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Hi all,

It was nice to sign off with a double on Monday courtesy of Bell Heather & Benefit Run. Let’s hope we can follow up with another winner or maybe two today.

Today’s selections are from Sandown, Beverley, and Cork.

Sandown

2:15 – Shoot To Kill – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Broke his maiden tag at the eight attempt when winning at Bath back in June. Slowly away at Doncaster 7-days ago he would have gone close to winning there but didn’t get a run when making his effort inside the final furlong. Normally a front runner, his slow start meant he had to come from behind at Doncaster which gives him more tactical options. Takes a slight in ease in grade here and shouldn’t be far away.

Beverley

3:35 – Regal Mirage – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won a C&D handicap, despite pulling hard in the first-time blinkers, here 35-days ago. Nudged up 4lb but he did win here 12 months ago off today’s mark. That was almost a career best by the 6-year-old who goes well at the track (3-6) and good or quicker ground. A stronger pace would suit but he should be competitive.

Cork

4:55 – Universal Focus – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Looked to be heading towards another win when third at Down Royal & second at Leopardstown in July. Not so good at Roscommon 29-days ago but the top-weight takes a slight ease in grade here and is a previous C&D winner. Trainer among the winners and he’s got a chance of adding another one here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Cry Havoc saved the day with her win at Chelmsford. Today’s selections are from Wolverhampton & Sligo.

Wolverhampton

5:50 – Bell Heather – 11/2 @ Bet365 – The selection seems to reserve her winning g performances for Wolverhampton these days (5-20). The 7-year-old has disappointed on her last two starts on turf but did shape like her win wasn’t far away when 2^nd of 10 at Hamilton three starts back. Returned to a C&D that suits and with useful apprentice booked looks set for a big run if on a going day.

7:50 – Lady Eleanor – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Defied big odds to win a Yarmouth maiden on her seasonal return. The 3-year-old hasn’t reached that level of form on her last two starts in handicap company. However, she made up plenty of headway from the rear when 4^th of 14 at Kempton 27-days ago.  First run on the tapeta for the filly but her half brother Harry’s Bar has won here so there is a good chance she should take to the surface.

Sligo

2:10 – Benefit Run – 10/3 @ Bet365 – A winner of a maiden hurdle here last July. The selection returned from a 233-day layoff to finish 2^nd of 12 here in a handicap hurdle. A respectable third back over fences at Galway 7-days ago. Today’s better ground should suit the 8-year-old who should be in the mix once again at a track that clearly suits.

I’m off tomorrow so hopefully I can sign off with s winner. Back on Wednesday.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from the Curragh and Chelmsford.

Curragh

4:40 – Micro Manage – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The 4-year-old won both his starts last season and returned to action with an encouraging 3rd of 7 in the St Leger Trial over C&D last time. Needs to have improved further to win this but could well do so and will be a lot sharper today.

Chelmsford

2:55 – Desert Doctor – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Wins more than his fair share on the all-weather – 7 wins from 17 runs 41% +12.3 12 placed 71%, including 2 -3 over C&D. Returns from a 190-day layoff and is big player if fit enough.

3:25 – Cry Havoc – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won a novice auction race here over 6f two starts back. And showed she has started off in handicap company off a competitive mark when runner-up over C&D. Up 6lb for that effort but is a filly going the right way and can win again.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It was a frustrating Friday with two close-up second places. Those two go in and the betting bank looks completely different.

If today’s (and tomorrow’s) action doesn’t get your racing pulse going then I don’t know what will. I have four selections from Doncaster & Leopardstown.

Doncaster

3:00 – Molatham – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Beat Wichita over C&D at this meeting last year. Returned action with a decisive win in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. Before seemingly finding Group 1 company to hot when only fifth to Pinatubo in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville 62-days ago.  Goes well off a lay off so his absence since Deauville shouldn’t be a negative. Remains a colt with potential.

3:35 – Santiago – 100/30 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power – Didn’t win the strongest of Irish Derby’s. No issues with stamina for the colt as he won the 1m 6f Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. A bit keen when a shade disappointing third behind Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup last time but this track will suit him better than Goodwood and has solid claims.

Leopardstown

3:40 – Van Gogh – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Built on the promise of his racecourse debut when a neck 2nd of 10 in a Group 3 here over 7f. Ran way below that form when only 6^th at the Curragh 21-days ago but the ground was soft that day and a better run can be expected on a sounder surface. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won eight of the last ten running’s of this 1m Group 2 contest.

4:45 – Lancaster House – 11/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – Is lightly raced enough to think there is more to come from the 4-year-old. A winner of his first three starts last season before finishing a beaten favourite (13/8) in this race last year. Regained the winning habit when winning a 7f Group 3 at the Curragh on his seasonal return. Before putting up a career best when runner-up to Romanised in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes back at the same venue. Big chance of landing a win, especially on a sound surface.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Indigo Girl put up a good display to win the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster yesterday. Today’s two selections are from Doncaster and Kilbeggan.

Doncaster

3:45 – Laneqash – 6/1 @Bet365 – Won the same Ascot maiden that stablemate Molatham did last year. A good moving colt who will always be at his best on good or quicker ground. Showed a good change of gears to win at Ascot and looks capable of going well stepped into pattern company.

Kilbeggan

5:50 – Mick Charlie – 7/1 @ Paddy Power – A winner here over 2m 4f two starts back and improved again when 2^nd of 15 at Killarney 20-days ago. Nudged up a further 3lb and stepping up to 3m 1f on softish ground asks another question of the 8-year-old but he’s in form and shouldn’t be far away again if his stamina holds out.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Last months winning run seems a lifetime away. Today’s selections are from Doncaster & Haydock.  

Doncaster

1:40 – Nazuna – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked good when winning here over 7f last month. The drop back to 6 ½ f shouldn’t inconvenience as she travelled powerfully through the race. Open to plenty more progress and is the one to beat.

2:20 – Indigo Girl – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Won on her racecourse debut at Yarmouth 11-days ago. A half-sister to 1m 4f, Group 1 winner Journey she’s bred to better as a 3-year-old. It was soft ground at Yarmouth but today’s better ground should be fine. She lacks a bit of experience but is an exciting prospect going forward.

Haydock

2:30 – Tacitly – 9/4 @ Bet365 – Looks an improving filly. Runner-up here on her seasonal reappearance she improved to win over C&D 30-days ago. Up 4lb for that success but look capable of more progress with racing for an inform yard.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s the start of the four-day St Leger Festival and I have two selections from Doncaster and one from Kempton.

Doncaster

2:10 – Dakota Gold – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bounced back to form when winning the Beverley Bullet. Before finishing runner-up to an improving 3-year-old at York on Sunday. Two of his career wins have come when running within seven days of his last start so the quick turnaround shouldn’t be a problem.

3:15 – Cloak Of Spirits – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Finished third in this year’s 1000 Guineas and has placed in Group 3 company on her last two starts at Epsom & Deauville. The drop back to 7f should suit and she can gain a well-deserved success if Jubiloso fails to give her running again.

Kempton

2:25 – Itkaann – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The selection showed a liking for C&D when winning on his final juvenile start. Sowed he had trained on from two to three when landing a Lingfield handicap, back on the grass, 31-days ago. Up 7lb for that success but he’s going the right way and can win more races.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A welcome winner yesterday. Just the two for today.

Catterick

2:50 – Alioski – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The first time cheekpieces seemed to have a galvanising effect on the selection when winning a heavy ground Ayr handicap last month. Nudged up 4lb for that success but seemed to win with a bit in hand that day and shouldn’t be far away.

Galway

5:05 – Ideal Pal – 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Gowran Park on his seasonal return, off 3lb higher, he’s dropped down to a winnable mark again and wasn’t disgraced when 6^th of 17 in C&D handicap better race at the Galway Festival. That was a stronger race and he’s 7lb higher lower here. Has a handy draw in stall 3 and can win this.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The service is going through a rough ride at present. But we have weathered the storm before and will do so again.

Today’s three selections are from Leicester, Perth & Galway.

Perth

4:15 – Bossiney Bay – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Looks to have dropped down to a competitive mark. The mare finished 2^nd of 13 over C&D 8-days ago. She seemed to handle good to soft well enough that day but drying ground would further enhance her claims. The booking of a useful conditional takes off a handy 5lb which could make all the difference.

Leicester

1:50 – Sorbonne – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Is still a maiden after seven starts but has improved his RPR’s on each of his four starts since racing’s return. No issues with soft ground when a close-up second at Redcar 9-days ago but won’t mind today’s good to soft surface. A reproduction of his last run should be good enough here.

Galway

5:40 – Lilly Gael – 10/1 – Gen – The selection’s best performance when came when 2^nd of 14 in a handicap at Wexford 12 months ago and the mare looked to be coming back to that level of form when 5^th of 14 at Cork 45-days ago. The first time cheekpieces are applied and if they have the desired effect the 6-year-old shouldn’t be far away.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from York.

York

1:30 – Thibaan – 100/30 – Gen – Looks a typical Sir Michael Stoute improving middle distance handicapper. A tidy winner at Doncaster last month he’s only up 4lb for that success and in a deeper race but he looks capable of more improvement on just his fifth career start.

3:05 – Mr Chua – 7/2 @ Bet365 – A winner at Chester two starts back seemed to improve further for the step up to 2m when making all to win at Lingfield 4-days ago. Unexposed of staying trips. The 4-year-old has a 5lb penalty to carry for his Lingfield success which shouldn’t stop him, if in the same form as last time.

3:40 – Royal Content – 5/1- Gen – A winner at Southwell over 6f, 12 months ago. Looks to have improved nicely from two to three. Runner-up on his seasonal return at Haydock in June. He went one better at the same venue on his last start. Both those wins came over 5f but he should be just as effective over 6f.  Nudged up 5lb for his last success. The lightly raced 3-year-old is going the right way and should go close if as effective on a quicker surface.

Cheers

John