Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Naas & Windsor.

Naas

3:00 – Grammata – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in arguably a career best effort when a 2 ¼ length 2^nd of 19 in the valuable Scurry Handicap at the Curragh 16-days ago. She didn’t get the best of runs inside the final furlong that day and would finish closer if she had. That was the filly’s first run at 6f and she remains unexposed at the distance. Capable of winning a handicap off her present mark.

5:15 – Zola Sakura – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of a Gowran maiden two starts back and went close to making a winning handicap debut over C&D 30-days ago. Beaten ¾ length into second that day she’s been raised 6lb for that effort but has only had the five career starts and could be capable of the improvement required to defy her new mark. Yard couldn’t be in better form 6 winners from 15 runners 40% +14.73 in the past 14-days.

Windsor

7:45 – Seneca Chief – 15/2 @ Bet365 – Not the most consistent of horses but must be respected on his seasonal reappearance effort when a ½ length 2^nd of 12 at Sandown. Has run poorly on his last two starts, although he did lose a shoe at Yarmouth and probably wasn’t suited by 6f at Haydock last time. Now 3lb below his Sandown mark and capable of landing a handicap like this if on a going day. Yard among the winners of late.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Two winners and second from yesterday’s selections. Today’s selections are from Thirsk and Chester.

Thirsk

3:25 – Safran – 5/1 @ bet365 or 9/2 @Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in his best performance since joining the David O’Meara yard when a 1 ¼ length 4^th of 10 at York 9-days ago. Held up after being slowly away he wasn’t well placed in a steadily run race and didn’t get the clearest of runs at the furlong mark. In the circumstances did well to finish as close as he did.  The 4-year-old travelled through the race like a well-treated horse and although he drops back to 7f here, looks the one to beat.

Chester

4:45 – Jumaira Bay – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Previous C&D winner Revich is sure to be popular but preference is for the selection. The 4-year-old had looked an improver when winning at Chelmsford two starts back and was sent off just 10/1 for the Bunbury Cup on his next start. Ran way below market expectations there but his best form on turf has come with ease in the ground so he may not have been suited by the quick ground at Newmarket. Has top weight of 10-1 to overcome but better is expected.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A better day yesterday with two winners. Today’s selections are from Newmarket & Galway.

Newmarket

2:10 – Dora Penny – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Leicester (good to soft) on her racecourse debut. The filly wasn’t disgraced when a 2 ½ 2^nd of 9 on her nursery debut back at the same venue 16-days ago. The slightly easier ground should suit and she can improve further.

2:45 – Sayyida – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A half-sister to Derby winner Masar made a winning handicap debut over C&D last time she had to show a good attitude to prevail that day. Steps into pattern company but looks the type to keep improving.

Galway

3:48 – Cool And Clever – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection built on the promise of his racecourse debut when winning over an extended 7f at Roscommon 81-days ago. Still looked inexperienced that day but the cols should progress with racing and seems on a workable mark for his nursery debut.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Asymmetric got the service off the cold list but it was still a frustrating day overall. Today’s selections are from Goodwood.

Goodwood

4:10 – Passion And Glory – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Lightly raced for his age the selection backed up an all-weather win at Lingfield with an impressive success in an handicap company at Ascot three weeks ago. Seems likely to improve for the step up to 1m 4f and goes very well with ease in the ground.

4:45 – Catch Cunningham – 7/1 @ BetVictor or 6/1 @ Bet365 – Improved to win on his all-weather debut at Newcastle 34-days ago, showing a willing attitude to prevail by a short head. The return to 6f shouldn’t be a problem for his nursery debut and he’s open to further improvement.

5:20 – Wink Of An Eye – 3/1 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – Has been well placed to win his last three, completing the hat-trick in good fashion at Sandown (good to soft) 27-days ago. Up 7lb rose to overcome but he’s an improving stayer who should be suited by the step up to 1m  3f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The service needs to come off the cold list today. Mind you, if you’re also a subscriber to Victor Value then the losses have been eased by an excellent recent run by that service, so it’s a case of swings ‘n’ roundabouts. It’s race four selection day.

Goodwood

2:25 – Asymmetric – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection improved again to run Lusail to head in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket last time. That’s the best form on offer and the son of Showcasing won over C&D on his racecourse debut. The easier surface will also likely suit the colt.

4:10 – Adjuvant – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Overcame greenness to make a winning racecourse debut at Chester (good to soft) and followed up in good style under a penalty at Salisbury (soft) 18-days ago. Will need further in time but a mark of 85 for his nursery debut looks more than workable.

5:20 – Twilight Calls – 5/2 @ Coral – Improved for the drop back to 5f and big field handicap set up, when winning with more than the neck margin of victory suggests at Newmarket last time. Granted the ground was good to firm that day and he will face different conditions and he’s up 8lb for that last success. However. he’s an improving sprinter who could be Group class by the end of the season.

Galway

5:45 – Gin On Lime – 9/4 @ Ladbrokes – A much better chaser than a hurdler. The 5-year-old made it 3-3 over the larger obstacles when comfortably winning a Limerick novice chase 19-days ago. Well suited by a sound surface the mare will take some stopping provided the ground doesn’t ease too much before race time.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another disappointing day at the office for the service. We have come out of a losing run before and will do so again. Hopefully this run won’t see the betting banks profit drop as far as it did last time.

Today’s three selections are from day two of Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Goodwood

2:25 – Bounce The Blues – 11/2 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – The selection didn’t get the clearest of runs inside the final furlong when a close-up 2^nd in a Group 3 at Lingfield in May and could have easily have won if she had. Effective on soft ground I can see the 4-year-old going close here.

3:35 – Snow Lantern – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Comes here instead of going for the Nassau Stakes over 1m 2f. The filly seemed to handle testing ground well enough when runner-up to Alcohol Free in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She settled much better and had Alcohol Free back in third when winning the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last time.

4:45 – Percy’s Pride – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Comes into the race seeking the hat trick after wins at Chelmsford and back on turf at Ascot 19-days ago. Up 5lb for that latter success but showed a willing attitude to prevail last time.  Drops back to 1m 2f today but provided it’s a decent stamina test she can go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Looks like were going through a dip in form after an excellent recent run for the service.  Let’s hope we can turn things around today. It’s the start of the Goodwood Festival and five days of high-class racing on the Sussex Downs.

Today’s selections are from Goodwood & Galway.

Goodwood

4:45 – Scattering – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Shaped with plenty of promise when 3rd on his racecourse debut at Newcastle last month. Not given a hard ride and should be suited today’s extra furlong.

Galway

6:45 – Draconid – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has been gelded since finishing 5^th of 13 in a Curragh maiden in May. Looks the sort to better in handicaps and makes his handicap debut off what looks a workable mark.

8:15 – Crowns Major – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has difficult draw to overcome in 22. A bumper winner on his racecourse debut at the Punchestown Festival in April. He’s bred for the flat and shaped well when 3^rd of 8 at Bellewstown 26-days ago. That was over 1m 4f and he seems likely to improve for the step up to an extended 2m.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I found yesterday’s first Sky Bet Sunday Series meeting entertaining. Whether it will have the desired effect of attracting a new Sunday evening TV audience to the sport though I’m not so sure.

The ITV seven was landed which meant a lucky punter won £50,000. Not so good for us though as Wise Eagle was touched off by a short head in the ‘unlucky’ last at Musselburgh.

Today’s selections are from Ayr, Windsor, and Wolverhampton.

Ayr

2:15 – Glenamoy Lad – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A useful sprint handicapper in the past but on a losing run that goes back to October 2018. The 7-year-old had looked regressive and had dropped down to a career low mark but he bounced back to a bit of form a 3 ¾ length 3^rd of 12 at Nottingham (good to firm) 10-days ago. Yard in good form and if he can build on his last time out promise can take advantage of a winnable mark.

Windsor

6:25 – Spanish Star – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Doesn’t win very often but has finished runner-up on his last two starts and was beaten just a neck when 2^nd of 12 at Ascot 16-days ago. That was over 7f but the selection is a strong traveller who shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the drop back to 6f. Nudged up 3lb but capable of another good run.

Wolverhampton

7:05 – Frow – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Made it 4-4 over C&D when winning here 20-days ago. Up 3lb and now on a career high mark but at least he comes into the race in good form and shouldn’t be far away again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Both today’s selections are from Musselburgh and you can watch them live on ITV.

Musselburgh

4:45 – Atomic Lady – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Despite her low draw and a drop back to 5f I think the improving filly can land the hat trick here.  A decisive winner on her nursery debut at York 15-days ago. She’s been raised 8lb for that success but is on the up and the runner-up that day has since gone to win easily so the form looks solid.

6:40 – Wise Eagle – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection has been in excellent form in the spring/early summer winning four of last six starts. A winner over C&D two starts back the 4-year-old ran just as well in defeat when a neck 2^nd of 9 at Ayr 33-days ago. Up 3lb but can be expected to go close again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Havagomecca was a tasty winner at a very generous BOG 13/2. Today’s selections are from Ascot York and Newmarket. I’m just hoping we don’t have too much rain for the there.

Ascot

4:10 – Doctor Parnassus – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection remains a maiden after five career starts and has been running well enough to think he’s on a competitive mark. He was a neck 2^nd of 5 at Haydock 23-days ago and although he’s been nudged up 2lb and ground softer than good would be an unknown he’s my pick here.

York

4:25 – Monsieur Lambrays – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Didn’t get the best of passages when 13^th in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle last month. The 5-year-old won this race 12 months ago and looks to have a good chance of doing it again off just 2lb higher.

Newmarket

4:50 – Apollo One – 5/1 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – Ran as well as ever on his handicap debut when a neck 2^nd of 17 over C&D at the July Festival. Nudged up 3lb for last time and although he remains vulnerable less exposed horses in handicap company should give it a good go again here.

Cheers

John