Author: John Burke

Hi all,

The service was back among the winners on Monday with Dark Terms successful at Kempton.  A 5/1 SP was also a nice surprise. Thank heavens for the BOG bookmakers.  

Today’s selections are both from this evening’s meeting at Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton

7:20 – Alphonse Karr – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection won a novice here over 6f in May and finished a 1 length 3^rd of 6 at Chelmsford 19-days ago. He was doing his best work at the finish over 6f last time and return to 7f could enable the 3-year-old to gain a second career success. Yard had a winner at Kempton yesterday evening.

8:20 – I’m Watching You – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Both the 4-year-old’s career wins have come here, albeit over 6f. The last of those wins came in February off 1lb higher. He’s not been as good on turf since but wasn’t beaten far when 4^th of 10 at Goodwood 18-days ago. On a winnable mark if handling the drop back to 5f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Brighton and Kempton and we’ll know their fate in a 45 minute spell.

Brighton

5:00 – Olivia Mary – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection may be a ten-race maiden but she’s returned from a 9-month absence with two second place efforts in the past two weeks. Last time out looked sure to win well inside the final furlong but was collared in the shadow of the post. Nudged up 2lb but should be competitive again, provided a third quick run doesn’t take its toll.

Kempton

5:15 – Mythical Star – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – Was well backed to make a winning nursery debut before finishing a 3 ¾ length 7^th of 11 over C&D last month. The gelding ran better than his final position suggests as she didn’t get the clearest of passages when making his effort 2f out. Has been dropped 3lb in the meantime and looks capable of better than he’s shown so far.

5:45 – Dark Terms – 100/30 @ Bet365 & Coral – The filly finished three places in front of Mythical Star here 24-days ago. That was her first start in nursery company. She still looked a bit green when asked for her effort 2f out but stayed on well all the way to the line and remains open to more progress.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Disappointed that we couldn’t snatch a winner on Saturday instead we had to settle for two seconds. Today’s three selections are from Haydock.

Haydock

5:30 – Exminster – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection won a Redcar maiden on his racecourse debut before running well under a 6lb penalty at Ripon last time. Should be able to be competitive in handicap company for a yard who had two winners here at the last meeting.

6:25 – Silver Gunn – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Put in a career best when winning over today’s trip on the last Sunday Series meeting at Sandown three weeks ago. He’s up 4lb for that success but looks to be progressing and still be ahead of the handicapper.

6:55 – Snowalot – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old unlucky at Sandown two starts back, won at Goodwood over 1m 6f last time. He’s up 4lb for his latest win but seems likely to improve for the step up to 2m.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s Good To Laugh maintained the winning run at Chester yesterday at what turned out to be a generous SP of 5/1.

Today’s selections are from Leopardstown and Chester.

Leopardstown

12:40 – Limiti Di Greccio – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection took a big step forward from her two starts when winning a C&D maiden last month. That was her first start for trainer new trainer Paddy Twomey and there should be more to come from the filly with racing.

Chester

3:10 – Instinctive Move – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes A winner at Bath on his racecourse the debut. The Clive Cox trained juvenile found the step up to Listed company to hot on his next start at Sandown but bounced back to form when a 1 length 4^th of 20 on his nursery debut at York 24-days ago. Looks capable of better and the trainer’s runners are in great form.

4:25 – Group One Power – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Epsom in April. The 4-year-old has remained in solid form on subsequent starts and showed that Chester holds no terrors when a ½ length 3^rd of 12 over a furlong longer two starts back. One sole poor run came when a well beaten last of 10 at the Shergar Cup. Ran like something was amiss that day and hopefully we will see a lot better from here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Nice to return to winning ways in style with three winners out four on Thursday.  I doubt there will be three winners among today’s selections but hopefully there’s one.

Doncaster

1:40 – Ribhi – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Produced a really good performance to win on his racecourse debut at Salisbury 30-days ago. He surged clear of his rivals in the final furlong that day looking like a very useful prospect.   A long striding colt, open to plenty of improvement. He should be well suited to Doncaster’s galloping track and given he wasn’t stopping at the finish should stay today’s extra furlong.

Sandown

3:00 – Al Rufaa – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection shaped better than his 7^th of 9 at Goodwood suggests after 11 months absence last month. Didn’t seem totally at home on the Goodwood undulations and wasn’t given a hard race when his jockey realised, he couldn’t win.  Provided they could go a decent gallop I’m expecting better from the lightly raced 4-year-old.

Chester

4:30 – It’s Good To Laugh – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was only beaten a short head on his first start for new trainer Jennie Candlish, here two starts back. Disappointed at Goodwood in a better race last time but a return to this venue can hopefully see the selection back in a better light. Off the same mark as when runner-up here and should stay today’s extra furlong

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another frustrating day at the office. We could do with going on a winning run sooner rather than later. Today’s selections are from Doncaster, Chepstow and Epsom.

Doncaster

2:10 – Harrow – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The improving Harrow bids for a hat trick, after wins at Ffos Las and on his nursery debut at York last month. York win was over 7f but the slight drop in trip shouldn’t be an issue provided the forecast strong pace materializes.

3:45 – Motawaajed – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is progressing nicely and bids for the hat trick after wins at Lingfield and over C&D last month. He had useful Dance Fever ½ length back in second here and has only been raised 2lb for that win. He showed a battling attitude to prevail last time and is open to more improvement.

Chepstow

4:05 – Vince Lombardi – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Promising enough nursery debut from the selection when a 2 ½ length 3^rd of ten at Sandown 18-days ago.  Given he’s bred for further he shouldn’t have any problem with a step back up to 6f.  Open to a bit more improvement albeit at a modest enough level.

Epsom

3:25 – Knowing – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old has run better than his form figures suggest and didn’t get the best of passages inside the final 110yds when a 2 ½ length 4^th of 6 at Brighton last time. Has dropped down to an attractive mark and carries 5lb less than when winning over C&D in September 2019.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The service is still struggling for form but it did break a frustrating run with a welcome winner yesterday with Hello Me’s success at Windsor.

The St Leger Festival gets underway today. However, I’m looking away from Doncaster for today’s selections.

Carlisle

2:40 – Battle of the Nile – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Travelled powerfully and was good enough to make a winning nursery debut at Wolverhampton. Only won by a length at the line but was value for a bigger margin of victory. Up 5lb weights but looks the type to stay ahead of the handicapper for a while yet.

Wolverhampton

7:20 – Nibras Gold – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Failed by a head to land the hat trick when runner-up at Bath three weeks ago.  Nudged up 1lb but he remains open to improvement for the step up to 2m. Won here in July so no issues with a return to the tapeta for the 3-year-old.

7:50 – Zartaj – 13/2 @ Bet365 – The filly bounced back from a poor run on soft ground at Lingfield when a keeping on 5 ¼ length 5^th of 13 at Kempton 21-days ago. Has been dropped 2lb since and looks interesting stepped up to an extended 1m 1f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Goodwood

1:50 – King’s Castle – 7/2 @ Bet365 or 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old won a Beverley novice when trained by William Haggas. He’s yet to get his head in front for Joseph Tuite but has run well on couple occasions notably when a ¾ length 2^nd of 7 at Epsom 7-days ago. Same mark here and reproduction of that performance will see him go close.

Windsor

4:15 – Hello Me – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner on the all-weather last season. The filly posted a seasonal best when a ½ length 2^nd of 10 over C&D last month. Up 2lb for that improved effort but the first time cheekpieces are applied and hopefully they can eke out some more improvement in the 3-year-old.

6:45 – Barenboim – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A seven race maiden the selection showed that he handles the track when 2^nd of 11 over 1m 2f two starts back and ran just as well when a 2 ¼ length 4^th of 12 at Lingfield 12-days ago. Both his last two runs came in Class 3 handicaps and he drops into Class 5 company here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

More placed efforts on Friday. I’m off for the next two days so hopefully we can sign off with a winner today.

Ascot

4:20 – Ready To Venture – 8/1 @ Bet365 or 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes  – Bounced back to her best in the first time cheekpieces when a seemingly unlucky when a short head 2^nd of 4 at Pontefract 20-days ago. Might well have won that day but for not getting a clear run 1f out. Up 1lb for that effort but should go close with Adam Farragher taking off a handy 5lb.

4:55 – Fortamour – 9/2 @ Paddy Power & Bet365 – The selection won this 12 months ago but find himself 4lb below that mark this time around. Comes into the racing having won at Ripon last month and looks set for another big run again.

Thirsk

4:35 – Celestial Queen – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked well suited by the drop back to 7f when returning from a 9-week absence when winning over C&D 22-days ago. Plenty of positives for the 3-year-old who looks set to go close again.

Back on Tuesday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A frustrating day for the service on Thursday, no winners but three seconds. Today’s selections are from Ascot, Haydock, and Kempton.

Ascot

4:45 – Papacito – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner over 7f on his racecourse debut at Salisbury in June returned from 9-week absence to win at Doncaster dropped to 6f. The return to 7f will suit the colt who has scope for plenty of improvement on his handicap debut. Both career wins have come on good to firm going so there should be no issues with underfoot conditions.

Haydock

4:30 – Arctic Fox – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has been knocking on the door on her recent runs. Did better than the bare form when a slowly away 1 ¼ length 4^th of 10 at Ripon last time. Looks on a winnable mark if she can break on level terms here.

Kempton

6:15 – Zwelela – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection won two of her three starts on the all-weather in the spring. She hasn’t won on her seven subsequent starts on turf but has gone close on a couple of occasions. Put in a career best on RPR’s when a ¾ length 2^nd of 6 at Salisbury last month. Nothing in hand of her mark but hopes are pinned on a return to the synthetics.

Cheers

John