Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Tawaareq was first past the post at Doncaster yesterday but not surprisingly lost the race in the steward’s room but if you were on with a BOG bookie no damage done.  Today’s selections are from Goodwood & Perth.

Goodwood

1:45 – Longlai – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Looked much improved by the gelding operation when winning at Beverley (good to firm) on his seasonal reappearance. The 3-year-old maintained that improvement of today’s mark when a 3 lengths 2nd of 6 to Crossford in handicap at Newmarket last time. Nicely drawn in stall 3 for a prominent racer and looks set to go well again.

3:30 – Lydford – 100/30 @ Sky Bet – The selection returned from a short break to finish a 3¾ lengths fourth of 19 to Flyin’ Solo at York (1m 4f). He looked in need of a greater test of stamina last time and the step up to 2m could unlock further improvement in the half brother to high class stayer Big Orange.

Perth

2:35 – Rock On Rocco – 11/4 @ Coral & Bet365 –  Comes into this handicap chase seeking the hat trick under jockey Tom Scudamore.  A winner at Ludlow two starts back before following up with a comfortable success at Worcester 16-days ago. He goes well on a sound surface and the 7-year-old looks to benefited from wind surgery. Has a 7lb rise to defy here but should go close for the inform Tom George yard.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Irish Admiral didn’t seem to handle the track and Mogul didn’t like the ground. However, Oscula a 15/2 (BOG) won the first at Epsom so a tidy profit had already been banked before that pair disappointed.  I’m going away from Epsom for today selections which are from Doncaster and Musselburgh.

Doncaster

3:40 – Tawaareq – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was a shade below par when 4^th of 9 in the Esher Cup at Sandown on his seasonal return. A winner here last season on good ground. He gets the first-time hood and looks on a winnable mark if the headgear has the desired effect.

Musselburgh

2:50 – Titan Rock – 5/1 @ Bet365 – A winner on good to firm at Goodwood last season. The 3-year-old wasn’t disgraced when 4^th of 11 back at the Sussex venue on his return from a 254-day break two weeks ago. Needs to settle better than he did last time but if he does, I can see him going close here.

3:25 – Baileys Derbyday – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – Dhushan will be tough to beat on his handicap debut and may well prove the best of these as the season progresses.However,Mark Johnson saddles three of the six runners in this 1m 4f handicap. The selection has finished runner-up on his last three starts. He can get the run of the race out in front and deserves to get in head in front.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I’m concentrating on Epsom today.

Epsom

2:00 – Oscula – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The filly built on the promise of her racecourse debut debut when making all to win at Brighton 11-days ago. She’s got a good draw in stall for a prominent run and given she handled Brighton she shouldn’t have any problems with the track. Trainer George Boughey has been doing well with his 2-year-old’s this season with 13 winners from 30 runners 43% +11.33 17 placed 57%.

2:35 – Irish Admiral – 11/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A short-priced favourite for this but a worthy one after shaping well when a 2 ½ length third of 12 to Surrey Pride on his handicap debut at York last time. Only up 1lb for that effort and will be suited by the drop back in trip. Capable of a lot better and will win this if he handles the track.

3:10 – Mogul – 11/2 @ Bet365 – I’m taking on hot favourite Al Aasy with the selection. The colt impressed when winning the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris at Longchamp last September.  Looked to badly need of the run in Meydan in March and shaped like he still needed it last time when third in the Group 1 Prix Ganey. The return to 1m 4f is a positive for the colt and he should be there or thereabouts at the finish.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Renaissance Rose saved the day when winning at Kempton yesterday evening. Today’s selections are from Hamilton & Chelmsford.

Hamilton

2:45 – Danzan – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection hasn’t won since February 2018 but he comes into the race in good form having finished runner-up at Doncaster and occupying the same position behind Mr Lupton at York last time. Ella McCain takes off a handy 5lb and shouldn’t be far away on ground that suits.

Chelmsford

6:30 – La Tihaty – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Just 2lb separates four of the seven runners in this 1m handicap. Two of them are trained by Roger Varian and I like the look of what seems to be his second string on jockey bookings. The colt made it 2-3 when winning here over 7f in January. Bred to be better over a mile and if he’s ready to roll after 132-day break can go close on his handicap debut.

Cheers

John

Hi all

Running late this morning but today’s selections are for the evening meetings at Ripon & Kempton.

Ripon

7:30 – Treacherous – 13/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Commanche Falls will be a tough nut to crack back on a sounder surface. However, I’m going with the selection who could be well suited to the track and shaped much better when 5^th of 18 at Ascot last time.

Kempton

7:50 – Renaissance Rose – 100/30 @ Paddy Power & William Hill – A winner over C&D last August. The filly didn’t totally look at home on the track when only 6^th of 16 on her nursery debut the following month.  The first-time hood is applied and she remains open to further progress on her seasonal return.

8:50 – Muftakker – 9/1 @ Bet365 – Likely to be the outsider of the five runners but if the 7-year-old handles the polytrack, effective on the tapeta, he remains on a competitive looking mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Karibana’s win at Chelmsford at a generous BOG 15/2 was the highlight of Monday.  There were going to be two selections on Tuesday both from Leicester but one is now a non-runner.

Leicester

3:10 – Red October – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – A winner over C&D last July in the first time cheekpieces. He also won at Chelmsford off today’s mark in August. Didn’t seem to take to the first-time visor on final last start of 2020. The first-time blinkers are given a go here and he’s won off a lay off in the past.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s a Bank Holiday so there’s plenty of racing today.

Cartmel

3:00 – Dr Robin – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hasn’t exactly looked like a winner waiting to happen on either start since returning from a 559-day absence. However, hopes are pinned on a return to Cartmel bringing the best out of the 11-year-old. His form figures here are 235111 and five of his career wins have come on good ground. Yard won a big handicap chase at Uttoxeter yesterday so there’s a good chance we can see a good run from the selection today

Windsor

1:35 – Louie De Palma – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection was a 2-length 4^th of 18 in last seasons Silver Wokingham at Royal Ascot. A previous C&D winner. He’s now 8lb lower than at the start of last season. The 9-year-old has gone well fresh in the past and has been given a good chance by the handicapper.

Chelmsford

4:15 – Karibana – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Doesn’t’ have the best draws in stall 12 but he shaped better than his final position of 17^th of 27 suggests in the Victoria Cup at Ascot last time. That was the 4-year-old’s first run for 8 months and he should have come on for it. Can win races off his present mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Uttoxeter

5:07 – Alrightjack – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Returned from a 4 month lay off with an encouraging 2^nd of 7 at Fontwell 25-days ago. Can race off the same mark here and should be competitive again if building on last time.

Kelso

3:42 – Lulu Baloo – 7/2 – Gen – The selection seemed to improve for racing on a sound surface when making a winning handicap hurdle debut at Newcastle 29-days ago. Has a 9lb rise in the weights to overcome but looks capable of defying it.

Navan

5:15 – Muntahez – 6/1 – Gen – Is just 1-14 on the flat but he put in his best effort so far when for present connections when a 1 ¼ length 3^rd of 17 at Cork 11-days ago. Is on decent mark if building on his last time effort.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Back in the hot seat today. It was nice to sign off with a winner on Monday. Today’s three selections are from Haydock.

Haydock

2:20 – Moss Gill – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Wasn’t seen at his best in a Group 1 at Meydan over the winter. Last year’s best from brings him right into the mix and the first time cheekpieces are applied today. Best form so far has come at York but if the headgear has the desired effect, he will be in the mix.

2:55 – La Lune – 9/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Faces different ground to when making a winning seasonal return at Nottingham last month. Lightly raced for a 5-year-old, just eight career starts, she remains capable of better returned to 1m 4f and this doesn’t look the strongest of Group 3’s.

3:30 – Safe Voyage – 4/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 8-year-old won this race in 2019 and his Haydock form figures are an impressive 11112. At his best on soft/heavy he was well beaten on his seasonal return in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and although he has to give away a 5lb penalty to most of his rivals won’t be far away back at his favourite track.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A poor couple of day for the service. However, we have had such a good run that it was inevitable there would be a fallow period.

I’m going to be away for a few days so there won’t be any selections on Tuesday & Wednesday but will be back on Thursday.

Three fairly short priced selections today. Let’s hope I can go out with a winner.

Windsor

6:45 – Silent Flame – 5/2 @ Bet365 – The selection made a winning handicap & turf debut at Salisbury (soft) 11-days ago. Up 6lb but the filly is open to more improvement. As she showed last time a stiffer 6f may suit better but given the forecast heavy ground she should get a good test of stamina.

8:15 – Bad Company – 9/4 @ Bet365 – Notched up a four timer, including C&D, at the end of last season with all four wins coming on soft or heavy ground. The 4-year-old returned from a six month absence to finish a respectable 1 length 2^nd of 12 over C&D two weeks ago. Given the likely testing ground he’s got a good chance of going one better today.

Wolverhampton

4:00 – Shuv H’Penny King – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-oldis a maiden after six runs but showed he was on a competitive mark when ¾ length 3^rd of 10 at Lingfield two starts back. Below par back on turf last time at Newmarket. Drops back in Class 5 company and if he takes the tapeta can win for the first time.

Cheers

John