Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Royal Ascot

2:30 – Go Bears Go – 9/1 – Gen – Trainer David Loughnane had the first two home in the final handicap here yesterday. He saddles Go Bears Go who won over C&D on his racecourse debut last month.  The ground was soft that day so we know he handles rain softened ground. It’s hard to say whether stall five is good or not but he’s my idea of the winner.

3:05 – Movin Time – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection made a winning seasonal reappearance when quickening clear of eight rivals in a Newmarket maiden last month. The form of that race got a boost her yesterday when the runner-up Kemari won the Queen Vase. An exciting prospect who can give the favourite Mohaafeth a race.

3:40 – Eshaada – 6/1 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power – Comes into the race bidding for the hat trick after wins at Nottingham last season and Newbury last month. Both those successes came on soft ground so any rain won’t inconvenience her. Shapes like she should stay 1m 4f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Poetic Flare impressive win in the St James’ Palace Stakes made sure it was a profitable start to Royal Ascot.  It’s going to get tougher as the week goes on but hopefully there is another winner among today’s three selections.

Royal Ascot

3:40 – Double Or Bubble – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Impressed when winning a handicap at Newmarket on her seasonal reappearance. The 4-year-old has only had four career starts is suited to quick ground and is open plenty of improvement. She has plenty to find on official ratings with favourite Lady Bowthorpe but with progress expected. I think she can go close if it stays dry.

4:20 – Armory – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Love’s stablematemade a winning reappearance in the Huxley Stakes at Chester last month. This is his trip and he’s suited by good ground. Remains with potential to be a high class 4-year-old.

5:35 – Tipperary Sunset – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I was impressed with the selectionswin in the 2-year-old Trophy at Beverley last time. A stiff 5f seems to suit him and if he handles today’s quicker ground has a good chance of landing the hat trick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A couple of disappointing days to put behind us. I’m concentrating the rest of this week’s selections at Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot

3:05 – Gisburn – 6/1 @ Paddy Power & Ladbrokes – Built on the promise of his racecourse debut when making all to win at Newbury last month. He looks an exciting juvenile prospect although he’s unlikely to get his own way like he did last time.

4:20 – Poetic Flare – 4/1 – Gen – The 2,000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare looked a shade unlucky not to win the Irish version last time. This will be his fifth start of the season and he did have hard race at the Curragh. Still, he’s the one to beat.

5:35 – Felix – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Finished runner-up in the Winter Derby at Lingfield and then put in a career best effort on RPR’s when a 4-length 3rd of 12 behind Lord North back on turf in a Group 1 at Meydan. Should be suited by a strongly run 1m 2f and has won off a break.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

On the eve of Royal Ascot. I have selections from Nottingham & Windsor.

Nottingham

6:50 – Eeh Bah Gum – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is on a losing run that goes back almost 3-years. However, a reproduction of his ¾ length 4^th of 19 in the 2019 Epsom Dash, off 18lb higher, would be more than good enough here. Seemed to have missed out on a good opportunity when only 4^th of 6 at Musselburgh 9-days ago. Four of his five career wins have come when making all and the 6-year-old gets the first time cheekpieces today.  Needs quick ground to be seen at his best.

Windsor

7:00 – Smeaton’s Light – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of a Thirsk maiden(good to firm) on his seasonal reappearance.  The 3-year-old seemed unsuited by the track at Newmarket but bounced back to form when a length 2^nd of 6 at Yarmouth back on quick ground 13-days ago. Up 4lb but remains on a competitive mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

La Trinidad made it a profitable Saturday. Today’s selections are from Doncaster and Gowran Park.

Doncaster

3:45 – Headingley – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection flounderedon heavy ground at Haydock last time and is better judged on his previous two efforts on good to firm ground. When winning at Redcar and finishing runner-up at Goodwood. On the latter occasion he hung away a likely win inside the final furlong. On a competitive mark going this way around and on quick ground.

Gowran Park

3:00 – Miss Molly T – 11/2 @Bet365 –  A winner of a Leopardstown maiden (soft) last October. The filly returned form a six-month break to post a career best effort on RPR’s when a ½ length 2^nd of 9 at Naas 49-days ago. Doing he best work at the finish that day. A return to 7f will suit and although she’s unproven on quick ground looks on a winnable mark if she’s effective on it.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Sandown and York.

Sandown

3:25 – Arqoob – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Showed improved form to get off the mark at the 5^th attempt when winning at Yarmouth (good to firm). Raised 6lb for that success but looks the sort to be able to win again.

York

4:50 – Le Trinidad – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A useful handicapper last season winning twice and posting some decent efforts in strong handicaps. Bounced back from a low-key return at Ripon with a 5 length’s 6th of 14 to Kynren here last time. That was a Class 2 contest and he drops back into Class 4 here. Both wins have come on good/good to firm going and today’s 1m 1f could be ideal.

5:25 – George Bowen – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The 9-year-old bounced back to winning form when powering clear of four rivals at Hamilton 3-days.  He bounced off the quick ground that and although this is a deeper race the previous C&D winner remains well in under his 4lb penalty. Big chance of a follow up.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Aintree and Sandown.

Aintree

7:25 – Roar – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection was back to his best when beating five rivals at Fakenham 19-days ago. Up 5lb for that success but the 7-year-old will like today’s ground and can be expected to go well again.

Sandown

3:55 – Top Brass – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner on his final juvenile start at Chelmsford last October. The colt shaped like the run was needed when only 5^th of 7 on his handicap debut at Newmarket last month. Sent off the 5/2 favourite that day but wasn’t given a hard race when his chance was gone. Looks on a workable mark and better expected today.

4:30 – Lawmans Blis – 15/2 @ Bet365 – Put in a career best effort on RPR’s when a 3 ¼ length 3^rd of 10 at Salisbury on his handicap debut 13-days ago. Doing his best work at the finish he shaped like the step up to 1m 6f will suit.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

No joy yesterday, just a couple of seconds. Today’s selections are from Haydock & Kempton.

Haydock

3:45 – Innse Gall – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power The selection a winner at Ripon last summer made a promising return to action when a 1½ lengths 5th of 6 at Newcastle 15-days ago. Unexposed at the distance and looks capable of further improvement this season.

Kempton

7:30 – Quick Breath – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Did best of those drawn low when 7^th of 14 at Ascot 32-days ago. Two from seven over C&D. The 6-year-old is back down to his last winning mark and looks capable of bold show back here.

8:00 – Summer Valley – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Returned from a 11-month layoff to post a much-improved effort when winning at Brighton 8 days ago.  Granted she got an easy lead that day and is 5lb higher here but she’s probably worth keeping with given her present form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Surefire’s win at Leicester enable the service to return to profitable ways on Monday. Today’s selections are from Salisbury & Ayr.

Salisbury

2:45 – Poet’s Eye – 6/1 – Gen – The selection showed she had ability to win a race on her three juvenile starts this year. Turf/handicap debut today but looks she’s been aimed at handicaps and the drop back to a mile should be in her favour today.

4:30 – King’s Castle – 9/2 – Gen – Has improved with each of his three starts since joining the Joseph Tuite yard. The 4-year-old improved on his Windsor seasonal reappearance when a 3 ½ length 5^th of 12 at Sandown 12-days ago. The return to 1m 4f looks a positive, on his Sandown run, as does a return to quicker ground.   

Ayr

7:15 – Midnite Belle – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The filly won her last two start of last season and returned to action with a win here over 7fin April. Wasn’t disgraced when a length 3^rd of 7 at Beverley (soft) last time over an extended mile.  The return to a sound surface should suit and another good run is expected.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Poor day at the office for the service. Fingers crossed we can regain the winning thread today with selections from Windsor, Leicester and Pontefract.

Leicester

2:00 – Surefire – 7/2 @ Bet365 – A winner at Newcastle last December. The 3-year-old improved again when a 1 ¼ 2^nd of 9 at Windsor on his seasonal reappearance 49-days ago.  Today’s stiffer track should suit on his handicap debut.

Windsor

6:30 – Spoof – 7/2 @ Bet365 –  The selection is 2-6, 4 places over C&D and seems to be steadily improving on his three starts this season. Last time out was a 1 ¾ length 2^nd of 8 over C&D last week and should give it a good go here.

Pontefract

7:15 – Young Tiger – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is 2lb above his last winning mark but shaped like he retains plenty of ability when a 1 ¾ length 4^th of 7 at Newmarket on his return to action 23-days ago.  A C&D winner on quick ground last season the 8-year-old needs a strong pace to chase but has a handy draw in stall 2.

Cheers

John