Author: John Burke

Hi all,

The winning run had to come to an end sometime and it did yesterday. A couple of seconds and if Ffion had have held on at Haydock, then it would have been another profitable day for the service. Today just two selections from Nottingham & the Curragh.

Nottingham

2:55 – One For The Ladies – 7/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Returned from a 268-day break to finish a 6 ½ length 3^rd of 11 over C&D 15-days ago. Similar going today and there’s every chance that she can step forward from that run here. Drops back into 0-55 company today and can go close if stall 12 isn’t an inconvenience.

Curragh

2:05 – Erzindjan – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Looks steadily progressive, a winner at Gowran Park on his second start back on soft ground. He improved further when 1¼ lengths 2^nd of 8 in a Group 3 at Leopardstown last time. First start at 1m 2f but the new trip looks worth a try.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Despite a 30p Rule 4 Jill Rose gave us a handy profit on Friday.  Another tricky day for punters due to weather. That said there are seven that I really like today so it’s rare four selection day.  If just one goes in we we’ll break even at worst. The key to it being a profitable day is getting the second winner.

York

4:55 – Yorkshire Lady – 100/30 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Put in a career best effort on RPR’s when winning at Ripon (good to soft) 15-days ago. Up 7lb for that success but she goes well on rain softened ground and looks to be capable of more improvement.

Haydock

1:55 – Ffion – 5/1 @ Bet365 – A winner of her first two starts at Wolverhampton last year. The 4-year-old made a pleasing turf/handicap debut when a 4¾ lengths 2nd of 8 to subsequent easy York winner Boardman, over C&D 15-days ago. Handled the heavy ground well enough that day and was clear of the third. Can race off the same mark here and given this is just her 4^th start could be capable of better.

Curragh

4:25 – Holly Golightly – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Improved on her first start on turf when winning a soft ground Gowran Park maiden 18-days ago. The filly overcame some greenness to prevail last time and is capable of much better. A mark of 87 for her handicap debut looks a winnable one.

5:30 – Ones Are Wild – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Looked a useful prospect when winning a heavy ground maiden at Gowran Park on his final juvenile start last season. Looks the sort to do well as 3-year-old and looks on a handy mark for his handicap debut here. First run for 213-days but if ready to roll first time looks the one to be with.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I’m going to be approaching the next few days with a bit of caution. The weather still isn’t playing ball and more rain and showers are forecast for today and Saturday. Today’s selections are from Catterick & Goodwood.

Catterick

6:50 – Jill Rose – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – All three of her wins have come between August & October but she has plenty in her favour today.  The mare is 2-2 over C&D and all three wins have come on soft ground. Took a marked step up from her reappearance effort, when 4^th of 18 at Thirsk last time. Still 4lb above her last winning mark but can go close.

Goodwood

2:50 – Year Of The Dragon – 9/2 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power – Showed much improved form on his turf debut last time when a head 2^nd of 10 at Ascot (good to soft). Has a 5lb rise in the weights to contend with here but is going the right way and given there was ease in the ground at Ascot there’s a decent chance he can cope with today’s underfoot conditions.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Silvestre De Sousa gave Call My Bluff a great ride to win at Nottingham yesterday.  Today’s selections are from Ayr and Kempton.

Ayr

2:45 – Tamaska – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Looked much improved when beating 14 rivals at Thirsk (good to firm) last time. Up 6lb but the 3-year-old is at the right end of the handicap and can should go well. Interestingly trainer David O’Meara opts for the first time cheekpieces today and if the headgear has the desired effect, he can follow up here.

Kempton

8:05 – Caspian Queen – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Shaped with plenty of promise on her first start for six month/first run for new trainer Sean Woods when 3^rd of 9 at Lingfield last month. That was just her second start at 7f so she remains open to further progress at the distance. James Doyle takes over from a 5lb claimer today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Abel Kane got the service among the winners on Monday to chisel out a small profit on the day. Today’s selections are both from Nottingham.

Nottingham

3:30 – Call My Bluff – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Improved for the step up to 2m last year in the process notching up a testing ground hat trick between August & October before ending last season with a career best when 2^nd of 7 at Pontefract to Main Fact. Dreadful seasonal reappearance on the fibresand 20-days ago, hopefully down to the surface. Silvestre De Sousa 2-2 on the 4-year-old is back in the saddle today.

4:30 – The Thin Blue Line – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Another for De Sousa here. The 3-year-old won a nursery at Newcastle on final juvenile start. Shaped with promise when 4^th of 14 at Thirsk 10-days ago, doing best of those drawn near the stands side. Capable of going close if building on Thirsk run.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Leicester & Windsor.

Leicester

7:05 – Abel Kane – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has finished runner-up on both his starts this season and seemed to relish the return to a stiff 6f over C&D last time. A former C&D winner I can see the 4-year-old going one better today.

8:05 – Grey Fox – 11/4 – Gen – The selection improved for the fitting of the first time cheekpieces when winning at Windsor two weeks ago. He’s up 9lb for that success but he’s progressive and can win again.

Windsor

8:20 – Gin Palace – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A decent handicapper last season winning on his first two starts at Newbury & Newmarket last season. Not in great form on either start this season but shaped better last time. A previous C&D winner he’s back down to his last winning mark and the yard is in better form now.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Sorry for the confusion regarding the time of the race of yesterday’s winner.

Not the easiest of days to find solid betting opportunities.  Just two selections today from Newbury and Doncaster.

Newbury

4:45 – King Ottokar – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Wasn’t suited by the quick surface when down the field in the Lincoln Handicap on his seasonal return. The softer the ground the better and he’s on a winnable mark when all the cards fall right.

Doncaster

7:05 – Midrarr – 9/2 – Gen – Stays further than 1m 2f but the top-weight showed she goes well with ease in the ground when winning at Chester (good to soft) last August. Only had the five career starts and could be capable of better as a 4-year-old. Seasonal return over a trip that might be a bit short of her best but a mark of 83 looks interesting.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Winter Power stormed away from her rivals to win at York yesterday and was returned at generous 5/1 (BOG).  Today’ selections are from York, Newmarket and Newbury.

York

4:15 – Hey Mr – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –  Put in a much-improved performance when beating four rivals in a Nottingham nursery last October. The ground was soft that day but he showed a good turn of foot to win so shouldn’t be inconvenienced by a sounder surface.

Newmarket

4:50 – A Star Above – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ran well for a long way on his first start for 231-days when 3^rd of 4 at Doncaster 20-days ago. On a competitive mark if returning to last season’s best form.  

Newbury

4:25 – Oceanline – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Seemed to improve for the step to 1m 2f when 3^rd of 5 at Doncaster last month. The selection should be suited by a strongly run race over today’s extra furlong and is open to more progress.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Not a good day at the office yesterday. Today’s selections are from York & Perth.

York

3:10 – Gear Up – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I’m going to take on favourite High Definition with Gear Up. The colt won a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud on his final juvenile start and can improve as a 3-year-old.

3:40 – Winter Power – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Must give a 5lb penalty to her seven rivals here for winning the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket on her final juvenile start. A fast filly, the track should suit she and she can improve further as a 3-year-old.

Perth

2:30 – Flint Hill – 9/2 – Gen – Put in a career best effort over hurdles when winning over C&D three weeks ago. Hiked up 8lb for that victory but he’s unexposed in handicap company and at around 2m 4f. Won’t be far away if in the same form as last time.  

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from York and Bath.

York

2:40 – Molatham – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was a winner of the 7f Group 3 Jersey Stakes (soft) at Royal Ascot last year. The Roger Varian colt drops back to 6f for the first time since his juvenile debut.  Clearly very effective at 7f but if the drop back to 6f doesn’t inconvenience him he could make up into a smart sprinter as a 4-year-old.

3:40 – Rifleman – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Looked booked for a solid second when jinking left and unseating Ryan Moore inside the final furlong in the Esher Cup at Sandown last month.  Could be quirky but he looks worth another chance to build on his good win at Kempton last November.  The first-time blinkers are applied and if the headgear has the desired effect, he won’t be far away.

Bath

7:50 – Mount Olympus – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has shown he’s got ability on his three starts in novice company this year. Looks the type to improve for going handicapping and an opening mark of 65 looks workable. Should be suited by the step up to around 1m 4f and the yard is among the winners.

Cheers

John