Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Yesterday is best forgotten about.

It’s the start of a new week and today’s selection are from Chepstow & Ballinrobe.  

Chepstow

1:30 – Mountain Ash – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner over an extended 7f at Lingfield (soft) in May. He hasn’t replicated that level of form on three subsequent starts on quicker ground but wasn’t disgraced when 4^th of 14 in the first time cheekpieces at Newbury two starts back. Yard in tremendous form and provided there’s soft in the going description a better run is expected. Yard has its runners in excellent form.

2:30 – Sir Plato – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The 7-year-old goes really well at Chepstow – 4 wins from 8 starts – with the latest of those wins coming here in June, off 1lb lower. Another good effort over a mile here when a 1 ¼ length 4^th of 7 last month.

Ballinrobe

5:15 – Varna Gold – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Just 1-10 over hurdles but the selection put in a career best effort when a ¾ length 3^rd of 20 over an extended 2m at the Galway Festival last time. Nudged up 2lb for his latest effort but today’s slightly longer trip looks set to suit as he was strong at the finish at Galway.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A bit of a pattern has emerged over the last few days a nice winner and a small profit and a couple of poor picks.  Yesterday it was the turn of Agartha who impressed when winning an open looking Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.  To be fair I would happily take that every day because I don’t do multiples with selections, singles only.

There’s another Sky Bet Sunday Series this afternoon at Sandown. The seven races have attracted big fields and the racing looks ultra-competitive. Across the Channel there are two Group 1 contests at Deauville.

Today’s selections from Deauville & Sandown.

Deauville

2:50 – Asymmetric – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Armor & Quick Suzy will be tough nuts to crack in this Group 1 contest but I’m going with the selection who had three of these behind when winning the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood (good to soft) last time. He had three of today’s rivals behind him at Goodwood and can confirm form with them today.

3:25 – Ebaiyra – 6/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Lady Bowthorpe got her breakthrough Group 1 win in the Nassau Stakes last time and has a great chance of making it two here. Preference though for one of the home team in the shape of Ebaiyra.  The 4-year-old has looked as good as ever this season, winning a Group 2 in May and found a steadily run Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud didn’t play to her strengths when a 1 length second to Broome last time. A better overall gallop will see her in a better light back against her own sex.

Sandown

4:50 – Fast Response – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection a soft ground 6f maiden at Windsor last month and returned to winning ways when winning at Musselburgh (good) 16-days ago. Makes her nursery debut off a workable mark and shouldn’t be far away with capable apprentice Pierre-Louis Jamin taking off a handy 5lb.

Cheers

John

Hi all

Thankfully Tyger Bay ran to form to give the service a small profit on the day.  Sadly, the other selections were a bit disappointing in particular Sliabh Mhuire Lass who was very weak in the pre-race betting and ran abysmally.

Today’s selections are from York, the Curragh

York

4:10 – Boonie – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Successful on his racecourse debut at Beverley in April. The speedy juvenile has since gone onto finish third in the Windsor Castle Stakes and he posted a career best when a 3-length 3^rd of 11 in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last time. The first time cheekpieces are applied today which will hopefully keep him straight in the final stages of the race.

Curragh

6:05 – Agartha – 3/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection seems to be improving with racing and looked a nice prospect when making all to win a Group 3 at Leopardstown last month. Slightly easier ground likely today but if as effective on it is the one to beat here.

Newton Abbot

5:15 – Dog0n – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of a good ground handicap chase at Southwell last July. He bounced back to form on his second start from when a neck 2^nd of 4 over C&D 40-days ago. Not the most reliable but if he can reproduce his last time effort, he can win this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Zain Claudette’s win in the Lowther Stakes at York set the service up for a profitable day and Alflaila also ran a cracker to dead heat for second from his high draw. Sadly, Amma Grace never showed in the Galtres Stakes.

Today’s selections are from York, Kempton and Kilbeggan.

York

4:40 – Jewel In My Crown -9/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – Came from off the pace to win at Nottingham last time. She’s up 6lb for that success and up in class but she’s a 3-year-old going the right way and the handicapper may not have got hold of her just yet.

Kempton

4:20 – Tyger Bay – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection’s form figures since the fitting of the blinkers are now a healthy 18121223. The waiting tactics were likely over done at Newmarket last time. A previous C&D winner the 4-year-old is now racing off a career high mark but I think there could be another win to be had with him.

Kilbeggan

6:45 – Sliabh Mhuire Lass – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Multiple point winner,jumped well to win a maiden hunter chase at Tipperary 106-days ago. The 10-year-old is back in a handicap chase today but was only beaten 1 ½ lengths in one here last August, She clearly goes well fresh as her Tipperary win came off a 151-day layoff.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Crystal Casque halted the losing run by winning at Kempton yesterday evening and Glory Fighter went close at 10/1 at Carlisle.  If the latter had held on the last few day’s losses would have been wiped out in one hit.

Today’s selections are from day two of York’s Ebor Festival.

York

1:50 – Zain Claudette – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Showed herself to be a smart filly when beating Desert Dreamer by a nose when successful in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot last time. This speed favouring track may not play to her strengths like Ascot did but she an improving filly and can take advantage of the 3lb she gets from favourite Sandrine here.

4:10 – Alflaila – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A winner on his racecourse debut at Salisbury, had subsequent Listed winner System back in second that day. Wasn’t at his best, trying to give 6lb to Maglev when 4th to that one at Yarmouth on his next start. Back to form when runner-up to a subsequent Group 3 winner at Newmarket 20-days ago. Nursery debut and can improve for his first start at 7f.

4:45 – Amma Grace – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old won a Listed race at Leopardstown (soft) last October and prior to that had finished runner-up to Cayenne Pepper in Group 2 at the Curragh (good). She’s just had the two starts this season and wasn’t disgraced when returning from a three-month absence to finish a 5 ¾ length 4th of 10 to the smart Le Petite Coco in a Group 3 at Cork 12-days ago.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Dire form for the service going into York’s Ebor Festival which I could have done without. I have one selection from York and the other two are from Carlisle & Kempton.  

York

3:00 – High Definition – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Remains the most interesting of the trio of Aidan O’Brien trained runners. Unbeaten on his two juvenile starts. He made and promising seasonal reappearance when a 2 length third to Hurricane Lane here in the Dante in May. However, he didn’t give his running well behind that one in the Irish Derby last time. He remains capable of better and is given one more chance.

Carlisle

1:00 – Glory Fighter – 10/1 @ Bet365 or 9/1 @ Coral & Paddy Power – Twice a winner last August and he hasn’t been in much from this season although he shaped well enough on his first two starts in the spring, including when a 2 ¾ length 5^th of 17 at York in May. A reproduction of that run or when winning at Musselburgh in October of 3lb higher would be good enough here.  

Kempton

8:15 – Crystal Casque – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A three-time course winner, the mare hasn’t won since returning in April but has run a couple of promising races here, including when ½ length 3^rd of 11 here over a mile in May, off 5lb higher. Not disgraced when 6^th of 9 over C&D last week when not getting the best of runs 2f out. Now below her last winning mark she wouldn’t be winning out of turn.

Cheers1

John

Hi all,

Another tough day at the office. However, nothing a couple of today won’t put right. Let’s hope the service can go into York’s Ebor Festival with a winner. Today’s selections are from Hamilton, Leicester, and Sligo.

Hamilton

3:25 – Legendary Day – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Third of 10 at Newmarket on his hat trick attempt last month. That was a slightly deeper race than this and the selection looks capable of going close with the Hughie Morrison yard in tremendous form 7-16 44% in the past 14-days.

Leicester

5:25 – Galileo Glass – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection improved for the step into nursery company and the fitting of the first-time hood.  Up 7lb for that success but the extra furlong looks likely to bring out more improvement in the colt.

Sligo

7:15 – Pump Road – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won this race in 2019 and has been in decent form of late including finishing 2^nd of 9 here over a 2m 4f 12-days ago. Today’s longer trip is a plus and he should be able to go one place better.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Both Poetic Flare and Flint Hill went close in their respective races but sadly not close enough. Today’s selections are from Windsor.

Windsor

4:50 – Coco Beach – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection finished off strongly to win at Brighton last month. Up 7lb for that success but could be up to defying it.

5:55 – The Daley Express – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Finished a ¾ length 2^nd of 8 over C&D 14-days ago. He can race off the same mark as last time and is now 4lb below his last winning mark. Nicely treated and capable of another bold show.

6:55 – Glen Esk – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a C&D winner the selection bids for the four timer here. He’s only up 2lb for his latest win here and the handicapper has given him a decent chance of landing the four timer. Albeit, this is a slightly higher class of race.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Mayfair Stroll’s win at Newmarket at a BOG 11/2 ensured a small profit on Saturday.  Today’s selections are from Deauville and Pontefract.

Deauville

2:50 – Poetic Flare – 11/4 @ Coral – One of the best if not the best 3-year-old miler in Europe. The 2,000 Guineas winner was so impressive when landing the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on good to firm ground.  Not quite at his best when a 1 ¾ lengths runner-up to Alcohol Free in the Sussex Stakes last time. It was still an excellent run by the colt, given he wasn’t totally at home on the track at Goodwood, would have preferred a stronger pace to chase and the going was soft. If he gets good ground today, he will give Palace Pier a race and can beat him.

Pontefract

4:20 – Flint Hill – 100/30 @ Bet365 or 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Showed a liking for the track when winning over C&D two starts back and followed up with arguably an even better effort when a 1 length 3^rd of 14 at York last month. That was a better race and the 5-year-old goes well on good ground. Looks the one to beat here.

5:25 – Wether Fell – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Well beaten on his first two starts in handicap company, both at 7f, seemed to enjoy the drop back to sprint distances when a ½ length 2^nd of 8 at Carlisle last month. The Julie Camacho yard is back among the winners after a quiet spell  and the 4-year-old can go close from a decent draw in stall 5.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Raatea got us back among the winners on Friday. It was just a shame that Babindi didn’t hold on at Nottingham. Still, I will take that sort of profit any day of the week.

It’s four selections day on Saturday. We normally find one winner on such days so let’s hope we can do so again

Newmarket

1:30 – Mayfair Stroll – 100/30 @Bet365 – Won on her nursery debut at Lingfield (good to firm) two starts back. Looked unlucky, when a 1 length 4^th of 13, was hampered over 5f out,  at Goodwood last time. Up 2lb but will appreciate the better ground and looks progressive.

3:05 – First Folio – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Made it 2-3 for the yard when quickening clear of a big field at York (good to firm) two starts back. Looked unsuited by the soft ground in the Steward Cup consolation race 14-days ago. Worth another chance back on quicker ground.

4:15 – Danni California – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Improved for her handicap debut when a length 2^nd of 8 over C&D 22-days ago. Might well have won but was slowly away. Up 1lb but looks capable of more improvement and win a race off her present mark.

Bath

5:10 – Mutasallem – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection won a nursery at Wolverhampton last October but was disappointing on his seasonal reappearance in May. First run since and has been gelded in the meantime. Trainer Marcus Tregoning is 3-10 +8.00 with his runners in Bath 3-year-old only handicaps and 4-17 +23.23 with his runners in the past two weeks.

Cheers

John