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Hi all,

What a difference, a couple days can make 1 winner from 12 bets, then 6 wins from 6 bets over the weekend. Can we make it a magnificent seven not out today?

The quality of racing today could be better, and, in all truth, I was very close to sitting out today.

Wetherby

4:25 – Artistic Rifles – 9/2 @ Ladbrokes or 4/1 @William Hill & Bet365 –  The selection was in winning form when last seen in action winning a Catterick nursery 210-days ago. The 3-year-old starts the new season off 4lb higher than for his last win but looks the sort to progress in his second season. Can go close if stall 11 doesn’t prove an inconvenience. Trainer Charlie Hills had been among the winners- 4 winners from 15 runners 27% + 14.63 – in the past seven days.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It always nice when you can get three wins from three selections with Mab’s Cross the highlight at 6/1. It doesn’t happen often so it’s worth enjoying the moment for a while. I was tempted not to put up any selections today but the temptation to strike while in form is too difficult to resist.

Newmarket

4:50 – Maqsad – 15/8 @ William Hill & Bet365 – Shaped like a future winner when finishing runner-up on her racecourse debut in September before running below par when 4/9 at Yarmouth. Looked to have done well physically from two to three and produced a good performance to win a mile maiden at the Craven Meeting. The selection showed a good battling attitude that day and the first two pulled well clear of the rest of the field. Bred to appreciate today’s extra two furlongs and clearly handles the track. Looks the one they all have to beat.

5:20 – Nayef Road – 9/4 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – The selection won twice as a juvenile, including a nursery over 7f on the July Course, and ended his 2-year-old season with a close-up third in a C&D nursery.  Now 3lb higher the colt remains on a competitive mark and holds a Dante entry.  Looks the sort do better at three and despite making his seasonal reappearance can go close. His trainer Mark Johnston also saddles recent Beverley winner Fraser Island who also needs respecting with race fitness on his side.

Hamilton

2:35 – Rare Groove – 11/4 @ Bet365 & William Hill – The 4-year-old won two of his six starts as a 3-year-old, with one of those wins coming here at Hamilton. Returned to action with an excellent 3^rd of 11 at Leicester 30-days ago. Steps up an extra furlong in distance today but should be able to handle it. Trainer Jedd O’Keeffe has his horses in great form having had 4 winners from 13 runners 31% +9.50 in the past 14-days.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Newmarket

2:20 – Mabs Cross – 11/2 @ Bet365 & William Hill – Last year’s winner, has to give weight to all her rivals here but she’s a proven Group 1 sprinter having been touched off in the Nunthorpe at York before going on to win the Abbaye at Longchamp on final start of 2018. The 5-year-old could be set for an even better season in 2019 and should get the fast pace she needs.

4:45 – UAE Jewel – 11/10 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – The selection impressed when winning the Wood Ditton at the Craven Meeting. Finishing his race off strongly over a mile, the son of Dubawi is open to plenty of further improvement and should be well suited by the extra two furlongs of this race.

Punchestown

4:25 – Fusil Raffles – 15/8 @ Bet365 & William Hill – A winner when trained in France. Made a winning debut for Nicky Henderson when winning the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton 70-days ago. Was then forced to miss the Triumph Hurdle due to an injury. Lacks the experience of his rivals by the 4-year-old remains the one horse open to further improvement in the sphere. His trainer has won this race three times in the past, the last time in 2011 and looks to have another good chance with the selection.

Cheers

John

Hi all.

No luck on Thursday but two of our selections ran well enough and there was one non-runner.

Musselburgh

3:25 – Everything For You – 2/1 @ William Hill & Bet365 – Ran well enough on his seasonal return over 1m 2f, when beaten just 1 ½ lengths into third at Ripon. The 5-year-old still must prove that he stays 1m 4f but his Ripon run was his first since a wind-op and if he is to stay the distance it will be at a sharp track like Musselburgh. Looks a big contender off the same mark as 15-days ago.

Chepstow

3:50 – Eye Of The Water – 3/1 @ Bet365 or 11/4 – Gen – The 3-year-old has been running with credit on the all-weather of late and put in a career best when runner up at Kempton 23-days ago, off 4lb lower. Won on the turf at Ffos Las as a juvenile so the return to surface shouldn’t be an issue. Looks to have a big chance if in the same form as last time.

Punchestown

4:55 – Ask Susan – 3/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes –  The selection made a highly encouraging debut for Willie Mullins when returning from a 212-day break to finish 6th of 16 in a valuable handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse, coming in for plenty of support that day. Back over fences today and looks competitively weighted off a mark of just 123.  The 7-year-old is the one to beat and shouldn’t have any issues with underfoot conditions although her best form has come on a sounder surface.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

It’s always good to get a winner. Even more so given recent events, as Highly Sprung did the business for the service at a generous 4/1 yesterday.

Chelmsford

7:25 – Royal Intervention – 9/2 @ William Hill & Coral – The selection built on the promise of her juvenile racecourse debut when making all to win a Listed race on Newmarket’s July course last summer. Not as good when runner-up at Ascot in Group 3 back in July. This is her first run since Ascot. But she remains with potential and stall two is ideal for her to try to make another bold bid from the front.

Redcar

2:55 – Conundrum – 5/2 @ William Hill & Coral – Put up a career best when winning on his seasonal reappearance at Pontefract 17-days ago. The selection looked worth following on the back of that win, his first since a winter gelding operation.  Up 5lb but looks more than capable of following up here.

Salisbury

7:05 – Past Master – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Won last year at Goodwood and over C&D. Made all to win on the latter of those two wins and could well get an opportunity to do the same in this small field. The 6-year-old is 5lb higher than for his C&D win, but he’s only had nine career starts and could be capable of little bit more improvement this season.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Hardly a great return on Tuesday. But we quickly on in this game as you are only as good or bad as your last day and it’s the start of a new month.

Ascot

4:25 – Wadilsafa – 7/2 @ Bet365 or 10/3- Gen – Barney Roy returns from a failed stud career but he’s the back class to win this race comfortably. But you can’t tell how much of his old ability remains.  The safer option looks to be the selection. The 4-year-old has only had the five career starts but improved with each of his starts last season. Ending with a decisive win in a Salisbury listed race back in September. The colt has won three of his 5 starts, two of them on good to firm and he’s also 3 wins from 3 wins over a mile. Once first time up last season and with his trainer having his horses in winning form he shouldn’t lack for fitness.

5:35 – Merchant Of Venice – 5/1 @ William Hill & Paddy Power – The 4-year-old only made his racecourse debut back in November but he made up for lost time on the all-weather over the winter. Unplaced on his first start over 6f the step up to a mile brought out a whole chunk of improvement in the selection as he went onto win his next three starts over the distance at Kempton & Newcastle. Arguably was unlucky not to make it four wins on the trot when finishing a length 3^th of 14 from a wide draw, back at Kempton 19-days ago. First run on turf today but if he can transfer his excellent synthetics form to the grass has a decent chance of going in again

Pontefract

4:45 – Highly Sprung – 3/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection wasn’t disgraced when 3^rd of 9 over an inadequate 5f here 16 days ago. The return to 6f is very much in his favour. He’s also well suited to good to firm going – 7 wins from 21 11 placed but 0 wins from 31 runs 7 placed on all other surfaces. The 6-year-old is also 3 wins from 8 runs over C&D. Ticking the all-important boxes marked course, distance & going.  With a record on good to firm, over 6f and in field sizes 8 or less being 6 wins from 10 runs +15.96 8 placed 80% and racing off a 5lb lower mark than his last win. You can see why I’m very sweet on his chances today. At the 3/1 available I will definitely be a player rather than a watcher.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I’m back from kidney surgery. Pain and soreness are still there so I’m coming back at a slow gentle pace. That said It’s great to be back. Not sure how I will feel if it’s a losing day though.

Three selections for today with one of them from the first day of the Punchestown Festival.

Chelmsford

6:55 – Field Gun – 5/2 @ Paddy Power or 2/1 -Gen – Just got his head in front when winning on his stable debut over C&D two starts back and put in a career best when dropping back to 6f at Lingfield 28-days ago. Both his wins have come at the track and he’s lightly raced for his age so remain open to a bit more progress.

Nottingham

3:35 – Black Lotus – 9/2 @ Coral & William Hill – Improved last season for going handicapping, winning two of he five starts. Both wins came with William Buick in the saddle 2 wins from 2 rides. Granted both wins came over 1m 2f so the drop back to a mile is a slight unknown and it’s her seasonal reappearance too on good to soft. The filly will be suited by drying ground that’s for sure and Buick’s booking has to be seen as a positive for the 4-year-old.

Punchestown

6:40 – Getabird – 4/1 @ Coral & William Hill –  Delta Work, who was third in the RSA and A Plus Tard who was arguably the most impressive winner at the Cheltenham Festival will be tough to beat but I’m taking a chance with Getabirdtrained by Willie Mullins. The 7-year-old missed both Cheltenham & Aintree and has just had the two starts this season so will be fresher than most. He won here on his seasonal reappearance, 3 from 5 at the track.  He then just got touched off in the new Grade 1 at Limerick on Boxing Day.  Just the two starts over fences so he’s open to further progress over the larger obstacles. First run for 125-days but he’s 3 wins from 3 runs when returning from a 121+ day layoff so fitness shouldn’t be a problem. Stamina for 3m must be taken on trust but he can win if he stays.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Plenty of good racing today. It’s Day 2 of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket for flat follower and for jumps fans there’s an excellent card at Cheltenham.

Newmarket

1:50 – Moyasser – 13/2 @Bet365 – A winner at Chelmsford on his third start as a juvenile. He ended his 2-year-old campaign with excellent efforts in valuable nursery’s at York & Nottingham. Up 6lb for that latter effort but he remains on a competitive mark and has had a wind-op over the winter.

4:45 – El Misk – 11/4 @ William Hill & Coral – The son of Dansili was on odds on for his debut at Newcastle 16-days ago. Despite being slow away and showing his inexperience when initially asked for his effort. He showed a decent turn of foot to win his race. Plenty of scope for more improvement from the colt and this Dante & Derby entry can win again despite carrying his 7lb penalty.

5:20 – Karnavaal – 4/1 @ William Hill & Coral – Plenty short enough in the betting at around 4/1. The son of Dubawi shaped with real promise when 4th of 14 here back in September before winning a Chelmsford novice race over 7f the following month. A win as a juvenile was a bonus as he’s bred to get 1m 2f as three-year-old and his sire’s progeny often improve for going 1m 2f+ in their second seasons. The colt has been given a handicap mark of 82 which looks more than workable.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I have two selections from Newmarket’s Craven Meeting and one from the evening fixture at Wolverhampton.

Newmarket

3:00 – Western Australia – 7/4 @ William Hill & Bet365 – A progressive juvenile who ended last season beaten just a length into 3rd in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity at Doncaster back in October. Beaten at odds on at Dundalk on his seasonal reappearance but probably just needed the run. Extra furlong will suit. Probably not one of Aiden O’Brien’s top 3-year-old colts, may not need to be to win this, but he has the best form on offer.

3:35 – Angel’s Hideaway – 9/2 @ William Hill & Coral – The selection was trying to give 3lb to Mot Juste when the pair met in the Group 3, Oh So Sharp Stakes, back in October. It just depends who has wintered better, and which filly is the most forward today. I think selection can reverse form with the winner on this occasion. Trainer John Gosden won this race in 2016 & 2017.

Wolverhampton

5:45 – Ubla – 7/1 @ Bet365 – The 6-year-old twice a winner here, including over C&D, off 2lb lower, three starts back. Had to make his effort out wide when only beaten a length in to 5^th here 3-days ago. Remains in form and can go close again with a better passage.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

After Saturday, Sunday was a disappointment. The Sweeney ran well enough at Wincanton but the rain that fell at Tramore didn’t help Thats Mypresenting at all.

Pontefract

3:20 – Foolaad – 10/3 @ William Hill – Won the race last year off a 1lb lower mark and looks to have a good chance of winning it again. The selection showed his well being when winning at Doncaster 15-days ago. The quick ground is in his favour and this prominent racer is well drawn to go forward from stall 2.

5:20 – Foxtrot Knight – 9/4 @ William Hill & Bet365 – The 7-year-old made a pleasing seasonal reappearance when runner-up at Wolverhampton 13 days ago. A previous C&D winner. He’s also run plenty of other good races here in the past and has dropped to an attractive handicap, 8ib lower than when beaten a neck here last May.

Windsor

4:00 – Shifting Gold – 6/1 – Gen – Shaped with promise on his three starts as juvenile. On her final start she put in a career best when 4^th of 13 at Kempton. Makes he handicap debut here and should be suited by the step up to a mile. Looks on a fair opening mark off 65.

Cheers

John