks worth chancing on her first start for 174-days with James Doyle, 3-6 when combining with the trainer, in the saddle.
6:30 – Knowwhentorun – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The selection maybe a ten-race maiden but he shaped with plenty of promise on when a 1 ¾ length 4th of 12 here on his all-weather debut over 7f 19-days ago. The return to a mile should suit and the first-time blinkers worn last time are retained. Yard is 4-12 33% with its runners in the past 14-days.
7:00 – English Spirit – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The 3-year-old put in a personal best when 1 ¼ length 4th of 12 here over 7f last time. Doing his best work at the finish that day. The step up to a mile looks worth investigating and he shouldn’t be far away from shedding his maiden tag.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Today’s selections are from Ayr, Kempton, and Wolverhampton. I’m off tomorrow so let’s hope we can sign out with a winner.
Ayr
2:45 – Le Chevel Noir – 100/30 – Gen – Twice a winner over hurdles last season at Carlisle and Newcastle. The selection is bred to do better over fences than hurdles and shaped with encouragement when 4th of 11 at Carlisle on his seasonal return last month. Today’s step up to 3m can suit, won over 2m 6f over hurdles.
Kempton
3:00 – Rumi – 100/30 @ Bet365 – A winner here over 1m 3f two starts back. The 3-year-old looked in need of further when 2nd of 7 here (1m 4f) last time. He’s just had the five starts so remains with potential for the step up to 2m.
Wolverhampton
6:00 – Pomelo – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Looked a very useful prospect when winning over C&D last November. She was well beaten on her sole start in 2021 in the valuable Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot. The soft ground probably didn’t suit her that day but her long absence since suggests that wasn’t the only reason for her poor run. The return to the Tapeta looks a positive and she’s open to more progress.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Better day yesterday and it would have been even better if Master’s Legacy had got up. Today’s meeting at Carlisle has been called off due to overnight frost which is a shame, as I had two selections from what was a decent card at the Cumbria track. Today’s selections are now from Fairyhouse.
Fairyhouse
12:35 – Lunar Power – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Fil Dor looked a high-class juvenile prospect when winning at Down Royal on his first start for Gordon Elliott. Lunar Power also won at Punchestown 15-days ago. The Noel Meade trained 4-year-old is another open to more improvement and given the way he jumped last time should be able to hold his own in this company.
1:05 – Impervious – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – One of two mares in the field. The 5-year -old is one of the more experienced of the eight runners. Having won all three of her starts over the smaller obstacles, including a Grade 3 at Down Royal last month. Open to more improvement and could be horse to put Colm Murphy back on the map.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Today’s selections are from Newcastle and Newbury.
Newcastle
12:20 – Scene Not Herd – 11/4 @ Bet365 or 5/2 – Gen – The selection made a good impression when winning on his chase debut at Hereford (good) earlier in the month. Jumping well for a novice the 6-year-old has been raised 7lb for that success but should be able to defy that sort of mark provided he handles today’s softer underfoot conditions.
Newbury
1:50 – Master’s Legacy – 4/1 @ Bet 365 or 7/2 – Gen – Didn’t seem to have much chance when outpaced three out at Chepstow on his seasonal return last month. However, he rallied and found plenty to pressure to get up on the line. The 6-year-old has only been raised 2lb for that success and will be better suited by a return to this sort of distance.
2:25 – Onemorefortheroad – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Soaring Glory will be tough to beat after his recent Ascot success. However, the selection should be able to get an uncontested lead here. He’s returned to action in excellent form winning a novice hurdle at Stratford before making all to win back in handicap company at Huntingdon 18-days ago. Up 6lb and in a much better race today but does get his ground.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Today’s selections are from Newbury and Dundalk.
Newbury
12:40 – Miller’s Bank – 2/1 @ BetVictor 15/8 @Bet365 – A very useful hurdler who won a good ground handicap hurdle here in March. Before posting a career best when a 3 ½ length 3rd of 11, just a length behind Buzz, in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle. The 7-year-old jumped well when making a winning chase debut at Huntingdon last month and is capable of more improvement.
2:25 – Fanion D’Estruval – 5/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 6-year-old a very useful chaser last season raced like the run was needed when a strong finishing 4th of 8 in the Old Roan Handicap Chase at Aintree on his seasonal return, just 1 ½ lengths behind recent Paddy Power Handicap Chase winner Midnight Shadow. This distance is needed on good ground and this previous course winner must be high on the shortlist.
Dundalk
7:30 – Jake Peter – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The previous C&D winner, shaped like he was coming into winning form when a 1 ¼ length 4th of 10 here over 1m 4f two weeks ago. That distance isn’t enough of a stamina test for the 7-year-old these days and he will be better suited by today’s return to 2m.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Today’s selections are from Taunton, Lingfield and Wolverhampton.
Taunton
12:55 – Brilliant Present – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – An all-weather bumper winner last December. The mare didn’t build on the promise of her spring hurdle debut when a 26-length 6th of 12 at Huntingdon last month. Remains capable of better in the sphere and is good hands.
Lingfield
2:17 – Confirmation Bias – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Seemed to improve for the fitting of the cheekpieces when winning a novice hurdle at Wincanton (good) in March and then followed up with an even better effort back at the same venue the following month. Capable of better over fences and should be suited by the ground.
Wolverhampton
3:05 – Garden Paradise – 6/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Jockey Adam Kirby 2-2 when teaming up with trainer James Tate at Wolverhampton. The selection a winner at Newbury in June, shaped like she would appreciate racing beyond 1m 4f when 3rd of 7 at Ascot last time. Back from a 139-day break here but went close on her Chelmsford seasonal return in April. Should be able to get an uncontested lead even from her wide draw.
Cheers
John