Friday Selections – January 10th 2020

Morning all,

Yesterday was dreadful. Hoping for better today.

Huntingdon

1:35 – Arthur’s Reuben – 4/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The selections best runs have come here, including when winning this race 12 months ago, off today’s mark. Ran well when 4th of 13 over C&D last month. Looks set for a bold show in his bid for back to back wins in the race.

Sedgefield

2:35 – Benechenko – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Returned from 551-day break with an excellent when a close-up finishing 4th of 13 at Taunton in November. Didn’t really build on that promise when a well beaten 2nd of 7 at Hereford 27-days ago. Capable of winning this if reproducing his Taunton run today. Trainer Fergal O’Brien 3 winners from 7 runners 43% + 3.78 with his chasers at the course in the past 5-years.

Cheers

John

Thursday Selections – January 9th 2020

Hi all,

Thursday Stat Pointers

Catterick

1:00 – Massini’s Dream – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has yet to win under rules after 12 starts but she has posted two good placed efforts since returning from a 427-day absence. Looks capable of winning off her present mark if running up to form.

Chelmsford

6:00 – Homesick Boy – 3/1 @Bet365 – A winner over C&D back in October. The 4-year-old has remained in good form and was only beaten a neck into second here 7-days ago. Should go close given a decent pace to chase.

Newcastle

1:20 – Newmarket Warrior – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The 9-year-old is a three-time C&D winner and was only beaten a length into third here two starts back, off today’s mark. Not as good at Wolverhampton 40-days ago but can never be ruled out back here.

Cheers

John

Monday Selections – January 6th 2020

Hi all,

Wolverhampton

6:45 – Bee Able – 11/4 @ Bet365 & Betway – Seemed to improve for the step up into handicap company when running on into 4th at Kempton 38-days ago. The filly shaped like today’s step up in distance can bring out further progress. New surface today and she also gets to race in the first-time visor. If the new headgear works, she’s capable of winning a race like this.

Chepstow

4:00 – Jaisalmer – 11/2 @ Bet365 – The selection returned form a wind op and a 211-day absence to finish 3rd of 11 at Leicester 34-days ago. The 8-year-old’s two career wins have come on heavy so no problem with the going for him and he’s handicapped to win this on his best form although his losing run does go back to February 2018.

Cheers

John

Sunday Selections – January 5th 2020

Hi all,

Domaine De L’isle put in good display to win at Newcastle at 3/1 yesterday.  Sunday’s sole selection races at Naas.

3:20 – Rapid Response – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Betway – Ran with promise on her three starts in maiden company last year. The mare returned from a 350-day lay off at Leopardstown 8-days ago but was hampered at the 4th and unseated her rider on her handicap hurdle debut. There was enough promise from the 6-year-old last season to think she’s up to winning races like this.

Cheers

John

Saturday Selections – January 4th 2020

Hi all,

Lingfield

2:50 – Lady Bergamot – 11/2 @ William Hill – The mare did well to finish as close as she did in 5th in a listed race over 1m 5f here 65 days ago. Drops back 1f here but that shouldn’t be an issue and she will be more at home back in handicap company.

Kempton

6:40 – Astromachia – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection was runner-up to one of today’s rivals Rainbow Dreamer over C&D 24-days ago. He goes well here form figures 112 at the track and at the revised weights has a chance of reversing places with his old rival. Joe Fanning is 3 wins from 3 rides on the 5-year-old the returns in the saddle which is a positive.

Newcastle

1:30 – Domaine De L’isle – 11/4 @ Paddy Power – I fancied the selection for a handicap chase at Sandown so it’s interesting that trainer Sean Curran sends him up to Newcastle for this race. A winner over France when trained in France he didn’t seem to stay three miles on his stable debut, over hurdles, back in the spring. The 6-year-old built on the promise of his seasonal reappearance at Newbury with an impressive win at Chepstow 28-days ago. Up 10lb but he’s the scope to better over fences. Slight concern about the step back up to 3m on testing ground but if he stays, he should win, and connections have booked Brian Hughes for the ride.

Cheers

John

Friday Selections – January 3rd 2020

Hi all,

A poor day yesterday, need better on Friday, and once again the racing isn’t great from a quality perspective.

Wolverhampton

2:35 – First Response – 5/2 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – Has been running consistently well on both the polytrack & tapeta this autumn winning a classified race at Newcastle back in October. Seven days ago, he proved his effectiveness over C&D when finishing 2nd of 11, beaten a neck, 7-days ago. Racing off the same mark this afternoon he won’t be far away with a reproduction of last week’s effort.  

Musselburgh

2:25 – Court Baloo – 4/1 @ William Hill & Bet365 – Has been well placed to win on the trot in the autumn and arguably ran just as well in defeat when 3rd of 10 at Wetherby last month. Back right-handed today but has won over C&D in the past so the change in direction shouldn’t be an issue. Now 6lb higher than for his last win but the 9-year-old may have not stopped winning yet.

Dundalk

6:00 – Sheisdiesel – 11/4 @ Paady Power – The selection won four times here, including two over C&Dbetween February & March last year. Has run respectably on both her starts since returning from a 185-day break. Strong at the finish when third over 1m 2 ½ f, 14-days ago she races off the same mark this evening and shapes like another win isn’t too far away.

Cheers

John

Thursday Selections – January 2nd 2020

Hi all,

Thanks to a strong ride by Gavin Sheehan, we got 2020 off to a good start with a win at Cheltenham and a small profit on the day despite a 10p Rule 4.

Today’s racing hardly gets the pulse racing from a quality perspective but there are a few potential selections over the jumps at Ayr and even on the all-weather at Lingfield & Chelmsford. 

Lingfield

12:15 – Puerto Banus – 4/1 @ William Hill – Just the seven career starts, four for present trainer Ian Williams. The 4-year-old put in arguably a career best when 2nd of 12 over C&D 33-days ago. Adam Kirby is an interesting jockey booking and on the evidence of that run he’s capable of winning a handicap like this.

Ayr

1:00 – Teescomponentstrig – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The selection has steadily improved on each of his three starts over hurdles this season. Came up against a well handicapped horse at Haydock 29-days ago and although he’s been raised 4lb for his last effort he remains on a winnable mark. Effective on soft/ heavy ground and should be suited by the slight step up in trip.

3:10 – Walkin In The Rain – 11/2 @ Ladbrokes – A big race winner for trainer Jim Goldie yesterday and he’s got a good chance of another one here. The selection put in a career best when runner-up on his chase debut here 50-days ago. That improved effort came over 2m 4f and he can improve for the step up to 3m. Takes a slight drop-in class here and can win races over fences.

Cheers

John

Wedneday Selections – January 1st 2020

Hi all,

The start of a new year and after the last two days it will be nice to get a winner.

Cheltenham

2:35 – Skandiburg – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & William Hill – The selection made it 3 wins from 7 runs over hurdles when winning at Aintree back in November. Up 6lb for that success the 6-year-old seemed to relish the step up to 3m that day and was at his strongest at the finish. First run on a track like Cheltenham but he’s progressive and if he handles the course looks set to go close.

Catterick

2:45 – Reverant Crust – 5/2 @ Paddy Power – Bouncedback to form when winning here over 1m 7 ½ f, 15-days ago. The step back up to 2m 3f isn’t a problem as he won a beginners’ chase here in November 2018 over C&D. Up 6lb for his last success but should remain competitive of his new mark.

Musselburgh

3:25 – Diamond Rock – 4/1 @ Bet365 – It’s over 2 years since the selection was last in the winner’s enclosure, now 6lb higher, but the 9-year-old bounced back to form when 3rd of 9 here 56-days ago. That was his first run since a wind-op. Steps up to 3m today, yet to race beyond and extended 2m 4f, so has stamina to prove. If he stays the new trip he’s on a winning mark and is suited by going no worse than good to soft.

Cheers

John

Tuesday Selections – December 31st 2019

Hi all,

After a good profitable run it had to happen a total wipe out yesterday. Here’s hoping for better for the final two selections of 2019.

Warwick

1:30 – Very Live – 4/1 – Gen – A winner off 1lb lower 11 months ago for his previous trainer. The 10-year-old seemed to lose his way on his three subsequent starts. Has since moved to the Fergal O’Brien yard and if the stable switch has had the desired effect, he looks on a competitive mark here.

2:35 – Fizzlestix – 12/1 @ Bet365 – The selection was a steadily improving staying handicap hurdle two seasons back. Ran well for a long way when returning from a 575-day break at Fontwell 43-days ago. On a competitive mark on the best of his form and can go well at a big price here.

Happy New Year

Cheers

John