Author: John Burke

Hi all,

The Shunter’s jumping didn’t hold up when it mattered yesterday. On to day two of the Aintree and two selections from the Grand National Festival.

Aintree

3:25 – Fakir D’oudairies – 3/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Finished runner-up to Allaho in the Ryanair Chase.  He was not match for the impressive winner that day but faces nothing of that calibre here. Is the one to beat if this doesn’t come to quick after Cheltenham.

4:40 – Cape Gentlemen – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Made it 2-3 over hurdles when winning the Grade 3 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton (good). Last season’s Irish Cesarewitch winner is rated 100 on the level and the best of the 5-year-old has yet to be seen over hurdles. The drying ground will suit and he could prove good enough.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I thought Nugget was a little unlucky in the run at Nottingham yesterday. As with Cheltenham, I have decided to concentrate the next three days selections at Aintree’s Grand National Festival.

Aintree

1:45 – The Shunter – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has been a real money spinner for connections this season and fully deserves to take his chance in Graded company after his win at the Cheltenham Festival. His new mark of 153 means he doesn’t need to find much more improvement to win this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Bickerstaffe got up in the shadow of the post to win at Pontefract yesterday. Today selections are from Nottingham.

Nottingham

4:10 – Laafy – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old is previous C&D winner and has won first time up for the last two seasons. He was an improver in good handicap company last season. If the ground isn’t too quick, he could be the one to take advantage should fitness be an issue in with the likely favourite Sir Ron Priestley.

4:40 – Nugget – 4/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Won two of his four starts last season, including his seasonal reappearance. He’s 5lb higher than for his last win but he’s relatively lightly raced and could be capable of a bit better as a 4-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Pontefract & Chelmsford.

Pontefract

2:30 – Bickerstaffe – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection looked a useful prospect when winning on his racecourse debut last season at Hamilton (soft). Ran below expectations and looked in need of 6f when beaten favourite in a Listed race at Ayr on his only other juvenile start. He faces quicker ground but he remains open to more progress now going handicapping.

Chelmsford

6:00 – Margub – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a C&D winner in the past the 6-year-old returns from 21 months off the track but he’s 2-2 first time up. Given his record fresh, I think he can make a winning return to action from stall 4.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Skyace did the business at Fairyhouse yesterday. Today’s sole selection is from Kempton.

Kempton

4:35 – Starczewski – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – Despite hold-up tactics in slowly run races, the 5-year-old has managed to win his last two, over C&D and last time at Wolverhampton (1m 6f). He’s only been raised 2lb for his Wolverhampton success and looks sure to go close here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Fairyhouse.

Fairyhouse

2:20 – Breakeven – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of two points and bumper and it all clicked for the 6-year-old when he won a 2m maiden hurdle here 36-days ago. The step up to 2m 4f should suit as should better ground. Paul Townend booked for the ride and he can give us a good run for our money.

3:20 – Skyace – 9/2 @ Coral & Paddy Power – Maintained her recent improvement when an excellent 4^th of 15 in the mares’ novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Had several of today’s rivals behind her that day and can confirm that form here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s two selections are from Haydock & Musselburgh.

Haydock

1:30 – Barton Knoll – 6/1 @ Bet365 – A previous C&D winner. The better the ground the better his chance, all four career wins have come on good ground – 4 wins from 16 starts +24.50 8 placed (0-7 1 place on all other going). The 9-year-old returned from a winter break to finish an encouraging 5^th behind Umbrigdo at Newbury last month. The top-weight should be sharper for that run and can close.

Musselburgh

2:25 – Forest Falcon – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection made all to win at York on his final start as 2-year-old and the son of Raven’s Pass has the size and scope to make a better 3-year-old. His prominent style of racing is suited to the track and he has a handy draw in stall 2. A mark of 83 looks workable and I will be surprised if he can’t rate higher as the season progresses.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A Jeremy Scott trained double saw the service regain the winning thread on Thursday. Today’s selections are from Newcastle.

Newcastle

2:15 – Dulas – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner here over 6f as juvenile. The 4-year-old wasn’t successful on his four starts last year but put in a couple of decent performances that suggest he’s on a competitive mark. Finished lame when last seen in action at Kempton in November and has subsequently been gelded. The top-weight has a good chance if fully tuned up after a 149-day break.

4:00 – Brown Delivers – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection shaped with promise on both starts last season. Sent off the 11/10 favourite on his return at Kempton 16-days ago. He lost any chance he had when carried very wide in the bend in. In the circumstances he did well to finish as close as he did in third.  Handicap debut here and looks capable of better than he’s shown so far.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Chelmsford. Ffos Las and Uttoxeter.

Chelmsford

6:20 – Magicinthemaking – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is a three-time course winner, including C&D. Now 4lb below her last winning mark (Oct 2019). She didn’t get the clearest of passages a furlong out when a close-up 6^th of 12 at Lingfield 20-days ago.  

Ffos Las

5:10 – Lady Kk – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was a solid 3rd of 10 at Sandown last time out. The mare gets the first-time tongue tie today and given she’s only had two starts in handicap company could be open to a bit more improvement.

Uttoxeter

2:40 – Stormy Flight – 11/4 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Has been running well in handicap hurdles this season without winning. Runner up to the useful Bear Ghylls at Exeter in January and looked to be travelling as well as any coming two out at Sandown 20-days ago but had to settle for third. Good chance with Harry Skelton, going in search of the jump jockey’s championship, booked for the ride.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Carlisle & Doncaster.

Carlisle

3:30 – Miss Amelia – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The mare has been steadily progressive this year winning over C&D and latterly at Catterick 26-days ago. Up 9lb for her last win and this looks a more competitive race but looks to have a good chance of the hat trick.

4:05 – Darius Des Sources – 9/1 @ Bet365 – A winner at Ayr on his second start over fences. The 8-year-old bounced back from a poor run two starts back when finishing a runner-up back at the Scottish track 27-days ago. Can race off the same mark and yard is 2-7 in the past 14-days.

Doncaster

5:25 – Chiave Di Volta – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Returned from 890-day break with an encouraging 4^th of 10 at Wolverhampton in December. Interesting that connections have kept the faith with the 6-year-old who looks on a good mark. Yesterday’s Lincoln winning jockey, 7lb apprentice, Benoit De La Sayette takes the ride.

Cheers

John