Sunday Selections – March 7th 2021

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

Saturday Selections – March 6th 2021

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 7th 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

Friday Selections – March 5th 2021

Hi all,

A nice double on Thursday with wins by Didonato & High Commissioner. I was amazed by the drift by the former, returned at 6/1!  That’s the second day we have seen one drift out markedly and yet win.  Thank the Lord for BOG.

It’s going to be hard to keep the winning run going but I will continue to aim to win one in three races to at least cover stakes or make a small consistent profit. I’m not aiming for doubles or trebles although its nice when they occasionally come in.

Today’s selections are from Doncaster & Dundalk.

Doncaster

3:25 – Zalvados – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Put in a career best effort on RPR’s when winning over C&D 35-days ago. That was his first success over fences at the 10th attempt. The selection has been raised 7lb for that success but he remains on a workable mark and shouldn’t be far away again.

5:05 – Passing Shadow – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The 7-year-old maybe 0-8 under rules but ended last year with a couple of good efforts on good & good to soft ground. He was beaten just a short head over today’s distance at Huntingdon, off 3lb lower, before finding an extended 2m to sharp at Taunton 85-days ago. Fitness taken on trust but the going will suit and he’s capable of winning off his present mark.

Dundalk

8:00 – Major Power –7/2 – Gen – The selection has returned from a 315-day break with two excellent efforts, was just touched off over a mile here three weeks ago. The drop back to 7f won’t be an inconvenience, as his form figures over C&D are 1361112 and he won this race 12 months ago. He’s been nudged up 1lb for his last effort but looks set for another good run.

Cheers

John

Thursday Selections – March 4th 2021

Hi all,

Paddy’s Poem was a big drifter on the day, but jumped better than his rivals to win, hopefully you were on BOG.

Hollie Doyle rode five successive winners at Kempton on Wednesday evening and you just knew she wasn’t going to make it six although coming to the final furlong I thought she still might hold on to win with Chinese Whisperer in the last.

Today’s selections are from Ludlow and Chelmsford.

Ludlow

1:30 – Didonato – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Better ground will suit the selection who is having her first start since winning a mares’ only novice hurdle at Doncaster 96-days ago. Handicap hurdle off what looks a workable mark of 120 and should stay 3m.

2:40 – Royal Pretender – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Plenty of promise on his first two starts of the season in maiden hurdle company before a disappointing 3rd of 16 (11/10 Fav) at Doncaster in January. The 5-year-old won a “Jumpers’ Bumper” at Kempton three weeks and looks on a decent mark for his handicap debut.

Chelmsford

7:20 – High Commissioner – 13/2 @ Coral –  Got off the mark at the 13th attempt when showing a good battling attitude to prevail at Newcastle 121-days ago. Has only been raised 4lb for that success and remains on a workable mark if reproducing his tapeta form here. Has run well off a layoff in the past and capable of going close here.

Cheers

John

Wednesday Selections – March 3rd 2021

Hi all,

Today selections are from Wincanton & Kempton.

Wincanton

2:05 – Paddy’s Poem – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection has returned from over a year off the track with two good runs at Sandown and maintained his record of never being out of the first three on his eight starts over fences. Both Sandown runs came on soft/heavy ground and prior his two chase wins had come on good. The drying ground is in his favour and shapes like he’s worth a try over 2m 4f.

3:10 – Grand Lord – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Put in a career best effort on RPR’s when 2nd of 6 at Market Rasen last month. The 5-year-old shaped last time like he would be suited by today’s longer trip and has to be respected on his handicap debut. Yard had a winner at Kempton on Saturday which is another positive.

Kempton

8:20 – Chinese Whisperer – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has put in respectable efforts on his last two starts at Chelmsford and when 5th of 9 over C&D 25-days ago. The first-time visor is added today which doesn’t look a negative, as the selection didn’t sustain his effort here last time.  A decent overall gallop would suit and he’s got a chance in a moderate handicap.

Cheers

John

Monday Selections – March 1st 2021

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Plumpton & Ayr.

Plumpton

2:40 – Fairway Freddy – 15/2 @ Bet365 – The selection a winner over fences at Kempton back in October, off 2lb lower, hasn’t really built on that success but he’s back on good ground today and if on a going day is on a winnable mark for a yard 2-5 +3 in the past 14-days.

Ayr

1:55 – Darius Des Sources – 9/1 @ Bet365 – Had looked a potential improver over fences when winning over C&D (heavy) back in November. Nowhere near that form when pulling up back here 42-days ago. If you forgive the 8-year-old that poor run he remains on a competitive mark.

4:40 – Skyhill – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was well placed last season to land a four timer. The last of those wins came over C&D on soft ground, off 2lb lower. Best effort this season came when finishing 3rd of 11 over hurdles 10-days ago. The 8-year-old is getting back to a mark he can win off again and can go well here.

Cheers

John

Sunday Selections – February 28th 2021

Hi all.

Much better yesterday with all three selections going well. Hooligan came from last in the straight to win at Newcastle. However, just one race later Informateur got mugged on the line. The ‘ups and downs’ of the game were exemplified in those two races.  Mattie’s Mountain also ran well to finish third at Fairyhouse.

Today’s selections are from this afternoon’s Hereford card.

Hereford

2:20 – Hidden Commander – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 6-year-old won an Irish Point last March. He put in his best performance on his third start over hurdles at Catterick 100-days ago. He’s had a wind-op since and makes his handicap debut what looks a workable mark.

3:20 – Templier – 10/1 @Bet365 – Won here over 2m last season and was still in contention and challenging Ibleo when falling at the last at Wincanton last January. Well below his best on his first starts this season but shaped a lot better when a strong finishing 3rd of 8 in a “Jumpers bumper” at Lingfield 27-days ago. That was his first run in cheekpieces and they are retained back for his return to fences. Handicapped to go close on the best of last seasons form, if he stays 2m 3f.

4:50 – Banana Joe – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Shaped with promise on his first start for Henry Daly when 3rd of 14 at Taunton 36-days ago. He steps up to 2m 5 ½ f here but on the evidence of his Taunton run it should. Can race off the same mark today and despite concerns over the yard’s form he looks the one to be with.

Cheers

John

Saturday Selections – February 27th 2021

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newcastle and Fairyhouse.

Newcastle

3:50 – Hooligan – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Made it 2-2 over hurdles when winning at Wetherby on his seasonal return in November. Didn’t fully convince when stepped up 2m 2f at Exeter (heavy) 72-days ago. The return to 2m looks a positive and the lightly raced 6-year-old has the scope for a bit more improvement.

4:25 – Informateur – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Ran well for a long way when tried over 3m 1f at Catterick last time but just didn’t stay on heavy ground. The drop back to 2m 4f looks a good move and the 8-year-old was beaten just a neck off today’s mark at Carlisle (2m 5f) two starts back. Looks set for a big run here.

Fairyhouse

4:00 – Mattie’s Mountain – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – Seeks the four timer after two wins here (2m) and latterly when stepped up 2m 3f at Limerick 60-days ago. Up 9lb for his last win but he doesn’t win his races by much and it’s hard for the handicapper to get him in his grip. Showed a good attitude to prevail at Limerick and can go well again.

Cheers

John

Friday Selections – February 26th 2021

Hi all,

Just two seconds yesterday. Today’s selections are from Exeter and Dundalk.

Exeter

1:30 – Hold That Thought – 13/8 @ Bet365 – The 6-year-old has shaped well on all of three starts over fences and put in a career best on RPR’s when 2nd of 7 at Chepstow 48-days ago. A 3lb rise in the weights for that effort is fine and he’s capable of more improvement. He’s the one to beat in what looks a tight handicap.

2:00 – Elmdale – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Has improved on all three starts over hurdles since joining his present yard.  The 7-year-old shaped last time like he needed a stamina test when 4th of 13 (2m 3 ½ f) at Exeter last month and a step up to 2m 7 ½ f for his handicap debut looks a positive.

Dundalk

7:00 – Ahundrednotout – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Left a low-key stable debut run well behind when winning here over 6f, 9-days ago. Step up to 7f shouldn’t pose to much of a problem as the selection is a previous C&D winner. Raised 5lb for his last success but has won off higher marks in the past and can follow up.

Cheers

John

Thursday Selections – February 25th 2021

Hi all,

Eddiemaurice kept the winning run going with a win at Ludlow yesterday but the well backed Aces N Kings could only finish third.  Will it continue today? Today’s selections are from Chepstow, Huntingdon and Sedgefield.

Chepstow

4:00 – Jurys Out – 4/1 @ Bet365 – The selection remains a maiden after five starts over fences but the 8-year-old has shown promise and bounced back from a poor run at Ffos Las two starts back (5/4 fav) when 2nd of 13 at Wincanton 47-days ago. Nudged up a further 2lb for that effort but there is a moderate handicap chase in the 8-year-old.

Huntingdon

2:35 – Rob The Getaway – 9/2 – Gen – Looks to be getting better with racing over fences. The selection posted a career best on RPR’s when 2nd of 11 on his handicap chase over C&D 65-days ago. Up 5lb for that effort but if he jumps as solidly as he did last time, he’s a got a good chance of going one better here.

Sedgefield

2:42 – Spirit of Hale – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The 10-year-old looked laboured when well beaten by one of today’s rivals Sigurd at Catterick last month. That was his fourth poor run this season but it’s worth remembering that he easily won this race 12 months ago, off 1lb lower and trainer Jennie Candlish has been among the winners this week. If he’s in a going mood can go close.

Cheers

John