Hi all,
Dark Pine ran out an easy winner at Wolverhampton last evening. Just the one selection from Exeter today.
Exeter
Yaltari – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Third in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novice Chase at Ascot two seasons ago he’s dropped to a mark 12lb lower than for that performance. He’s improved with each start this season and last time out finished 4th off 11 at Ascot. A reproduction of his best would make the 10-year-old hard to beat in his first veterans’ chase.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Chelmsford was off yesterday and both Lingfield and Naas must survive morning inspections to see if they can race on Saturday. Hopefully one or preferably both can race or we will be left with just one meeting across the UK & Ireland at Wolverhampton. However, it’s the Wolverhampton card that provides today’s three selections.
Wolverhampton
7:15 – Venturous -100/30 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 8-year-old has been in the form of life of late winning four of his last five starts, including over C&D two starts back. At his best when coming off a strong pace. He should get that here with the likes of Lord Riddiford and Lomu in the field. Improving last time out Chelmsford winner Tone The Barone is 4-4 from the all-weather but is having his first start on the tapeta and that just edges in favour of the selection.
7:45 – Dark Pine – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection beat likely favourite Arij by a neck at Lingfield last time and although that one gets a 2lb pull here I fancy that Dark Pine can confirm form with his old rival even off 6lb higher mark.
8:15 – Flight Command – 7/1 @ Bet365 – The 4-year-old looked suited by the step up to 1m 4f when beaten a length into second over C&D here 13-days ago. Unexposed over the distance, if he can build on that performance he shouldn’t be far away here.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Better yesterday after we came off the cold list courtesy who just held on at Newcastle. Today’s two selections are from Chelmsford.
Chelmsford
5:15 – Out Of The East – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Richard Fahey has come out of a quiet spell with a few winners of late. Hopefully he can have another one here with the selection. The filly has shown enough ability on her three starts to think she can land a handicap and her mark of 65 looks workable.
6:15 – Sergeant Major – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-old had shown enough ability on his three starts in novice company to go off joint favourite for his handicap debut at Lingfield 13-days ago. He got forced out wide on the turn that day but stayed on to finish 4th of 12, beaten 3 ¼ lengths. Stays a mile and should go close here.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Newcastle must survive a 10am inspection to see if this evenings card can take place.
Newcastle
6:00 – El Hombre -7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has been knocking on the door on recent runs but it hasn’t open for the 7-year-old. Sadly, his consistency means he doesn’t get much respite from the handicapper. Two of his best four RPR’s have come over C&D with the last of those coming in June last year. Needs all the cards to fall right but when they do, he can win.
6:30 – Fendale – 9/2 @ Bet365 – You have to go back to January 2019 for the selections last win but he’s dropped down to a good mark. He was going well when hampered two out when finishing 4th of 13 over C&D 45-days ago. Can go close for yard 2-5 in the past 14-days.
7:00 – Gigi’s Beach –7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old’s sole success came over today’s trip at Kempton on his seasonal return last June. Put in his best performance for present yard when 2nd of 11 over C&D 19-days ago, beaten a short head. Nudged up 1lb for that effort but can still race off last years winning mark.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
We are in a dry spell winner wise. Hopefully we can get back into the profits today.
Newcastle
3:30 – Chosen World – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection beat a subsequent winner over C&D 20-days ago. That win was the 7-year-old’s fourth C&D win. Has been raised 4lb for last time but did win off 3lb higher two years ago.
4:30 – Secret Equity – 9/1 @ Bet365 – Showed up well for 5f when 9th of 11 here, over 6f last time. The 4-year-old was only beaten 3 lengths that day and shaped like would be worth a try over the minimum trip.
Wolverhampton
7:15 – Mellys Flyer – 4/1 – Gen – Was slowly away on his racecourse debut at Southwell last month but recovered nicely to finish third. He should improve with that run under his belt.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Sadly, Taunton is off today so I head to my least favourite track Southwell. I have selections from the opening two races on the fibresand.
Southwell
4:45 – Arabian King – 5/1 @Bet365 – Was far too keen here last month when returning from a short break. The 5-year-old rattled off a C&D hat trick around this time last year. He’s 5lb higher than for the last of those wins but would have chance if settling than he did last time.
5:15 – Liamba – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection benefited from a prominent ride when winning over C&D back in December. Not quite up to that level of form on her last two C&D starts but at least she’s back into Class 5 company today.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Yesterday turned out to be the poorest day for a while. Hopefully we can turn things around on Monday. Weather permitting that is. As I‘m writing this Carlisle has been abandoned so I’m down to two for today.
Fairyhouse
1:55 – Fox Le Bel – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Remains a maiden after 11 starts under rules but he’s clearly reasonably regarded as he hasn’t gone off no bigger than 4/1 on any of his three starts this season. We can forget his last run 50-days ago when he pulled up early, as something was amiss. He’s better judged on his 4th of 12 at Thurles two starts back and can win for a yard among the winners.
Wolverhampton
6:00 – Embers Glow – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection has run respectably in Classified races at Kempton on his last two starts. Twice a winner over C&D, he was runner-up (beaten favourite) in this race 12 months ago and with the yard in good form looks to set to go close here.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Today I have a selection from Leopardstown and two from Musselburgh, if its on.
Leopardstown
3:40 – Melon – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Showed he stayed 3m when 3rd here in the Savills Chase over Christmas. Today’s softer ground should enable the 9-year-old to reverse placings with Stablemate Kemboy. Arguably played to early last time so we can expect Paul Townend to produce him later today. Deserves to win a race like this.
Musselburgh
3:55 – Hills Of Connemara – 11/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selection caused a 40/1 shock when beating six rivals at Newcastle 50-days ago. Her success didn’t look a fluke and although the handicapper has raised the mare 6lb for her win it was only her second start over fences and she capable of that bit of improvement needed to defy her new mark.
4:25 – Bullion Boss – 11/2 @ William Hill & Sky Bet – Improved to win here over 3m (soft) two starts backand then progressed further when 2nd of 14 here when dropped back to 2m 4f, 16-days ago. the handicapper has nudged him up 3lb for his latest effort but today’s extra two furlongs can see the 5-year-old back into the winner’s enclosure.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
The Mouse Doctor was given a great ride by 7lb apprentice Siobhan Rutledge to give the service a good profit on Friday. Today’s selections are from Leopardstown, Sandown & Kempton.
Leopardstown
1:05 – Gaillard Du Mesnil – 9/4 @ William Hill – The 5-year-old made a promising debut for Willie Mullins when 2nd of 20 at Punchestown back in November. He built on that initial promise when winning a maiden hurdle here (2m 4f) 40-days ago. He’s open to plenty more improvement for the step up to 2m 6f and looks a solid favourite.
Sandown
1:50 – Messire Des Obeaux – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – Made it 2-2 over fences when winning a rescheduled Dipper Novices’ Chase at Wincanton last time. Has won on soft, although heavy is a bit of an unknown, he should be fine on the ground. He won’t be going to Cheltenham so this looks an ideal opportunity to land a Grade 1.
Kempton
5:20 – My Law – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The mare won over C&D in December, off 6lb lower and was only beaten ½ length over C&D 10-days ago. Solid claims again from a handy enough draw in stall five.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
Dundalk
4:00 – Drish Venture – 5/2 – Gen – Improved to win a nursery here in December (6f) and followed up dropped down to 5f in a non-handicap here 7-days ago. Takes on the older horses for the first time but is inform and on the upgrade.
4:30 – The Mouse Doctor – 9/1 – Gen – A winner over C&D last season off 2lb higher was only beaten a neck over C&D two starts back. Didn’t seem to stay over 2m here last time and should be better suited to a return to 1m 4f. Connections opt to take off a handy 7lb which could make all the difference.
Newcastle
6:15 – Athollblair Boy – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selections last win came over C&D, 12 months ago, off 9lb higher. Returned from a 129-day layoff to finish an encouraging 4th of 9 over C&D 13-days ago. Should be fitter for that run and should be able to win a race off his present mark.
Cheers
John