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Hi all,

That’s me done until next Saturday. I’m on a break in Devon for the rest of the week and aim to completely switch off from racing and betting. I will be back on Saturday morning.

I’m signing off with a couple of selections from Ffos Las and Goodwood.

Ffos Las

3:10 – Gin Coco – 15/8 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Ran well on just his second start for Harry Fry when finishing a length 2nd of 25 on handicap hurdle debut at the Punchestown Festival.  That was a much improved effort from the 6-year-old and despite a rise in the weights he’s capable of more progress in the sphere.  Plenty to like about his chance apart from his price which was cut overnight. Hopefully we might 2/1 or 9/4 with BOG

Goodwood

4:45 – Pride Of Priory – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection completed a hat-trick at Ascot in August. Didn’t enjoy the clearest passages 2f out when only 7th of 15 at Hamilton 44 days ago. The 4-year-old’s winning form has come on the synthetics or good to firm ground, but trainer William Haggas thinks he wants some cut in the ground. We’ll find out if the trainer is right this afternoon.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Newmarket, York, and Chepstow.

Newmarket

3:00 – Chaldean – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – I’m taking on Nostrum with the selection who completed the hat trick when beating two rivals in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last time. He’s improving with racing and showed a nice turn of foot at Doncaster on rain softened ground.

4:15 – Zaman Jemil – 13/2 @ Bet365 –  Improved to win on nursery debut at Newcastle in August and ran even better in defeat when a length 3rd of 9 to Tyrone’s Poppy at Chester two weeks ago.  Had to be dropped in from his wide draw that day and made his effort wide in the straight. A more conventional track should suit him better.

York

1:30 – Grey’s Monument – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Bounced back from a below par effort on nursery debut at Doncaster when comfortably seeing off nine rivals in a Haydock nursery 14-days ago. The first time blinkers seemed to revitalise him that day.  The handicapper has had his say and hiked him up 10lb for that success. However, he was notably strong at the finish that day and if anything, the step up to a mile could unlock further improvement in the colt.

Chepstow

4:02 – Masters Legacy – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Trainer Philip Hobbs won this race last year and he’s got a decent chance of back to back successes with selection. The 7-year-old won the 2m handicap hurdle on this card 12 months ago. Granted his form tailed off after a good start in the autumn but he’s back from a wind op and did win first time up 12 months ago.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from York and Dundalk.

York

3:15 – Defence Of Fort – 9/1 @ Bet365 – Created a strong impression when winning at Ascot on racecourse debut but ran green when a 8 ½ length 4^th of 6 in the Group 3 Solario Stakes.  A good physical type he remains capable of better and hopefully he will show it today.

5:35 – Guess – 8/1 @ Bet365 – A winner at Kempton maiden in April. The 3-year-old returned from a 5 month lay off and gelding operation with an encouraging 1 ½ length 5^th of 12 to one of today’s rivals Astral Beau at Newmarket 20-days ago. Lightly raced and unexposed in handicap company he can take another step forward here.

Dundalk

8:30 – Alaroos – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Won a fillies maiden at Tramore (1m 4f) two starts back and produced a much improved effort when a ¾-length 2^nd of 14 here (1m 2 ½ ) two weeks ago. Nudged up 2lb for that effort but that was her first start in handicap company, and she should be suited by a return to 1m 4f.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are From Ayr, Thurles, and Chelmsford.

Ayr

3:35 – Cleveleys – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old looks to be on a workable mark on his first start since switching to the David O’Meara stable. Both career wins have come over shorter, but he showed when trained in Ireland that he stays 1m and is effective on testing ground. Granted he’s gone 15 runs since his last win but can go close if ready to roll first time.

Thurles

4:20 – Saturn Five – 3/1 @ Bet365 – Built on a promising Roscommon racecourse debut third when winning a 14 runner maiden at Punchestown (good to soft) last month. There was plenty to like about how much he found at the finish that day. Looks capable of plenty of more improvement on handicap debut and stepping up in distance.

Chelmsford

7:00 – Tamarama – 5/2 – Gen – The 3-year-old returned from a 7 week break with a promising 3 ½ length 3rd of 8 to Al Husn at Newmarket last month. The winner went in again on Saturday, so she was up against an improving filly that day. Up 2 furlongs in distance today but likely stays and her yard is in good form.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Nottingham & Kempton.

Nottingham

4:55 – Alternative Fact – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Has dropped well below his last winning mark and shaped with encouragement on his first start for nine months when 5^th of 20 at Newmarket last month. All three career wins have come on genuinely soft ground and if the rain arrives to ease the ground further, he looks to have good chance to end his long losing run.

Kempton

7:00 – Diocles Of Rome – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Hasn’t run for 301 days but he won this corresponding race last year and is 3 wins from 7 runs 5 placed over C&D.  This has traditionally been the 7-year-old’s time of year as he’s 4 wins from 8 runs 6 placed between October & December. If he’s ready to roll after his long absence he won’t be far away.

7:30 – William Twee – 5/1 @ Bet365 – Looked a potential Group sprinter when comfortably landing the hat trick over C&D two starts back. Disappointing on good to soft back on turf at Ascot last month but the 3-year-old might be worth giving another chance to back here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selection is from Huntingdon.

Huntingdon

3:25 – Gloire D’athon – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Interests me in the Racing TV Handicap Chase (3:25). A C&D winner when last seen in action 123-days ago. The 6-year-old has been raised 6lb for 10 length success which shouldn’t stop him if ready to roll after his break. He’s a best priced 9/4 which isn’t a great price but it’s possible that you may get a ½ point better through BOG.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I had my Covid seasonal booster yesterday. I have to say I didn’t feel a thing yesterday but this morning I feel a bit achy and under the weather.

Today’s selections are from Pontefract.

Pontefract

2:30 – Improvise – 11/4 @ Bet365 – I’m hoping that Michael Bell & Hollie Doyle can combine for the King’s first winner. The selection was only caught in the final strides when a short head 2^nd of 7 at Epsom 25-days ago. Another positive ride today will hopefully see the filly go one better.

3:40 – Cisco Disco – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection won in the visor when trained in Ireland and he was back in the headgear for the first time since switching to Richard Fahey when a neck 2nd of 8 at Ayr last month. That was his best run since joining his present yard. Nudged up 2lb, he shouldn’t be inconvenienced by rain softened ground and can go well.

4:50 – Patontheback – 7/1 @ Bet365 – Shaped much better dropped back to 6f when a ½ length 3^rd of 9 at Ripon last time. Looks worth another try at the trip and if he breaks better than he did last time won’t be far away. Cheekpieces on 1st time today and will go close if taking to the first time headgear.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Longchamp, Uttoxeter and Tipperary.

Longchamp

1:15 – Tigrais – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The filly improved on her racecourse debut when winning at Deauville two starts back and stepped up markedly on that success when winning a Group 3 over C&D (good to soft) last month. Very soft ground would be a bit of an unknown for the filly. However, it’s interesting that connections opt to run here rather than against her own sex in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

Uttoxeter

3:28 – Henri Le Bon – 3/1 @ Bet365 – The 7-year-old is an 18 race maiden, but he’s dropped down in the weights and will surely pick up a handicap hurdle before too long. He’s placed on his last two starts over C&D including when a 3 ½ length 2^nd of 12 to an improver 19-days ago.

Tipperary

1:50 – Inchturk – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –  Got off the mark at the 4^th attempt when winning a Gowran Park maiden in May. First run since but he’s probably been waiting for an easy surface. Handicap debut off what looks a workable mark, and the yard are among the winners so I’m expecting a big run from the 3-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I’m running late this morning so a very brief post today.

Longchamp

4:35 – The Revenant – 3/1 @ William Hill – Won this in 2019 & 2020 and was a beaten a short neck 12 months. The very soft ground has come in the 7-year-old’s favour, and he will be hard to beat.

Redcar

3:57 – Give It Some Teddy – 4/1 @ Paddy Power & Bet365 –  A four time C&D winner including this race in 2019 and 2019. On a losing run but he’s down to a winnable mark and its likely this race has been the aim all season.

Newmarket

5:03 – Canoodled – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Bet365 – Won this corresponding race12 months ago, off 1lb higher. Hasn’t added to her two career success’s so far this season but she’s run several good races and an easy surface suits.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The end of a testing September. A good start to month, a very poor middle, and a rally at the end. Let’s see if we can finish with a profitable day. Friday’s selections are from this evening’s card at Dundalk.

Dundalk

4:50 – Logo Hunter – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A smart sprinter on his day and a previous course winner. The selection hasn’t been seen since finishing down the field in the Group 1 King Stand Stakes at Ascot in June. This is a drop in class for the 4-year-old and if he’s back to his best can go close.

5:25 – Malrescia – 8/1 @ Bet365 – A very useful filly earlier in the season finished runner-up to Lezoo in June and 3^rd of 10 in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton last month. Excuses for her last of 8 to Trillium in the Group 2 Flying Childers but less to like about her 9^th of 10 to Lezoo in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes last Saturday. Two good runs on the polytrack including a win at Lingfield and a chance is taken with her respected back in class.

7:00 – Spirit Gal – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The filly got of the mark at the third attempt when winning a Naas maiden 15-days ago and there was plenty to like about how much she found for her jockey’s urgings.  First run on the all-weather and races beyond 6f for the first time. If she stays, I think she can surprise the Aidan O’Brien colt and likely favourite Cairo.

8:30 – Amortentia – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Improved for the fitting of the first time cheekpieces when an unlucky 1 length 4th of 9 to Kerkiyra at the Curragh 75-days ago. The handicapper has kindly dropped her 1lb since and she did finish runner-up on her sole start here last year. The only doubt would be the step up to 1m 4f, but she’s handicapped to win if she stays.

Cheers

John