Author: John Burke

Hi all,

A blank day on Friday but Sense Of Worth ran well to finish second at Dundalk. Today’s selections are from Doncaster and Newbury.

Doncaster

2:00 – Juan Elcano – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A chance is taken with the selection who is having his first run since a gelding operation. The 4-year-old won on his juvenile racecourse debut in 2019 and finished fifth in last year’s 2000 Guineas on his seasonal reappearance. First run at mile since last years 2000 Guineas but the drop back in trip could be what he needs.

3:45 – Brando – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The best horse on official ratings and looked as good as ever when beaten just a nose in the Group 1 sprint on Champions Day. Not as good over C&D on his final start but lost any chance he had a with a slow start that day. Maybe needs a bit of ease in the ground these days and has developed a habit of missing the start in his races which he can’t afford here.

Newbury

2:50 – Mount Windsor – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Has been well placed to win his last four handicap hurdles. Up 13lb and in a much deeper race here but given his level of improvement and good form can’t be ruled out with Fergus Gillard taking off a handy 5lb.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A tidy success for the well backed Takeit Easy at Ludlow yesterday kept the winning run going. Today’s selections are from Newbury & Dundalk.

Newbury

3:15 – Santon – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a career best when 3^rd of 13 over an extended 2m 4f on a sound surface here three weeks ago. Step up to 3m could suit the 6-year-old who is lightly raced and open to more improvement.

Dundalk

7:00 – Sense Of Worth – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Lightly raced for his age the selection put in a career best effort on his handicap debut over C&D 14-days ago.  Nudged up 3lb for that effort but he’s capable of more progress and is the pick here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Nice to return with a winner with Ey Up Rocky winning at Haydock yesterday. However, there was a 20p Rule 4 at the early priced advised price of 7/2.

Today’s selections are from Ludlow and Sedgefield.

Ludlow

2:45 – Takeit Easy – 5/2 – Gen – A winner on his seasonal reappearance at Huntingdon (good) in October, wasn’t disgraced when 6th of 17 in a better race at Cheltenham the following month. The 6-year-old returned from a 113-day break and showed he remains on a competitive mark when third at Newbury 19-days ago.

Sedgefield

4:25 – Fair Mountain – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Has been out of form since finishing an excellent 2nd of 10 at Market Rasen (good) back in July. First run for 119-days but the 9-year-old’s best form has come on good ground. A reproduction of his Market Rasen run, off 13lb higher, would make him hard to beat if fully tuned up.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Back from a two-day break and hoping to return to winning ways. Today’s selections are from Haydock and Market Rasen.

Haydock

1:30 – Captain Blackpearl – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Kempton on his chase debut in November, returned to that venue with a respectable 3^rd of 9 last month. He was about to go into second when making a bad blunder two out. He couldn’t recover for that mistake and the circumstances did well to finish as close as he did.

2:02 – Ey Up Rocky – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection returned from a mammoth 726-day break with a promising 3^rd of 8 at Ludlow (soft) 28-days ago. Both career wins have come on good/good to soft so quicker underfoot conditions shouldn’t inconvenience the 8-year-old who is on a competitive mark.

Market Rasen

4:05 – Fantastikas – 5/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportbook – Got off the mark at the fourth attempt over hurdles when winning a Fontwell novice hurdle (good to soft) 24-days ago. Looks a stayer and the return to 2m 7f for his handicap hurdle looks a positive move for the 6-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

No joy yesterday although Deluxe Rouge went close at Newcastle. It’s the start of the Irish flat season at the Curragh today.  I have couple of selections from the Curragh and one from Chepstow.

I’m off on Monday & Tuesday, back on Wednesday, so hopefully I sign off with winner.

Curragh

3:10 – Erzindjan – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won a Cork maiden on his second start last season and not disgraced when 4^th of 7 in a Group 3 at Leopardstown in October. Looks capable of better as 3-year-old and although he may prove better over a mile in due course, he’s on a workable mark for his handicap debut.

4:40 – Dundory – 7/1 @ Bet365 – The selection won a 1m 2f handicap (heavy) here on his final turf start last season, off 6lb lower. Lightly raced for his age, the 5-year-old looks one to be interested in on testing ground early this season. Drop back to a mile here isn’t necessarily a positive but on soft/heavy ground he might get away with it and Colin Keane has been booked for the ride.

Chepstow

3:40 – Stratagem – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Got off the mark at the third attempt over fences when winning a 3-runner Doncaster beginners’ chase two starts back. Lost any chance when almost coming down at the first on his handicap chase debut at Sandown 8-days ago. Probably best to put a line through that run and the 5-year-old is interesting on a quick return to action on ground that should suit.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Back down to earth yesterday.  Today’s selections are from Kempton and Newcastle.

Kempton

2:05 – Doukarov – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection made it 2-4 over fences when making all to win at Leicester 18-days ago. It was heavy that day but he won at Taunton on good ground so quicker ground won’t inconvenience the 6-year-old. He’s up 10lb for his Leicester win but looks progressive.

4:25 – What A Moment – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has only had seven starts since winning at Cheltenham in November 2017. The 11-year-old almost took advantage of declining handicap mark and a sound surface when only beaten a short head at Plumpton 19-days ago. If building on that performance can go close here.

Newcastle

3:10 – Deluxe Rouge – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old has been steadily progressive in novice company since going hurdling this season. A winner of 2n 6 ½ f Kelso maiden two starts back. He wasn’t disgraced when 3^rd of 5 here three weeks ago and would have finished closer but for a bad mistake at the last. Return to 2m 6f will suit for his handicap debut and he should give us a good run for our money.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The decision to look for selections at the Cheltenham Festival rather than elsewhere has paid off for a second year running.  Three winners from five selections and so whatever happens on Friday we’ll have made a profit from the meeting.  I have three selections today one at the festival and two from this evening’s card at Dundalk.

Cheltenham

2:30 – Torygraph – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – The 6-year-old comes into the race an improving staying novice hurdler after wins in maiden/novice company at Fairyhouse and Thurles 51-days ago. Has yet to race on ground better than soft/heavy over hurdles but if he handles today’s quicker ground looks set for a good run in the first time cheekpieces.  

Dundalk

7:30 – Tipperary Moon – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A six race maiden but looked much improved for racing on the all-weather on three starts in the autumn. Finished 4^th of 14 over C&D, 142-days ago and has been dropped 2lb by the handicapper since. Colin Keane booked today and the selection looks set for a big run here.

8:00 – Jungle Cove – 11/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection got off the mark at the 18^th attempt when winning a maiden over C&D 14-days ago. Always close to the pace, the drop back to a mile suited the consistent 4-year-old who won going away and remains on a competitive mark for his return to handicap company.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

An easy win by Bob Olinger yesterday in the Ballymore. Not much of a price but a win is a win and small profit banked. Finding strong betting propositions at the festival today hasn’t been easy.

Cheltenham

4:15 – Telmesomethinggirl – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Won three of her four hurdles starts in mares’ only races last summer. She returned from a 140-day break to finish an excellent 3rd of 20 (behind yesterday’s Coral Cup winner Heaven Help Us), in a mares’ only handicap at Leopardstown last month. Drying a ground, a positive, two wins on good and set for a good run for a yard among the winners this week.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The first two Cheltenham selections raced like drains but Galvin saved the day by winning the National Hunt Chase to give us a small profit on the day. It was great ride by Jack Kennedy who got the horse nicely switched off on the inner.

Today’s selection is from Cheltenham.

Cheltenham

1:20 – Bob Olinger. 13/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old won a 2m 4f Grade 1 at Naas on his last start. I think Bob Olinger the best novice hurdler either side of the Irish Sea and although this looks his ideal festival race, I think he would have had the speed and class to be competitive in the Supreme.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The Cheltenham Festival is finally here. Today’s selections are all from the festival.

Cheltenham

1:20 – Metier – 6/1 @ Coral – Needs genuinely soft ground which he should get here. If you take away the form of the Harry Fry yard, which still isn’t great then, he’s got a good chance of turning over favourite Appreciate It.

3:05 – Epatante – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Faces nine rivals in her bid for back-to-back Champion Hurdle success. After her impressive win in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle on here seasonal return it’s hard to imagine the mare is now as big as 7/2 for this. Her defeat when long odds in the Christmas Hurdle explains her price but there was a valid excuse for her run that day and she should make a bold bid to regain her crown.

4:50 – Galvin – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has been the ante post favourite for this since winning at Cheltenham last October. Runner-up to Imperial Aura here last season. He’s since been placed to win his last four starts. Soft ground a slight worry but the further he goes the better he looks and his dam won over 3m 4f.

Cheers

John