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Hi all,

Should Thurles be able to race this afternoon I have two selections from the Irish track.

Thurles

12:44 – Tenzing – 6/4 @ Paddy Power – A winner of his sole start over hurdles at Cork (3m ½ f) in April. The 5-year-old was quickly sent over fences on is seasonal return when a 3 lengths 3rd of 12 to Gerri Colombe at Fairyhouse last month. The type to do much better over the larger obstacles he was doing his best work at the finish that day and will be suited by the return 3m today.

2:44 – Ney – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Showed improved form to win on handicap hurdle debut Cork last month. The 4-year-old produced a decent change of gear between the final two hurdles at Cork and although he’s been raised 8lb for that success looks the type to win more races.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Another ‘nothing much doing day’ as far as selections are concerned.

Lingfield

12:05 – Obsidian Knight – 6/4 – Gen – Twice a course winner, the latest of them coming over 1m 2f in October. Solid efforts on two starts since including when neck 2nd of 7 to the improving Queen of Ipanema at Wolverhampton 14-days ago. A reproduction of that effort would see the previous C&D winner go close in the hands of William Buick.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Southwell and Kempton.

5:25 – Back From Dubai – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A four time course winner including over C&D. The 5-year-old was a neck 2^nd of 6 two starts back. Not in the same form here 57-days ago but looks the type to bounce back for a yard that has had three winners from its last four runners.

6:15 – Blue Curacao – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes – Enough promise on four maiden/novice starts to suggest there’s a race’s to be won with her including when 4^th of 10 here (6f) two starts back. Did well after slow start to finish a 4 ¾ length 3^rd of 12 at Chelmsford on nursery debut 10-days ago. Suited by a mile and looks to be the one to be with here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ffos Las and Chelmsford.

Ffos Las

1:45 – Hey Bud – 9/2 – Gen – Was an encouraging 1 ½ length 2nd of 8 to Storm Force Ben here 20-days ago. Well backed he travelled through the race like he’s on winnable mark. The front wo pulled clear of the rest that day and if the 9-year-old can build on that first run from 13 months then he’s a big player here.

Chelmsford

8:00 – Revolutionise – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bounced back to form in good style when winning at Wolverhampton 26-days ago. The 6-year-old took advantage of some leniency from the handicapper to score last time. He’s been raised 7lb for his latest success and is up  a couple of notches but he’s still 11lb below where he started 2022 off.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Dundalk and Kempton.

Dundalk

2:45 – Not Too Real Bad – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Just half a length separated Coolcalmncollected and Not Too Real Bad when the pair were first and second in a C&D nursery 14-days ago. The winner who was making his all-weather debut looked much improved in victory and could be capable of more on the surface. However, preference is for Not Too Real Bad who gets a handy 3lb today and is weighted to win a race like this.

Kempton

6:30 – Alcazan – 11/4 @ Bet365 – A C&D winner in June and on turf at Goodwood in September. The 4-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when a neck 2nd of 11 at Wolverhampton 16-days ago. In good form the filly can hopefully land a second course success this evening.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A very tricky start to the month. I never been a fan of pre-Christmas racing and have tended to struggle with selections. However, the start of this month has been a disappointing and not just because the freezing weather has curtailed the jumps action. You can’t predict losing runs – that’s what the game is all about.

Today’s selections are once again from Wolverhampton which is becoming a knife edge track for me and one, I may have to look at to see whether it’s track I should still be playing.

Wolverhampton

3:45 – Harbour Vision – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner over C&D two starts back. The 7-year-old followed up here over a furlong shorter just three days ago and will be hard to beat under a 4lb penalty in his hat trick bid.

Southwell

2:13 – Oh Is It – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection bounced back to form with a positive ride when a length 4th of 11 at Wolverhampton (6f) 15-days ago. The drop back to the minimum trip looks a positive for the 4-year-old who is 9lb below his last winning mark.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton

5:30 – Nellie French – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The dual C&D winner looked to be heading back to form when a ½ length 3^rd of 10 here 5-days ago. Slowly away last week and in the circumstances the mare did well to finish as close as she did. Provided she’s gets off on level terms and they go a decent gallop she won’t be far away.

7:00 – Golden Chain – 2/1 @ Bet365 – Returned from a 9 week break to finish a respectable 1 ¾ length 4^th of 11 at Lingfield. Doing her best work at the finish that day she should be suited by the step up to 1m 4f and should be hard to beat in what doesn’t look the strongest of maidens.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Both Cheltenham and Doncaster failed their early morning inspections.  That leaves Hereford to survive a second inspection.

Hereford

2:32 – Moriko De Vassy – 13/8 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner over hurdles last season, here and at Doncaster. The 5-year-old was an encouraging enough 1 length 2^nd of 5 on chasing debut at Wetherby last month.  Travelled last time like he’s on a winnable mark over fences but for a couple of late mistakes would likely have won.  Needs to cut out the jumping errors but will win when he does.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Cheltenham passed a 7.30 inspection but a second one is scheduled for 10.30 so its not out of the woods yet.

One of today’s selections from Cheltenham is now a non-runner so I’m left with just two from Dundalk.

Dundalk

7:30 – Rough Diamond – 7/4 @ Bet365 – Posted a much improved effort when running out a three length and half winner over C&D 42-days ago. A 7lb rise is the weights does make life tougher for the top-weight but it’s not too harsh. He’s often promised to be a useful sprinter and he may now be about to prove it.

8:00 – Collective Power – 3/1 @ Bet365 – A stablemate of Rough Diamond the 4-year-old is a dual course winner at 5f. All three of his career wins have come at the minimum trip but his best all-weather RPR came when a 1 ¾ length 2^nd of 14 over C&D two starts back. Good chance for an inform yard.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A slow start to the week and after two days’ without selections I’m back with a bang today. Or maybe not as there are inspections at all but one of today’s meetings.

There were six on my initial short list, but I have whittled them down to three.

Newcastle

1:17 – Ladroone – 11/4 @ Bet365 – The 8-year-old bounced back to winning ways at Wetherby in October and progressed further when successful at Catterick 20-days ago. Up a further 4lb but capable of landing the hat trick given his present vein of form.

Taunton

2:38 – Ilanz – 11/8 @ Bet365 – A bumper winner at Market Rasen in June (good). The 4-year-old shaped well enough on first two starts over hurdles before getting off the mark at back at Market Rasen 7-days ago. Doesn’t have to carry a penalty, as that was a conditional jockey race, and will be hard to beat.

Chelmsford

8:00 – Luna Queen – 4/1 @ Bet365 – A winner at Lingfield in August from 2lb lower. The 3-year-old bounced back to form from two lesser runs when a 1 ¾ length 3^rd of 9 at Lingfield 19-days ago.  Off the same mark here and the blinkers are replaced by the first time cheekpieces.

Cheers

John