Author: John Burke

Hi all

Monday’s selection could only finish third. Today’s selections are both from this evening’s card at Killarney.

Killarney

7:15 – Pinpointed – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has returned to action in good form, finishing runner-up at Leopardstown before going one better at Tipperary last time. She’s got 5lb more to carry and drops back a furlong in distance but looks set to go close.

7:45 – Hook Up – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Lightly raced for a 4-year-old put in a career best performance when winning a 1m 5 handicap at Navan 16-days ago. Up 4lb for that success but Luke McAteer takes off a handy 5lb. Shapes like he will stay further and in his present form can follow up.

Cheers

Kohn

Hi all,

I have ended up with just the one selection today.

Lingfield

5:15 – Thorn – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection’s confidence should have been boosted after he dead heated for first over C&D 14-days. That was his first win since autumn 2018 and he seemed to be suited by the step up to 1m 4f. Up just 2lb for last time and has decent claims of following up.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A nice little double on what had looked a tough Saturday.

Leopardstown

4:15 – Federica Sophia – 9/2 @ Ladbrokes – Doesn’t’ have the easiest tasks on her handicap debut off top-weight of 10-1. However, the 4-year-old has only had the two career starts and there was plenty to like about the filly’s win in a C&D maiden last summer. Not impossible that this well-bred daughter of Galileo could be a Group filly in the making.

Plumpton

2:38 – Tommie Beau – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old appeared to show improved form for the step to an extended 2m 3f at Bangor 22-days ago. Step up to 3m looks worth a try on the way he finished his race off last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Back among the winners on Friday but today looks much tougher. Not helped by the likelihood of plenty of rain changing the going at various courses around the country. Today’s selections are from Ascot & Haydock.

Haydock

4:55 – Francky Du Berlais – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Gained a well-deserved success over fences when winning on soft ground at Exeter two starts back. Very disappointing at Perth last time but that run came off a 3-month break so he may have needed the run.  Trainer Peter Bowen is 3-9 +9 with his runners at Haydock in the past 5-years.

Ascot

1:55 – Lights On – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a career best when winning at Nottingham last time. Open to further improvement this season. Soft ground would be an unknown for the 4-year-old but her pedigree offers encouragement that she will be effective on it.

4:15 – Aced It – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has improved for the step up to 1m 4f since switching to his present trainer winning at Kempton and back on turf at Doncaster last time. Up 6lb but given his present form he’s got to be respected.  Had form on soft ground when trained in Ireland.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A disappointing Thursday. Today’s selections are from Chester and Market Rasen.

Chester

1:45 – Revich – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Has a great record at the course with form figures 15311. The 5-year-old has also run well on both starts this season finishing 6th in the Lincoln and 4th in the Spring Cup. Well suited to good to soft going and has great chance here from stall 1.

Market Rasen

2:00 – Forgot To Ask – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The selection returned from a four month absence to beat two rivals at Plumpton (good) 46-days ago. Up just 1lb for a game success and should remain competitive. All three career wins have come on good ground and he won here over hurdles.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Ariel was returned a generous 5/1 before winning at Kempton on Wednesday evening to give us a tidy profit on the day. Today’s selections are from Chester & Chelmsford.

Chester

3:15 – Sonnyboyliston – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Both Japan and Trueshan could need the run and will have other bigger targets on the horizon. It maybe worth taking a chance here with the race fit Sonnyboyliston. The 4-year-old improved on his first four starts in 2020 winning three handicaps. He shaped like he could be capable of making his mark in this Grade when an encouraging 3^rd of 12 to Broome at Naas on his seasonal return. Not a certain stayer but looks worth a go over this sort of trip as his dam won over 2m on the flat.

Chelmsford

6:20 – Global Art – 10/1 @ Coral & Labrokes – A winner over C&D last year the selection returned from 109-day absence to finishing an encouraging 3 length 4^th of 8 at Wolverhampton last month. Likely needs a good gallop to be seen to best effect but the return to C&D a positive and Mark Crehan takes off a useful 5lb.

6:50 – Pearl Beach – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Made it 2-3 here at Chelmsford when completing a hat trick of all-weather wins last November. The filly starts this season off 7lb higher but she’s unexposed over around 1m 6f and looks capable of more progress as a 4-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A big welcome to those who joined the service in the past few days. It was nice to give you a winner albeit Virginia Plane had to settle for a dead heat after tiring in the final 50yds. Today’s selections are from Kempton and Gowran Park.

Kempton

6:10 – Ariel – 11/4 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 3-year-old has progressed with each of his four career starts and last time put up a career bet on RPR’s when 3^rd of 6 at Newcastle last time.  Stall 9 could be better but he’s been gelded since his last run and looks the sort to improve a bit further for going handicapping.

Gowran Park

5:30 – Flor De La Luna – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – One of two runners for Jessica Harrington both with live chances.  The selection won a back-end Curragh maiden last year on just her second career start. Made a pleasing return to action when 2^nd of 10 in Listed company at Cork 32-days ago. She did hang a bit left in the final stages that day but I think that was down to inexperience. The step up to 1m 6f should suit her as should today’s softer ground.

7:30 – Kew Palace – 7/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Built on the promise of her C&D stable debut when 2^nd of 15 at Tipperary 15-days ago. Has been nudged up 1lb for that effort but remains on a competitive mark and the well-bred daughter of Kingman will surely gain a first win before too long.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Lingfield.

Lingfield

12:30 – Flying West – 5/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Ran like she would be better for the run when returning from six months break at Kempton 20-days ago. James Fanshawe yard has gone 31 runners and 67 days since its last winner which is a concern though. Apart from that the filly progressed nicely last season and lightly raced enough to think she may be capable of better as a 4-year-old

3:05 – Virginia Plane – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ended last season when making all to win a 5f nursery at Catterick last October. Returned with a career best effort when 2^nd of 5 at Ripon 10-days ago. Like at Catterick she was quickly away at last time and the filly has the ideal draw in stall one for front running.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from the Curragh, Warwick and Windsor.

Warwick

3:15 – Shiroccan Roll – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner over hurdles the 7-year-old made a promising chase debut when 3^rd of 7 at Exeter 26-days ago. That was the 7-year-olds first start for five months so he’s entitled to be sharper here. Seems at his best on good/good to soft ground.

Windsor

3:06 – King Carney – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner as a juvenile, including a Pontefract Listed race. He seemed to suffer from an inflated handicap mark due to that soft ground success. Sole good run last year came on his handicap debut when a ¾ length 3^rd of 8 at Newbury in August. Handicapper has dropped him 3lb and this is an easier race than he’s been running in. The softer ground the better.

Curragh

3:45 – Malaysian – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Built on the promise of her racecourse debut behind Shale at Gowran Park when making all to win a Cork maiden last September. Drop back to 7f shouldn’t inconvenience her. Open to more improvement on her handicap debut/seasonal return.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newmarket, Salisbury & Hamilton.

Newmarket

5:20 – Tawleed – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was sent off the 6/4 favourite for his handicap debut at Kempton but ran below market expectations in 4^th. Just had the four career starts and is open to more improvement in the first-time blinkers.

Salisbury

2:05 – Ispahan – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Just the four starts last season and must be respected on his short head 2^nd of 8 behind the useful Zeeband at Thirsk last September. Not ideally placed at York on his final start last season. The 4-year-old was gelded at the end of the season and is capable of better this season.

Hamilton

2:40 – Ben Lilly – 3/1 @ Bet365 – A big improver winning four times in September/October last year. Has returned from a winter break in good form a winning his last two at Wolverhampton and at Doncaster 9-days ago. Up 5lb but he doesn’t his races by much so it’s not easy for the handicapper to get him in his grip.

Cheers

John