Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Fairyhouse, Stratford and Salisbury.

Fairyhouse

2:10 – Cityman – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A progressive 3-year-old handicap sprinter on good or quicker ground. The 5-year-old returned from a 11-month break to finish a 2-length 3^rd of 17 at the Curragh two weeks ago. He’s now 5lb his last winning mark and can pick up a race this season.

Stratford

2:38 – Badness Backfires – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The 7-year-old built on the promise of his chasing debut when a 3 ½ length 3^rd of 10 here over 2m 1f last time. Step up in trip should suit and he won’t be far away here.

Salisbury

3:35 – Nell Quickly – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was well fancied to make a winning handicap/turf debut at Sandown last month when a 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 8. Up 1lb but capable of winning a handicap off her present mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sharpcliff did the business but it could have been so much better if Aquaman hadn’t have been caught on the line.  Still a profit is a profit. It’s good luck to all punters today as its “Super Saturday”.

Newmarket

2:05 – Kingmania – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bids for the hat trick after wins at Leicester & Doncaster. She’swell suited to 7f and is an improving filly capable of more improvement.

5:00 – Amir Kabir – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Showed he stayed 1m 4f when a ½ length 3^rd of 10 at Newbury 18-days ago. He arguably could have won but he made his effort more to the centre of the track. Up 2lb and back on quicker ground but is on a winnable mark.

York

4:40 – Moss Gill – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection goes well over C&D, as his form figures 22113 show and his third placed effort came in last season’s Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.  Bounced back from a poor run in Meydan when a neck 2^nd to Kings Lynn in a Listed race at Haydock last time. The forecast strong pace will suit the 5-year-old who looks set for big run back at his favourite track.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A couple of decent winners yesterday but today looks tougher because there are to many potentials to choose from. Today’s selections are from Newmarket and York.

Newmarket

4:10 – Aquaman – 5/1 – Gen – Made a winning seasonal reappearance at Catterick. Beaten favourite on his handicap debut at Chester didn’t seem to handle the track. However, he bounced back to form when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 11 at York. York run came over a mile and the step back to 7f could see him back into the winner’s enclosure.

York

3:50 – Sharpcliff – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a much-improved performance to win at Newcastle last month. Up 9lb for that win but did have plenty in hand that day. Must prove he’s as good on turf as the tapeta but if he is then he’s lightly raced enough to think there is more progress to come.

4:25 – Cassy O – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A winner at Thirsk two starts back. He showed that he remains in good form when a ¼ length 2^nd of 10 at Haydock last week.  Off the same mark and a return to a mile could eke out a bit more improvement in the 4-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

One winner yesterday so damage done.  Today’s selections from Newmarket’s July Meeting and Leopardstown.

Newmarket

2:25 – Project Dante – 100/30 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power A winner at York on his racecourse debut. Improved again when a ¼ length 3rd of 15 in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal meeting. He would have gone for close to winning but had to wait for a gap between the final two furlongs. Should improve again and should stay today’s extra furlong. Runner-up Go Bears Go has since boosted the Norfolk form when winning a Group 2 in Ireland.

3:35 – Sir Ron Priestley – 9/2 – Gen – Seems likely to get his own way out in the lead and a return to a sound surface suits the 5-year-old. It will be tough to give 3lb to the favourite Al Aasy but the selection is as tough as they come and he will be hard to pass. Could be the one to take advantage if the favourite underperforms.

Leopardstown

6:40 – Mosala – 17/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Dundalk in January. The 4-year-old put in a career best effort on turf when a neck 2^nd of 18 over C&D two starts back. Did best of those held up in a slowly run race when 3^rd of 10 at the Curragh (1m 4f) last time. Drop back to 1m 2f shouldn’t inconvenience and he can go close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Three selections today from Kempton and Fairyhouse.

Kempton

6:15 – Potenza – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Seemed to improve for the step up to 2m for the first time on the level. When running out a comfortable winner of a C&D handicap 7-days ago. The 5-year-old has a 5lb penalty to carry for that win but given his present form he can follow up.

6:45 – Amsby – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Sky Bet – The 4-year-old was a real eyecatcher when 4th of 10 on his handicap debut at Lingfield in February. He’s disappointed on both turf starts since but back on the all-weather and in the first-time tongue tie could see a much better performance.

Fairyhouse

6:55 – Sh Boom – 7/2 – Gen – The mare gained her first success since her juvenile season when getting up in the final strides to beat ten rivals at Gowran Park 24-days ago. Granted she might need a mile and has stall 13 to overcome but she’s only up 3lb for last time and if she gets a strong pace won’t be far away.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s three selections run at Sandown.

Sandown

1:50 – Come From The Dark – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has looked much improved this season and looked a shade unlucky when a neck 2^nd of 9 in the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last time. Slight concern that he won’t get the strong pace he needs but I’m taking him to resume winning ways here.

3:00 – Auria – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Kempton on her second juvenile start. The 3-year-old ran with promise when 2^nd of 6 at Ascot on her seasonal return. However, she didn’t really build on that promise when only 4^th in Listed company over 1m 2f last time. The drop back to a mile looks a good move and she capable of more progress with racing.

5:15 – Mustazeed – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Improved for the step up to 1m 2f and his turf debut when beating seven rivals at Yarmouth 24-days ago.  Has been hiked up 8lb for that win and this a hooter race. However, he win in decisive fashion, despite a slow start, and looked that day like he was well ahead of his mark. Softer ground would be an unknown but if he handles it won’t be far away.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Both yesterday’s selection ran well but weren’t just good enough. Today’s selections are from Doncaster, Haydock and Wexford.

Doncaster

3:20 – Noorban – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Has maintained her form since winning at Ayr in May, putting a career best effort when a head 2^nd of 7 at York three weeks ago. Goes well on quick ground and the drop back to a stiff 5f should suit but she does need to be produced as late as possible.

Haydock

7:08 – Temple Bruer – 9/2 @ Bet365 –  Put in a career best effort when winning over an extended 5f at Bath 20-days ago. Looked in need of further that day and the step up to 6f is a good move. Up just 4lb for his Bath success and goes well on quick ground.

Wexford

7:45 – Somptueux – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Made it 2-3 over fences when winning at Fairyhouse two starts back. Going ok and still in contention when falling three out on his handicap chase debut at Punchestown 33-days ago. Looks on a workable mark if his confidence hasn’t been affected by that fall.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Phew… a big sigh of relief as the losing run ended with two winners yesterday. Both today’s selections race at Newbury.

Newbury

8:25 – Mafia Power – 11/2 @ Bet365 – The selection is only 1 win from 14 starts but he’s consistent enough and his ¾ length 2^nd of 7 at Windsor two starts back suggested he can win a handicap like this off his present mark.

8:55 – Time Interval – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Lingfield as a juvenile. He’s been been slow to hit form this season but his 4 ½ length 4^th of 9 at Haydock was a step in the right direction and he would have finished closer but for being hampered a furlong out. That was a 0-80 handicap and he drops into a 0-70 company today. Capable of going close.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selection from this evening’s meetings at Tipperary & Kempton.

Tipperary

8:15 – Allora Yeats – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Twice a winner last July the mare put in her best effort of the season when a 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 19 at the Curragh 5-days ago. Very slowly away that day she did well in the circumstances to finish as close as she did to the winner. Vulnerable to any improvers in the field but can go well if this doesn’t come to quick.

Kempton

7:05 – Boss Power – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection made it 2-2 on the all-weather when winning at Wolverhampton on his return from six months break in March. Ran just as well in defeat when a short head 2^nd of 4 at Leicester 10-days later. A respectable effort when sixth to Opera Gift at Salisbury 59-days ago.  Needs to settle better than he has on his last two starts but the drop back to 1m 4f is a positive as is a return to the synthetics.

7:35 – Tahitian Prince – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has looked an improved handicapper this season winning at Doncaster on his seasonal return in March and produced a career best effort when winning over C&D last month. Up 3lb but has a handy draw in stall 3 and can be expected to go well again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The dreadful recent run continued Sunday. This is the worst spell for the service for some time and it’s going to have be a case of battening down the hatches until the storm passes.  Can Monday see a reversal in fortunes? Today’s selections are from Pontefract & Musselburgh.

Pontefract

2:25 – Hurstwood – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The selection won the juvenile race on this card two years ago when trained by Tim Easterby. A winner at Newcastle for present yard in September. Dropped back to 6f, the 4-year-old bounced back to winning ways at Ripon (good to firm) 11-days ago. Up 3lb for that win but still handicapped to close.

4:30 – Delgray Boy – 9/4 @ Bet365 – A winner at Thirsk in May. The 4-year-old put in a career best when a neck 2^nd of 15 at York 16-days ago. Up 3lb but he goes well on quick ground and the drop back to a mile shouldn’t inconvenience him.

Musselburgh

5:45 – Lagenda – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Two of the selections five career wins have come at the track, including C&D and he put in his best performance of this season when a head 2^nd of 10 over C&D in April, off 2lb higher. Not disgraced when 4^th of 13 at Ayr last time.  All his five wins have between July & August so the 8-year-old could be primed to hit winning form.

I’m off tomorrow but will be back on Wednesday.

Cheers

John