Monday Selections – May 20th 2019

Hi all,

All three of today’s selections race at Carlisle.

Carlisle

3:15 – Ghayyar – 7/1 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – Won over C&D last June, off 1lb higher, before later winning at Beverley off 6lb higher a month later. Two poor runs so far this season but a return to stiff right-handed track can hopefully see the nicely handicapped 5-year-old bounce back.

4:15 – Ramesses – 13/8 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 3-year-old made a winning handicap debut at Leicester 23-days ago. He showed a good battling attitude to prevail that day. Has a 6lb rise in the weights to contend with but Sean Davis takes off 5lb and the gelding can win again.

4:45 – City Tour – 7/2 @ William Hill – The selection impressed when winning at Musselburgh on his seasonal reappearance. Was a shade disappointing on his next start at Beverley 33-days ago but has been gelded since.  Back in Class 5 company today, if the gelding operation has worked, he can get back on track.

Cheers

John

Sunday Selections – May 19th 2019

Hi all,

Market Rasen

5:10 – Return Flight – 7/1 @ William Hill & BetVictor –The selection was a 2-length runner-up in this race last year and can now race off a 9lb lower mark. He returned from 176-day break with a promising 3rd of 8 at Ayr 12-days ago and looks set for a bold show.

Stratford

4:10 – Alexander The Grey – 7/2 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill – Returns from a 253-day absence today. The 8-year-old looked set for his first career win when falling at the final fence here on his last start. Up 5lb now but can go close.

Stratford

5:20 – Ruby Yeats – 2/1 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill – The mare was in the process of running her best race over fences when brought down three out at Fontwell 11-days ago. She had jumped well enough up to that point and still travelling well enough to think she would have gone close that day.

Cheers

John

Friday Selections – May 17th 2019

Hi all,

I was wondering when the service would get another winner. Well we finally came off the cold list when Migration swopped late to win the lucky last at Newmarket on Thursday evening.

I have selections running at Newmarket, Newbury and Leopardstown on Friday.

Newmarket

2:00 – Saikung – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-old showed promise on her three starts in maiden company and was then sent off the 5/2 favourite for her handicap debut at Chepstow 14-days ago. Sadly, for her backers she was too shade keen in the early stages of her race and eventually finished 3rd of 9, beaten 2 lengths. Clearly the market felt she’s started handicapping off a winnable mark of 69. Hopefully today’s field can help her settle better in the early stages of the contest.

Newbury

3:20 – Buckland Boy – 4/1 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill – The 4-year-old finally got of the mark at the 8th attempt when winning at Thirsk 18-days ago. His win was more notable for the fact that he was slow away from the stalls but still went onto win by 1 ¼ lengths. After the race his jockey told the Racing Post that the horse needs a more galloping track which he gets today. The handicapper has only raised him 3lb which looks lenient to me.

Leopardstown

7:05 – Rockfish – 6/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – The selection made it 5 wins from 16 runs when landing a Dundalk handicap 30-days ago.  Must carry top-weight here and is 4lb higher than last time but can remain competitive of his new mark. His trainer Joseph O’Brien has clearly placed the gelding well and it’s worth noting should the 4-year-old go off favourite. As his trainer Joseph O’Brien is a healthy 28 winners from 60 runners 47% +42.26 A/E 1.56 44 placed 73% with favourites that had finished in the first three on their last run.

Cheers

John

Thursday Selections – May 16th 2019

Hi all,

Today I have one selection running at York and two this evening at Newmarket.

York

4:05 – Soldier’s Call – 15/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A fast juvenile who did well last season winning the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster. Then finished a close up third to Mabs Cross in the Abbaye at Longchamp. Must give weight all-round today but if he’s trained on from two to three, he should be able to so.

Newmarket

8:05 – Sezim – 4/1 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – Showed plenty of promise on three starts as a juvenile last season. Has been gelded over the winter and makes his handicap debut of what looks a workable mark of 77. Should be suited by the step up to 1m 2f and can go close for the inform Roger Varian stable.

8:35 – Migration – 13/8 @ Ladbrokes & William Hill –  Went into plenty of notebooks when a strong finishing second in the Esher Cup at Sandown 20-days ago. Up 4lb for that last effort but on an upward curve and will surely win a handicap of his present mark. Has top-weight of 10-0 to carry today but he’s dropping two notches in class here.

Cheers

John

Wednesday Selections – May 15th 2019

Hi all,

The trebles of last week already seem a distant memory. Today’s one selection runs at York’s Dante Festival.

York

3:35 –Sparkle Roll – 11/4 @ William Hill – John Gosden looks to have a very decent bunch of 3-year-old fillies this year. He saddles two her Entitle and likely favourite Sparkle Roll.  The daughter of Kingman has done well from two to three and looked good when winning a Sandown novice 19-days ago. Up in class here but there should be more improvement to come from her. Looked a shade uneasy on the ground at Sandown so probably wouldn’t want the going to be too quick here. Apart from that slight negative she’s got a great chance of landing this race.  I have mentioned the trainer’s record here earlier but it’s also worth noting his record in non-handicap races in May over 1m 2 ½ f & 1m 4f – 7 winners from 14 runners 50% +13.04 9 placed 64%.

Cheers

John

Tuesday Selections – May 14th 2019

Hi all,

Sorry for the delay this morning. I have been struggling to find solid betting opportunities but hopefully I have found one. Today’s one and only selection runs at Southwell this evening.

Southwell

6:40 – Ballyvic Boru – 15/8 @ Coral & Paddy Power – The 7-year-old wasn’t disgraced on his second run back from a long absence at Perth 19-days ago. The drop back from 2m 4f looks the way to go. Bearing in mind all his career wins have come at 2m 1f or shorter – 4 wins from 9 runs + 7.49 6 placed (0 wins from 4 runs 1 placed over further). He also has his ground 3 wins from 8 runs + 7.20 4 placed on good or good to firm going. There been a money around for him this morning and he’s now displaced the forecast favourite, Ashoka, trained by Dan Skelton, at the head of the betting. Trainer Brian Ellison is 3 winners from 7 runners 43% +15.63 with his handicappers in the past 14-days, which is another positive,

Cheers

John

Sunday Selections – May 12th 2019

Hi all,

All three of today’s selections come from Ludlow.

Ludlow

3:05 – The Welsh Paddies – 5/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The 7-year-old made it 3 wins from 9 runs over hurdles when winning at Stratford two starts back. Before finishing third to Tobefair at Cheltenham 25-days ago. The selection makes his debut over fences in this novices’ handicap chase. Interesting he come here for his chase debut as his trainer Kerry Lee is 3 winners from 3 runners 100% +12 with her runners here in novice handicap chases. I think he can make a winning debut over the larger obstacles.

3:40 – Court Royale – 10/3 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection made it 3 wins from 9 runs over hurdles when battling on well to win over C&D 41-days ago. That win was the 6-year-old’s second C&D win and his third win on good ground. The handicapper has raised him 5lb for that last win but there’s every chance he can progress to defy his career high mark.

4:15 – Hatcher – 11/8 @ Bet365 & William Hill – Made it 2 wins from 2 runs over fences when making all to win at Southwell 33-days ago. Seven of his eight wins have come on good or quicker ground and he’s also 6 wins from 6 runs in field sizes 7 or less. The 6-year-old jumping has been good in the main and although his jumping will be tested more in this better class of race, I think he can make it 3 from 3 over the larger obstacles.

I’m taking a day off tomorrow but will be back on Tuesday.

Cheers

John

Saturday Selections – May 11th 2019

Hi all,

Another 3 wins from 3 bets yesterday! I tend to find Saturday’s the toughest of days punting wise as there are so many possible races to go at. Today, I have selections from Ascot & Lingfield for you.

Ascot

4:35 – Praxeology – 7/4 @ Bet365 & BetVictor – The Mark Johnston trained juvenile just failed to make a winning racecourse debut at Chelmsford 9-days ago. The son of Dark Angel can hopefully put his experience to good use against six rivals who are all making their debuts.

Lingfield

1:55 – Frankellina – 5/2 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes –  The daughter of Frankel impressed when making winning Yarmouth novice race on her juvenile debut back in October. This Oaks entry steps into Listed company today and up 3f distance for her seasonal return. Trainer William Haggas is 2 wins from 4 runners in the race in the past ten years so know what type of filly is needed to win this Oaks trial.

Cheers

John

Friday Selections – May 10th 2019

Hi all,

Sadly, the rain didn’t stay away from Chester on Thursday. In fact, more fell then had been expected. In the circumstances it was a good effort from Kew Gardens who will come on for this run and looks set for a good season.

A busy day with three selections from around the country.

Market Rasen

2:10 – Van Gogh Du Granit – 9/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The 10-year-old a winner over fences when trained in France. He made a decent start to his career with David Pipe when 3rd of 5 at Taunton. Seemed to enjoy the sounder surface when runner-up to stablemate Rathlin Rose in a veteran’s chase at Ascot on his next start over todays’ 3m trip. Ran as well could be expected when (66/1) predictably outclassed and outstayed in the Scottish Grand National. Just 2lb higher than at Ascot and reproduction of that effort gives him a good chance here. Trainer David Pipe has his horses in good form with 6 winners from 18 runners 33% +8.71.

Ascot

4:20 – Aweedram – 5/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill –  The selection shaped with promise on his three runs in novice/maiden company as a juvenile. Left that form behind on his handicap debut when staying on well to win at Newmarket 23-days ago. Up 7lb but the form looked decent for the grade and the runner-up has subsequently gone onto win at Doncaster. Need to improve further but this is only his 5th career start so can do so.

Wolverhampton

8:10 – Capofaro – 11/4 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The 3-year-old hasn’t looked back since winning on his 4th start at Kempton back in March. Form figures since going handicapping are 211. Those two wins came at Lingfield & Southwell.  The latter win 8 days ago means the gelding carries a 6lb penalty here, but he remains a horse on the upgrade. Different surface and if he handles the tapeta has a good chance of the hat trick.

Cheers

John

Wednesday Selections – May 8th 2019

Hi all,

Between the final two furlongs it was looking good for Artistic Rifles, but he was just worried out of it and had to settle for a one length third at the finish. The winning run of six is now over.

The potential for rain and lots of it makes Chester a tough card to negotiate. There are also three Summer jumps cards that could be affected by rain. A tricky day’s punting until you know how much rain has fallen or not.

Chester

4:05 – Future Investment –  5/1 @ William Hill & Bet365 – The selection made an encouraging racecourse debut when 3rd of 16 to the useful Telecaster on his racecourse debut at Windsor 23-days ago. With normal improvement he should be capable of landing a maiden/novice in the coming weeks. The going is a bit of an unknown, but his full sister Mountain Bell won on soft ground at Windsor and here at Chester. May end up being better over slightly further but has a better draw in 3 than main rival Mons Star who also needs respecting after his promising 4th of 9 on his racecourse debut at the Craven Meeting.

Cheers

John