Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Epsom and Yarmouth.

Epsom

1:45 – Militia – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Completed a summer hat trick last season and starts this season of his last winning mark. A sharp 5f suits the 6-year-old who can go close provided the ground isn’t too lively.

Yarmouth

2:30 – The First King – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The 4-year-old looked a handicapper worth following when winning over today’s distance at Sandown (good to firm) last summer. Not seen out since that win and blinkers he wore at last time have been left off for his seasonal reappearance.   Just 3lb higher than for his last win and should be able to win another race this season.

5:15 – Ahlawi – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –The 3-year-oldbuilt on the promise of a Kempton runner-up effort when winning at Chelmsford in November. The drop back to 6f seemed to suit the colt last time. Seasonal return and first start on turf for the selection who looks open to improvement.

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

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A nice Newbury double on Sunday.

Plenty of racing at seven meeting across Britain & Ireland. Today’s selections are from Pontefract, Windsor & Market Rasen.

Pontefract

2:30 – Musahaba – 9/4 @ Bet365 – The lightly raced 4-year-old made a promising start for new trainer David O’Meara when third of 9 here over 6f 13-days ago. He should be better suited to a mile and is open to more improvement stepped up in distance for his handicap debut.

Windsor

2:40 – One Last Dance – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a much-improved performance to get off the mark on her nursery debut at Wolverhampton in November. Up 10lb demands more from the daughter of Camelot but she’s open to more improvement stepped up in trip on her seasonal return.

Market Rasen

5:30 – Bring The Bacon – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A seven-race maiden under rules. The 6-year-old put in a career best effort on RPR’s when finishing third of 6 at Plumpton on his chase debut 15-days ago. Was just making his effort when a bad mistake four out ended any chance he had. Modest over hurdles but looks capable of a bit better over fences.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The well backed Lancaster House got us among the winners yesterday.  Today’s selections are from Newbury.

Newbury

1:35 – Al Aasy – 11/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Improved to win twice last year. Ran to bad to be true when last of six at Goodwood. Hopefully it wasn’t the good to firm ground that was his undoing last time. Looks the sort to do better as a 4-year-old. Odds are shorter than I like but I expect him to win here.

2:10 – Alcohol Free – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was the best of these as a 2-year-old winning the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes on her final juvenile start. Not sure she will stay the mile of the 1,000 Guineas but 7f looks well within her stamina range.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from the Curragh & Nottingham.

Curragh

2:35 – Lancaster House – 9/2 @ Coral – A lightly raced 5-year-old who won this Group 3 contest on his seasonal reappearance last season before going on to finish runner-up to Romanised in a Group 2 over C&D a month later. He also won on his racecourse debut so he clearly goes well fresh.

Nottingham

5:15 – Mawkeb – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection wasn’t given a hard time when 5^th of 14 on his sole juvenile start at Kempton last November. Looked like he would improve as a 3-year-old and should be fine over today’s 1m 2f on his seasonal return. Trainer Owen Burrows is 8-14 +39.17 with his 3-year-old runners at the track.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

We were mere head from a perfect three from three on Thursday. Instead, we had to settle for just two winners.

Today’s selections are from Newbury & Ayr.

Newbury

1:40 – Kings Lynn – 11/4 @ Bet365 & Coral – Has only had five career starts. Runner up at Doncaster on his return to action last August. He was then sent off 4/1 favourite for Ayr’s Silver Cup but lacked the experience for such a big field handicap. Bounced back with an improved neck second of 12 in 6f handicap at Doncaster in October. Starts the new season off just 2lb higher and looks capable of winning a valuable sprint handicap this season. Despite the drop back to 5f he will take the beating here and he’s gone well fresh in the past.

2:15 – Almighwar – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looks set to go off a strong favourite on his first attempt at 2m.  Twice a 1m 4f winner at Kempton last year. He made a good return to action when runner-up to the useful Al Zaraqaan, clear of the rest. Stamina to prove but shaped like a staying type last time and looks capable of more progress as a 4-year-old.

Ayr

1:30 – Beyond The Pale – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Fergus O’Brien has a tremendous record with his runners at Ayr – 7 winners from 12 runners 58% +22.65, including 5-5 over hurdles. The selection a winner at Fontwell back in the autumn returned from 4 months off the track with a good effort when runner-up at Wincanton 18-days ago. Should be spot on fitness wise for his handicap hurdle debut.

Cheers

John

Hi all

A case of seconditis yesterday.  Today’s selections are from Cheltenham, Ripon & Limerick.

Cheltenham

3:50 – Pink Legend – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Trainer Venetia Williams has a good record in this race – 2 winners from 4 runners +5.63 3 placed 75% and I am happy to take a chance with her runner here. The selection split a couple of her rivals Flower Of Scotland & Danse Idol at Kelso last time. Jumped to the right in the final stages at Kelso but the first time cheekpieces are applied today.

Ripon

3:25 – Mutanaaseq – 11/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Hasn’t won since landing his first starts as a 2-year-old. However, the 6-year-old shaped with plenty of encouragement that he can soon take advantage of handy mark when 2^nd of 13 at Redcar 10-days ago. Goes well on quick ground and has handy high draw.

Limerick

4:50 – Definiteadare – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection attracted support at big odds on his handicap hurdle debut at Clonmel 14-days ago and duly put in a much-improved performance when finishing second of the 14 runners. The front two pulled nicely clear of the third. Nudged up 4lb for that effort but remains on a competitive mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just A Deal got the service back among the winners when successful at Southwell yesterday. A 10p Rule 4 to the early advised price but a small profit banked which is all that matters.

Today’s selections are from Newmarket & Kempton

Newmarket

3:35 -Saffron Beach – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is 2-2 over C&D and showed a good battling attitude to win the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes last time out. She’s reported to have thrived physically from two to three and if that’s the case she should be good enough to win this on her return.

4:45 – Just Fine – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Sir Michael Stoute seems to have his string forward. He has saddled the winner of this race in 2015 & 2019 and he relies on the selection who won at Sandown on his second juvenile start last season. He’s been gelded since finishing third in a York nursery debut last October and has potential for more progress as a 3-year-old.

Kempton

6:45 – Silver Samurai – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner on turf, the selection returned from a 185-day break and a gelding operation to finish 3^rd of 10 over C&D two weeks ago. That was a clear best effort from the 4-year-old on RPR’s and he can go close off the same mark today.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Southwell.

Southwell

4:20 – Just A Deal – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –The selection is progressing with racing and put in a good effort when runner-up over C&D 22-days ago. Came up against a well-handicapped winner that day and shouldn’t be far away off the same mark.

4:55 – Desert De Bruyere – 9/1 @ Bet365 – First sign of form since returning from a 689-day lay off when 2^nd of 13 over C&D three weeks ago. Came up against an unexposed and well handicapped horse last time. Nudged up 3lb for that effort but remains on a competitive mark if building on last times promise.

5:25 – Drumochter – 6/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Bounced back to form when 2^nd off 11 here 22-days ago. The mare races of the same mark here and looks handicapped to win a handicap hurdle if reproducing her last performance.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I was due to be off today but instead I will be taking Monday off. Today’s sole selection is from Leopardstown.

Leopardstown

2:10 – A Case Of You – 11/4 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Won a Group 3 at the Curragh last October over an extended 6f for previous trainer John McConnell. Returned from a five-month layoff to win at Dundalk 23-days ago on his first start Adrian McGuinness. The return to 7f should suit the son of Hot Streak who can win this if as effective on quicker ground.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Fakir D’oudairies did the business for the service on Friday. Today’s two selections are from Aintree. I’m off tomorrow so see you on Monday.

Aintree

2:25 – Dreal Deal – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Completed a four timer over hurdles when coming from the rear to win the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle at Punchestown in January. Stays the trip and has won on good ground on the flat so the drier ground shouldn’t inconvenience either. He’s come through the ranks from a mark of 84 in handicap hurdle company and his improvement may not have ended yet.

6:20 – The Gossiper – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection landed a bit of gamble when winning a Wexford bumper on his debut under rules. The form of that race probably isn’t strong but he’s open to plenty of improvement for trainer Emmet Mullins who is 4-7 +10.75 6 placed with his runners sent to Britain this NH season.

Cheers

John