Author: John Burke

Hi all,

Another blank day on Sunday.  Before giving you today’s selections. Here are my betting plans for the next few days. Up until last year, the service tended to avoid Cheltenham when it came to selections. In 2020 that all changed and I went all in at the festival. It paid dividends and a nice profit was banked. No need to change a winning formula then and all my selections from Tuesday to Friday will be from Cheltenham.

Today’s two selections are from Plumpton & Wincanton.

Plumpton

2:47 – Blame The Game – 11/4 – Gen –  The selection bounced back from a below par run at Fakenham to win at Fontwell 15-days ago. Not for the first time he ran lazily but he found plenty for pressure to run out at comfortable winner at the line. The 6-year-old shapes like a stayer so a return to 3m+ should suit.

Wincanton

3:40 – White Moon – 5/1 @Bet365 & Paddy Power – Was badly hampered at the fourth at Kempton over hurdles last time and could never get into the race thereafter. The 9-year-old looked set to win at Wincanton on his seasonal return last season when falling at the last. His form since then has been poor but he’s now 14lb below last season’s opening mark and seems to be nicely treated for his return to chasing.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Running late this morning.

Just two seconds yesterday. Today’s selections are from Naas and Warwick.

Naas

3:35 – Big King – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A winner on his handicap debut at Navan back in November. The 7-year-old improved again to finish 2^nd of 20 in a valuable handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. Nudged up just 4lb for that latest effort and provided the ground isn’t too testing looks capable of finding more improvement for the step up to 2m 3f today.

Warwick

3:12 – That’s The Badger – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old seemed to show improved from when 3^rd of 12 on his handicap debut at Carlisle 26-days ago. Today’s slightly long trip should suit and trainer Henry Daly seems to have hit form 3-11 in the past 14-days.

4:15 – Flashjack – 20/1 @ Bet365 – The 11-year-old might have reached the veteran stage but he’s twice won around here in the past, goes well on testing ground and returns to Class 3 company for the first time since winning at Haydock in December 2019, off 3lb higher. A thorough stayer his form figures racing beyond 3m 1f are 111531. A bit of a speculative pick, as his form of late has been poor but the yard is in much better form now.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Bard Of Brittany got us the win and profit with a decisive success under his penalty at Sandown on Friday.

Today’s three selections are from Sandown, Hereford and Wolverhampton and they race within 15 mins of each other.

Sandown

4:10 – Versatility – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbroke – Won on his third attempt over fences at Ludlow in November (good) and showed he was going the right way when runner-up at Newbury 87-days ago. Has had wind surgery since Newbury and a return to better ground will suit the 7-year-old.

Hereford

4:02 – Hollywoodien – 9/2 @ Bet365 – Shaped with promise on his seasonal return when 3^rd of 8 to Ibleo at Sandown. Better could have been expected on his first run after a wind-op when fifth behind Umbrigado at Wetherby 24-days ago. Won this easily 12 months ago, off 3lb lower, and looks to have a solid chance of back-to-back wins in the race.

Wolverhampton

4:25 – Bert Kibbler – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Put in a clear career best on RPR’s when winning over C&D on his return from a 146-day break and gelding operation. Up 6lb and a notch in class today but there should be more improvement to come from the 3-year-old from a yard in winning form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I must confess Newcastle’s tapeta track isn’t one of my favourites so to land two out of three yesterday was fantastic.

Made In Italy drifted out to 12/1 which was very generous and the filly got a good ride from Hollie Doyle in what turned out to be a tactical race.

The second winner Saisons D’Or didn’t lead this time but he was always in a good position and went from home a furlong out and that move won him the race. Granted there was small Rule 4 (10p) deduction to his price but at 11/2 I can handle that.

In truth I would have been happy with just Saisons D’Or winning so to see Made In Italy get home as well was the icing on the cake.

Today’s selections are from Lingfield, Dundalk and Sandown.

Lingfield

2:05 – Lethal Lunch – 7/2 @ Bet365 – Overcame trouble in running to win over a mile here two starts back before showing he’s just as effective over 7f when 5^th of 10 here 20 days ago. Once again, he met trouble when making his effort a furlong out and the race was over when he got in the clear. Just 1lb higher than for last win. He’s the sort to need luck in running but if he gets it, he remains on a winnable mark.

Dundalk

4:55- Ecclesiastical – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Made it 1-3 at Dundalk, yet to finish outside the first two, when successful over C&D 35-days ago.  Up 5lb for that win but looked to win with a bit in hand at the finish. The 4-year-old returned from a short break in good form and can win again with Colin Keane retaining the ride.

Sandown

4:15 – Bard Of Brittany – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Appreciated a return to good ground and a decent gallop when running out a a decisive winner at Doncaster 7-days ago. Steps up a notch in class here but is 3lb well in today and if the going is no worse than good to soft has a good chance of following up.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

This week isn’t turning out to be as good as the previous couple and I need to regain the winning thread quickly.

Today’s selections are from Newcastle.

Newcastle

5:30 – Licit – 9/2 @ Bet365 – A winner on soft ground at Haydock 1m 4f last year. She looked in need of a stiffer test of stamina when 2^nd of 9 at Kempton (1m 3f) before disappointing at Lingfield. Returns from a couple of down the field efforts over hurdles. If she takes to the tapeta, better can be expected from the filly here.

7:00 – Made In Italy – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The top-weight won a novice at Lingfield last January and also finished 3^rd of 11 in Group 2 in Italy last summer. Lightly raced, the 4-year-old returns to a mile for the first time since her Lingfield success and if fully tuned up after a 114-day break can surprise here.

8:30 – Saisons D’Or – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Took advantage of a falling handicap mark when making all over C&D 23-days ago. Nudged up 3lb for that success and probably unlikely to be gifted a solo out in front today but he remains on a winnable mark based on past form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Yesterday, was disappointing as all three selections ran below expectations. Today’s picks are from Lingfield and Kempton.

Lingfield

3:20 – School Of Thought – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Trainer George Boughey could win with the stable cat at present being 7-17 with his runners in the past 14-days. The selection makes his debut for the trainer here today and is having his first start for 251-days and a gelding operation. Lightly raced just the five career starts but he shaped with promise on a couple of occasions for his previous yard.

Kempton

4:45- Silent Witness – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The lightly raced 5-year-old won over C&D on her handicap debut on her previous start 44-days ago and has since switched yards to Alice Haynes. Up 4lb for her last success, she’s only had four career starts so could be capable of better.

5:45 – Side Shot – 9/4 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A steady improver on RPR’s on his four starts last season. The 3-year-old’s sole win came in a novice at Wolverhampton back in September. First run for 130 days and after a gelding operation but can be expected to improve a bit further this year.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A good second and a respectable third from yesterday’s two selections.

Today selections are from Exeter, Newcastle & Clonmel.

Exeter

3:10 – Bogoss Du Perret – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A multiple winner in points. The selection made it 2-7 over fences when winning at Stratford 143-days ago. Fitness taken on trust but the drying ground will suit and the 10-year-old remains feasibly handicapped off 6lb higher than last time.

Newcastle

2:50 – Broadway Joe – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – The selection got off the mark at the seventh attempt over hurdles when winning at Musselburgh 46-days ago. Up 6lb for that success but he remains on a competitive mark and today’s more galloping track could suit him better.

Clonmel

5:00 – Chelseas Friend – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A point winner in November. The mare put in a career best effort on RPR’s when a staying on 2^nd of 15 at Punchestown 8-days ago. Nudged up 1lb for that run. Today’s 3m should suit and there’s a staying handicap hurdle to be won with the 6-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The winning run came to an end on Sunday as Who’s In the Box came up against an unexposed chaser in Silva Eclipse and had to settle for the runners-up spot at Sedgefield.

Today’s selections are from Wetherby and Southwell.

Wetherby

4:20 – Haafapiece – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Brings consistent handicap hurdle form to the race. A couple of solid efforts over C&D in the autumn and he was challenging coming to the last when taking a heavy fall at Cheltenham 87-days ago. The 8-year-old is ideally suited to good to soft going and can go well, if none the worse for his Cheltenham mishap.

Southwell

3:40 – Brave Jaq – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A chance is taken with the front running selection who returned from 569-days break to be beaten just a short head at Stratford over hurdles in October. Not so good over hurdles at Hereford on his next start but was a respectable 2^nd of 9 here back over fences 85-days ago. First run since wind surgery and won’t be inconvenienced by the drying ground.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Richard Johnson had to be seen at his strongest to get Small Present home at Doncaster yesterday.  I thought it might be blank day but we gained small profit and that’s what the service is all about.

Just the one selection today from Sedgefield.

Sedgefield

2:20 – Who’s In The Box – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has improved for going over fences this season, winning the Lincolnshire National two starts back. Did just as well on RPR’s when finishing runner-up to Didero Vallis at Catterick 19-days ago. Up another 2lb for that effort but capable of another big run here if he didn’t have to hard a race last time. The drying ground (won a point on good) should suit him better than heavy did at Catterick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the one winner courtesy of Major Power (4/1 BOG) who dominated from the front for a tidy win at Dundalk on Friday evening. As I mentioned yesterday, it’s all about chiseling out a profit and we did that again on Friday with one winner. A second winner is the cream on top of the cake.

Saturday’s are always tougher as I normally have six or seven possible selections and today is no different. However, we have managed to find a winner on the last two and hopefully one can be found today.

Doncaster

4:05 – Small Present – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – Was suited by the step up to 3m when getting off the mark at the 7^th attempt over hurdle at Catterick last month. Handicapper has raised the selection 6lb for that success which looks fair and Richard Johnson takes the ride on the 7-year-old today.

Newbury

12:40 – Not A Role Model – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bids for a hat trick, after wins over fences at Wincanton and hurdles at Fakenham 61-days ago. Up 5lb demands more from the 9-year-old but at least he’s got recent winning form, goes well on good ground and Kevin Brogan takes off a handy 5lb.

Lingfield

11:45 – Al Suil Eile – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Got up in the final half furlong to win at Kempton 10-days ago. Unexposed on the polytrack if the 5-year-old get’s a solid gallop to chase he could be up to defying a 4lb penalty rise in the weights.

Cheers

John