Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Dr T J Eckleburg kept the winning run going at Ayr yesterday. Today’s selections are from day one of Future Champions Weekend at Newmarket.

Newmarket

2:25 – Pearl Glory – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Just failed in the hat trick bid in a Salisbury Listed race last time. A shade unlucky in the run when not getting clearest of passages between the final two furlongs that day but shaped like she’s will be able to hold her own in race like this.

3:35 – Mise En Scene – 6/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook –  Is another filly bidding to maintain an unbeaten run. A winner at Haydock on her racecourse debut she improved again to win the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood 41-days ago. Looks capable of better and should be suited by the step up to a mile.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I was hoping for two winners yesterday. Especially after Rainbow Mirage got backed off the boards at Kempton. Sadly, we just had the one success courtesy of Typewriter at Nottingham. Mind you in my present form a winner will do.

Today’s selections are from Ayr, Worcester & Thurles.

Ayr

1:30 – Dr T J Eckleburg – 11/2 @ Bet365 – The 3-year-old was returning form 83-day layoff when finishing a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 7 in the 1m 2f handicap at Newmarket two weeks ago. Should be sharper for this run. His sole career win came on good to firm ground and he has from on good to soft but did disappoint on his one start on heavy. Yet to race on soft but if he handles underfoot conditions can win a handicap like this.  

Worcester

14:13 – Canyon City – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 8-year-old returned from a 4-month absence to win over C&D 13-days ago. That was the selections second start over fences and he jumped a lot better than he had done on his first 11 months earlier. It was good ground when he won here last time so the drying ground will suit. Up just 1lb he looks set for a big run.

Thurles

3:30 – Walnut Beach – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in career best on the flat when a ¾ length 2nd of 12 at Tramore (soft) on his last start on the level in August. The 4-year-old has since gone on to make a promising hurdle debut when a 1 length 4th of 17 at Roscommon 10-days ago. Looks capable of going close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The service remains in stuck in the sand but the tide will turn and we’ll be sailing clear water again. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait to long.

Today’s selections are from Nottingham, Kempton and Navan.

Nottingham

4:15 – Typewriter – 100/30 @ Bet365 – The filly looked much improved for the step up to a mile when winning here on her third career start in August.  The step up to 1m 2f should suit for her nursery debut and she’s open to further improvement.

Kempton

8:00 – Rainbow Mirage – 7/1 @ Ladbrokes – A C&D winner in March. The filly quickly bounced back from a couple of low-key efforts on grass when a 1 ¾ length 4^th of 12 back at on the all-weather at Wolverhampton last week. Looks set to be there or thereabouts again.

Navan

4:05 – Rosmana – 8/1 @ Bet365 – A winner when trained in France on soft ground last summer. The 4-year-old produced her best performance since joining the Joseph O’Brien when a 2 ¾ length 4^th of 14 at Punchestown (good) last month. The slight drop in trip plus an easier surface can see her win a fillies’ handicap.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Tipperary & Lingfield. I’m off tomorrow so let’s hope we can sign off with a winner today.

Tipperary

3:05 – Teed Up – 17/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Hasn’t been seen since well down the field and beaten favourite in the Irish Lincolnshire back in March. Finished a 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 11 in this race 12 months ago before going on to win a Galway handicap off 1lb higher later in the month. Goes well on soft/heavy ground and if he’s ready to roll after a 197-day absence is handicapped to win.

3:35 – Carrytheone – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Comes into the race one of the least exposed of the of the 13 runners. Comfortably landed a minor race at Gowran Park last time. The 4-year-old goes well on soft ground and is fresher than most with this being just his third start of the season.  Steps into pattern company for the first time but could be up to winning.

Lingfield

1:30 – Incumbent – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Is bred to better with racing but he’s already shown he’s got the ability to win a race like this when a 2 ½ length 2^nd 0f 10 on his nursery/all weather debut at Kempton last month. Open to further improvement and is the one to beat.

3:00 – My Frankel – 11/4 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Had looked set for a good season when making it 2-2 on the all-weather when winning at Kempton in April. Has largely been disappointing on turf since but did finish 3^rd of 12 in the Old Newton Cup in July.  Just 1lb above his last winning mark he needs the first-time tongue tie and a return to the synthetics to galvanise back to his best after a poor run at Ascot last month.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Least said the better after yesterday’s effort. Today’s selections are from Kelso, Tipperary, and Killarney.

Kelso

3:40 – Ballyoisin – 2/1 @ Bet365 – A Grade 2 chase winner in Ireland, has a touch of class he’s returned from 21-month absence with two good efforts winning at Ballinrobe over today’s today’s distance before finishing runner-up to Easy Game at Listowel last time over 2m 4f. The returned to shorter is a positive and despite top weight he has race fitness on his side. In the seven running’s of the race the top-weight has been successful 3 times.

Tipperary

2:05 – Pike County – 7/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Is 0-7 over hurdles but the selection had look set to win a Navan handicap hurdle, off today’s mark, when falling at the last. Any further easing of the ground will suit and The 8-year-old should be able to land a handicap hurdle like this, if ready roll on his first start since December.

Killarney

2:55 – Farrawaybay – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection has improved for the step in to handicap company winning at Galway (good) and progressed again on RPR’s when 2 ¼ length 2^nd of 18 at Listowel two weeks ago. Up 2lb but the mare is open to further progress on the step up to 2m 7f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It would be great to keep the winner a day going today but it its Saturday and it looks a tricky one. I’m hoping the rain arrives at Ascot for my three selections from the Berkshire track.

Ascot

2:40 – Quickthorn – 100/30 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Finished runner-up in the Ebor Handicap and had earlier in the season won the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap over 1m 4f on soft ground at the Royal meeting. The 4-year-old looked to have no chance when blowing the start at Salisbury last time but still managed to run out a 2-length winner of a conditions race. Might be better over further in this company but must have a good chance if the rain arrives.

3:15 – Glen Shiel – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Hasn’t been at his best on his last two starts in Group 1 company but the ground was to firm form him at Haydock last time. His best form on turf has come on soft ground. Won last season’s Champions Sprint over C&D (soft) and finished runner-up in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (soft) at Royal Ascot. Massive chance if the rain arrives.

4:25 – Pendleton – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hopefully the rain will arrive will arrive for the selection who won this corresponding race in 2019. The 5-year-old returned from a 19 months absence in the spring to finish 2^nd here before going onto win at York in May. Hasn’t been seen to best advantage on three subsequent starts but the ground hasn’t been in his favour on the last two. He’s 2-2 on soft and 2-5 when running within 15-days of his last start.

Newmarket

4:05 – Jasmine Joy – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Enjoyed the good gallop when successful on her handicap debut at Yarmouth 16-days ago. Has been raised 6lb for that success but she’s unexposed at around 1m 4f and is capable of more improvement.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A very welcome winner at Clonmel yesterday to get the service off the ‘cold list’.  What will today bring? Once again, I’m heading across the Irish Sea this time Dundalk for today’s selections.

Dundalk

6:45 – Absolute Ruler – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – An interesting Listed race with a few unexposed juveniles among the 12 runners. However, preference is for the selection who overcame greenness to win a mile maiden here on his racecourse debut. He improved on that performance when a ¾ length 3^rd of 10 in a Group 2 at Leopardstown and might well have won with a clearer run a furlong out. Open to more improvement and is the one to beat.

7:15 – Royal Scholar – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The 4-year-old was only beaten a short head here over 7f last October and can now race off 5lb lower mark. Made an encouraging return from a 9-month absence when a 4-length 5^th of 14 over C&D two starts back. Not disgraced when 7^th of 15 back on turf at Cork 23-days ago.

8:15 – Sense Of Worth – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner here over an extended 1m 2f in the spring. The 5-year-old showed once again that’s he’s a better horse on a synthetic surface than grass when a 1 ½ length 2^nd of 14 here 7-days ago. Better drawn than last time and looks worth another try over 1m 4f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The frustrating run continues. Let’s hope we can turn things around today. I’m off across to Ireland for today’s selections.

Bellewstown

3:05 – Earls – 10/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – The selection bounced back to form when a 2 ½ length 2^nd of 13 at Listowel last week. Twice a winner last autumn on soft/heavy going. He’s back down to a winning mark and should be able to land a handicap like this before the season is out.

Clonmel

1:40 – Quarry Lil – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner earlier in the year. The mare made it 3 wins from 5 runs when successful in mares’ hurdle over 2m in March and has also won over C&D in the past. She was returning from a 5-month absence when 8^th of 20 at Galway 24-days ago. Will be sharper for that run and shouldn’t be far on course that suits

2:15 – Fleurys Fort – 11/2 @ Bet365 – The selection might be an 11-year-old but he showed he can be competitive when a 6 ¼ length 6^th of 14 at Limerick 5-days ago. Doing his best work at the finish that day. He’s now 5lb below his last winning mark and his record when running within 7-days of his last start is 3 wins from 10 runs +17.83.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Those fine margins came into play yesterday as Aquamas, unlucky in the run, just failed to get up at Ayr.

Today’s selections from Nottingham & Kempton.

Nottingham

3:30 – Noble Masquerade – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Travelled through the Old Borough Cup (1m 6f) like he remains a well handicapped horse. Hit the front 3f out and was only headed when his stamina gave way well inside the final furlong. He can race off the same mark here and although he takes a big drop back in distance today, he’s a big chance from an inform yard.

4:00 – Forever William – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-old is a six-race maiden. However, he’s shown that he has ability to win off around his present mark. Hung away his chance in the straight when a 1 ½ length 3^rd of 7 at Kempton last time. The first time cheekpieces are applied and if they have the desired effect, he can go close.

Kempton

6:00 – Raadobarg – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection showed a liking for plenty of ease in the ground in the spring and completed the hat trick when winning at Haydock in May. He ran better than his 8 ½ length 8^th of 29 suggests in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot on quick ground. Off for almost three months he shaped with plenty of promise when a 1 ½ length 3^rd of 8 at Doncaster 18-days ago. Should be spot on fitness wise for his first start on the all-weather and looks capable of rating higher.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ayr and Cork.

Ayr

2:45 – Aquamas – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A modest maiden but there was a bit of an encouragement from his first start over 7f at Musselburgh last time.  Although he finished only a 5-length 4th of 11 that day. He didn’t get the best of passages in the final 2f’s and looks worth another try at the trip. Best form has come with some juice in the ground.

Cork

4:05 – Erzindjan – 6/1 @ Bet365 – A winner at Gowran Park in the spring. The 3-year-old hasn’t always been the most reliable this season but he ran up to his best when 2 lengths 7th of 14 in the Group 2 Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown last time. Goes well with some ease in the ground and reproduction of his latest effort would see him go close.

5:10 – Treble Cone – 5/1 – Gen – The selection won a division of this mile handicap last year and can race off 7lb lower this time around. The visor he wore when winning 12 months ago returns for the first time this season. Just the four starts this season and although was only 7^th of 15 at Bellewstown last month that was an encouraging enough effort with this race in mind.

Cheers

John