Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ascot.

Ascot

2:30 – Star Caliber – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Andrew Balding saddled Table Mountain to win this 2m handicap last season and looks to have another good chance with the selection. The 3-year-old has just the had the four starts and ran a career best when runner-up, stepped up to 1m 6f at Chester last time. Takes on the older horses here and has scope for more improvement stepped up to 2m.

3:00 – Lights On – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Indigo Girl is the clear best of this fillies on last season’s high class juvenile form. However, she worth taking on her belated seasonal return with the race fit and more battled hardened selection. The 4-year-old made it 3 wins from her last four starts when winning a Pontefract Listed race 17-days ago. Was likely flattered by the margin of her victory that day but she’s going the right way and looks capable of winning in Group company.

4:40 – Havagomecca – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – A winner on her seasonal return at Newcastle in April. She has remained steadily progressive on four subsequent starts winning at Haydock (soft) two starts back before running just as well in defeat when a ½ length 3^rd of 5 when upped to Class 3 company at Chester (good to firm) last month. Trainer Michael Dods does well with his runners at Ascot – 5 winners from 21 runners 24% + 17.88 in the past five seasons.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Mayfair Stroll got the service back among the winners yesterday. Today’s selections are all from this afternoon’s Sandown card.

Sandown

3:20 – Old News – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was beaten a nose at Yarmouth 8-days ago. Can race off the same mark here and won off 1lb higher on the all-weather last autumn.

3:55 – Russian Virtue – 15/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection was a ½ length 2nd of 10 over C&D two starts back but didn’t stay 1m 3 ½ f at Windsor last time and will be suited by a return 1m 2f.

4:30 – Mowaleda – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was tenderly ridden when 3rd of 12 in a Kempton novice 22-days ago.  Has since changed connections but Jim Crowley who rode the filly at Kempton remains in the saddle. She remains open to more improvement on her handicap debut. 

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A couple of poor days at the office to overcome. After a fantastic few weeks’, let’s, hope we are not going to see a big downswing in form

Sandown

8:10 – Barn Owl – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of Ripon novice when last seen in action 49-days ago. Looks the sort to do better in handicaps and is on workable mark for his handicap debut. Trainer Roger Charlton has his horses in form and hopefully Barn Owl can add to the trainer’s winner’s tally.

8:45 – Ravens Ark – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Shaped nicely enough when 1½ lengths 3rd of 13 in the Cumberland Plate at Carlisle last time. Although not exactly bred for a stamina test, he’s looked like that’s what he needs. The step up to 1m 6f should suit in that regard. Nudged up 2lb for his last effort but remains on a handy mark.

Lingfield

4:10 – Mayfair Stroll – 2/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The top-weight has improved on each of her three career starts finishing a ¼ length 2^nd of 8 36-days ago at Brighton. Steps up to 7f for her nursery debut and begins life in handicaps of what looks a workable mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Chelmsford and Wolverhampton.

Chelmsford

7:35 – Luna Wish – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Enhanced her excellent course record 4 wins from 10 starts 7 places when a ¼ length 2nd of 8 over C&D 61-days ago. Last time out was a career best effort by the filly and if she’s ready to roll after her break won’t be far away.

8:40 – Hala Joud – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Built on the promise of her second placed effort at Lingfield when returning to that venue to beat 11 rivals last month. The first time cheekpieces has the desired effect that day. The return to a mile should suit the filly who looks more than capable of adding to her Lingfield success.

Wolverhampton

3:55 – Arzaak – 6/1 @ Coral – The selection returned from an 8-week break with an encouraging effort when a 2 ¼ length 4^th of 12 at Yarmouth 19-days ago.  He tends to do his winning at Southwell but is also effective here and can hopefully take advantage of winnable handicap mark here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sean Levey left it late on Gubbass to win yesterday’s “Super Sprint” but he helped the service maintain the profitable run.

Today’s selections are from Stratford, the Curragh and Redcar.

Stratford

3:40 – Scardura – 11/4 @ Bet365 – A promising novice chaser in the early part of last season who lost in his way over fences in the autumn. Bounced back to winning form over C&D 19-days ago. Hadn’t always looked the best of jumpers but he put in a good front running jumping display last time. Up 6lb but capable of more progress over the larger obstacles.

Curragh

3:55 – Angel Power – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection was a notable improver in the second half of last season winning a Group 3 at Newmarket and a Group 2 in Italy.  The filly has a 252-day lay off to overcome and her Group 2 penalty but capable of winning this if ready to roll first time.

Redcar

5:10 – Contrebasse – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Made a bold bid from the front at Ripon, beaten a short head, two starts back and ran better than his final position of 6^th of 14 suggests at York 8-days ago, did too much too soon, in a race that suited those coming from behind. The first-time visor replaces the blinkers and it looks like he will get an uncontested lead here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I don’t think Greatgadian was really enjoying the quick ground at Nottingham but still ran out a good winner yesterday.

Newbury

3:00 – Tabdeed – 100/30 – Won this last year after finishing 2nd in the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle. He goes the same route again, having finished 4th in that race three weeks ago. Big chance returned to a sound surface on turf.

3:40 – Gubbass – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked a useful prospect when winning at Leicester on his racecourse debut 99-days ago. He hasn’t been since that race but has likely been aimed at this race. One of the least experienced in the field but the Gimcrack entry is also open to the most progress on just his second career start.

Haydock

7:20 – Mountain Peak – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Ran well when a 1 ½ length 3^rd of 7 at Doncaster 15-days ago. The 6-year-old returns to a C&D where he’s 3-3.  All his six of his turf wins have come on good to firm/good ground. Just 1lb higher than for his last win and the top-weight can make his class tell.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s going to be a very warm day. It’s not even 8am and its already 18C.

The going at Newbury is being described as good to soft, good in places. I will be amazed if there is any soft come race time. It should be perfect flat racing ground.

Today’s selections are from Newbury & Nottingham.

Newbury

3:20 – Bosh –7/2 @ Coral & Bet365 – The selection has won his last two at York and under a penalty over C&D 15-days ago. Looks a useful juvenile prospect and deserves to take his chance in Listed company today.

4:50 – Goodwood Glen – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Improved for the step into handicap companyfor the first time and the refitting of the visor when winning over C&D 15-days ago. Up 4lb but there could be more to come from the 3-year-old.

Nottingham

4:50 – Greatgadian – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Wolverhampton last September. The selection hasn’t been far away on all three starts this season and put in a career best effort on RPR’s when a ½ length 3^rd of 7 at Epsom last month. Raced last time like the drop back in trip and a more conventional track will suit. He’s been nudged up 2lb looks on a mark he can win a race off. Trainer Roger Varian is 8-30 27% +26 15 placed with his handicappers here in the past 5 years.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Magic Chegaga gave her best and was only beaten by an improving handicap debutant at Killarney yesterday. Two selections from the Irish track today and one from Yarmouth.

Killarney

6:25 – Crystal Pool – 6/1 @ Bet365 – A winner at Gowran Park two starts back ran just as well in defeat when runner-up to an improver at Listowel last time. He’s been raised 3lb for that effort but Dylan Browne McMonagle takes off 3lb which offsets his rise in the weights and he can go close from a handy low draw.

6:55 – Chimeric – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection bounced back to something like his best when a head 2^nd of 14 at Gowran Park last month. Given he was slowly away last time he did will in the circumstances to get as close to the winner. Hard to beat here if reproducing that form here but can’t afford to get as far back as he did last time.

Yarmouth

7:35 – Lincoln Red – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Well backed (4/1) when collared on the line over C&D last month. Twice a C&D winner in 2019. The 5-year-old has been nudged up 2lb but he’s on a competitive mark and capable of winning what looks a moderate race.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are Bath and Killarney.

Bath

3:05 – Cruising Lord – 100/30 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Both the selections career wins have come over C&D. The latter of them came 20-days ago. Up 4lb for just a short head success but he’s been rated much higher in the past. Best form on a quick surface but also effective on good to soft.

Killarney

7:25 – Magic Chegaga – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Made a winningdebut for new yard when beating 22 rivals at the Curragh (1m 1f) 18-days ago. Up 8lb for that success and the step up in trip could bring out further improvement in the 4-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the two selections today from the all-weather meetings Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

Lingfield

7:35 – Colonel Faulkner – 2/1 @ Bet365 – Returning from a 6-week absence in the first time cheekpieces and back on the synthetics for the first time since winning at Deauville back in December. The 3-year-old put in an improved performance when a 1 ½ length 3^rd of 10 at Kempton 19-days ago.  A prominent racer he could get the race run to suit here.

Wolverhampton

6:55 – Al Asef – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old had run well on his first two starts for new trainer Tom Clover and showed a liking for chasing a strong pace when coming from the rear to get up close to home over C&D 47-days ago. Nudged up 2lb for that success. He can follow up if he gets the race run to suit again.

Cheers

John