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Hi all,

A poor start to the new month but there’s a long way to go. Today’s selections are from this evening’s cards at Kempton & Roscommon.

Kempton

7:50 – Scot’s Grace – 13/2 @ Bet365 – Scot’s Grace is taken to get the better of Prop Forward and Nationwide in a competitive looking Class 2 handicap over 6f. The selection, a previous C&D winner, has a handy draw in stall 4 and put in her best effort of the season so far when a ¾ length 3^rd of 7 to Crazy Luck at Chester last month. She did well to get a close as she did there given, she was slowly away. This is just her second start in handicap company, and she can race off the same mark as last time.

8:50 – Tulane – 9/2 @ Bet365 – The selection won a similar handicap over C&D in January off today’s mark and shaped last time on turf like she might be about to hit winning form soon. Looks set to go well in what looks a very ordinary race.

Roscommon

6:25 – Walking The Walk – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A 19 race maiden over jumps isn’t the most solid of win bets. However, the 7-year-old has run respectably on his last two starts over fences and was doing his best work at the finish at Limerick 13-days ago. My angle here is the booking of Rachel Blackmore for the ride as she’s 2 winners from 7 rides 29% +7.50 when combining with trainer Philip Rothwell.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The start of a new month and we’re straight into the action. Today’s selections are from Ripon, Cork, and Naas.

Ripon

3:55 – Gainsbourg – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has been waiting to get soft in the going description and hopefully he will get it today. The going is being described as good to soft, a sunny day and dry day is being forecast but hopefully it won’t dry out too much before post time. Twice a winner last season he wasn’t well placed in a slowly run race at Newcastle last time. Looks worth a try beyond 1m and is weighted to be competitive.

Cork

4:00 – Natural Look – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Came from off the pace when a 2 ½ length 3rd of 16 at Tramore last time. That was a career best on RPR’s by the mare. Up 1lb for that effort she shaped last time like she would be suited by today’s step up in trip. Up 1lb but looks capable of more improvement.

Naas

5:20 – Corporal Violette – 4/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Built on her juvenile promise when winning a Leopardstown maiden on her seasonal reappearance. Looked to have improved again when a 1 ¼ length 4th of 7 back at that venue on her handicap debut last time. Shaped last time like the step up to a mile will suit and she remains open to a bit more improvement.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Galway and Chester.

Galway

5:10 – Lady Arwen – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection won a Gowran Park handicap in May and has been at that level of form on her last two starts, including last time when a 1 ½ lengths 3rd of 15 here 6-days ago. She didn’t get the best of run 1f out that day but was doing her best work at the finish and should be suited by today’s extra furlong.

Chester

5:00 – Natchez Trace – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was a bit unlucky in the run, did get the best of runs inside the final furlong, when a 2 lengths 3rd of 8 here (1m 4f) last month. He’s finished runner-up on his last two starts and looks set to give his running once more for a yard that is 4-16 in the past 14-days.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A couple of decent days mean the service should end up with another profit. Today’s selections are from Newmarket & Galway.

Newmarket

2:25 – Star Fortress – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection built on the promise of her racecourse debut runner-up at Windsor when beating nine rivals at Chelmsford 27-days ago. The daughter of Sea The Stars steps up in class here but she’s bred to improve for 1m 4f and is the pick.

Galway

2:30 – Boothill – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Put in an improved performance and proved his stamina for 2m 6f when a length 2^nd of 11 to Beauport at Uttoxeter in March. There’s a good chance that the step up to 2m 7f can bring out more improvement in the 7-year -old and he should be up to winning a race like this off his present mark.

4:45 – Excuzio Joe – 7/2 @ Bet365 – A previous C&D winner he once again showed his effectiveness around here when an unlucky 1 ¾ length 4^th of 16 to Dunum over C&D 4-days ago. Can race off the same mark here, has a nice draw in stall 2 and will take the beating if in the same form as earlier in the week.

5:20 – Kaaranah – 6/1 @ Bet365 – The selection a first runnerat Galway for Newmarket based trainer John Butler looks an interesting contender in this 1m 4f handicap.  The 4-year-old comes into the race on the back of an excellent ½-length 2nd of 11 at Lingfield back in May. A winner here at last year’s festival his stamina for 1m 4f has to be taken on trust and stall 10 isn’t ideal but he’s weighted to win this if he stays.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Goodwood and Galway.

Goodwood

2:25 – Rocchigiani – 11/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – On the likely quick ground I’m going to take on favourite Checkandchallenge with the selection. He was a cracking 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 11 to the smart Maljoom in the German 2,000 Guineas. A solid enough 2 ½ length 5th of 15 in Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, shaping like he will be suited by a return to a mile.

Galway

5:00 – Magnor Glory – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Returned from a two-month absence to win at Killarney 14-days ago. Drops back from 2m 4f here but that shouldn’t inconvenience the 6-year-old who can go close despite a 7lb rise in the weights.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A poor week so far and the month is in danger of fizzling out. Today’s selections are from Goodwood and Galway.

Goodwood

1:50 – Migdam – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner at Kempton last September he improved for a return to turf when winning on his handicap debut at Doncaster last month. Up 6lb for that success but is going the right way and should keep progressing. Likeable profile and the yard had a handicap winner here on Tuesday

Galway

3:20 – Soaring Monarch – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection stepped up on a low-key seasonal return when a3 ¼ length 5th of 13 at Gowran Park last time. Finished runner-up here in two races at the 2020 festival. The return to a mile is a plus and the fitting of the first-time visor makes him of interest for a trainer who’s had a winner here this week.  

5:40 – Observing – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was stepped up to 1m 4f for the first time at Limerick three weeks ago. Held up he didn’t get the clearest of runs when making his effort 2f out but ran on well to finish a 2 ½ lengths 3^rd of 10. He got the 1m 4f that day and as long as he’s not a far back as he was last time, he capable of going close here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’ selections are from Goodwood and Galway.

Goodwood

5:20 – Mums Tipple – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Doesn’t win very often but put in a more likeable performance when a 1 ¼ 3^rd of 10 to the progressive Nizaaka at Newmarket 19-days ago. On a competitive mark and trainer Richard Hannon has saddled the winner of this 7f handicap three times in the past four seasons.

Galway

6:10 – Rebel Rose – 10/1 @ Bet365 – Got off the mark at the 6^th attempt over hurdles when winning a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle 8-days ago. The mare gets the first time cheekpieces for her handicap debut and she looks on workable mark for a yard who had a winner here yesterday evening.

8:20 – Cozone – 8/1 @ Bet365 – The selection proved his stamina for an extended 2m + when finishing a ½ length 3^rd of 12 at Killarney 15-days ago. Nudged up 2lb for that effort but Colin Keane booked, and a big run is expected from the 5-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Goodwood and Galway.

Goodwood

5:20 – Breaking Light – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Showed the benefit of wind surgery when making a winning handicap debut at Haydock (7f) 11 days ago.  Up 5lb but she had plenty in hand last time and shapes like the step up to a mile can bring out more improvement in the filly.

5:55 – Kimngrace – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection made it 2-6 on turf when winning over C&D two start back. Ran even better on RPR’s in defeat when a short-head 2nd of 6 at Haydock (5f) last time. Return to 6f is a plus and despite a further 5lb rise in the weights is expected to be there or thereabouts with Ryan Moore booked.

Galway

8:20 – Star Of Cashel – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old hasn’t been in the winners enclosure since a productive 3-year-old campaign. Hasn’t been in much form on six starts since joining present trainer Adrian McGuinness earlier in the year but there was more to like about his 4 ½ lengths 5th of 22 at the Curragh last time. Now 14lb below his last winning mark and Galway has likely been the plan.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

The Qatar Goodwood Festival begins tomorrow and most of the week’s selections will be from the Sussex track.

Today’s selections are from Ayr and Galway.

Ayr

2:45 – Starshiba – 6/1 – Gen – Vince Lombardi looks a well-treated horse but needs a good gallop to chase which he might not get here. Preference then for the selection who might be on a 13 long losing run but hasn’t done anything wrong on his last two starts, finishing a head 2^nd of 8 over C&D two starts back and short head 2^nd of 6 at Epsom last time. Nudged up 2lb for his latest effort but remains well treated on the best of his form. Good draw in stall one for a front runner.

Galway

7:50 – Your Eyes Only – 9/2 @ Paddy Power & Bet365 – The filly lacks the experience of most of her rivals but does come into the race after winning a Sligo maiden (1m 2f) last time. Her mark looks tough, but she shaped last time like 1m 4f would bring out further improvement in her. Trainer Willie Mullins has a good record with his flat runners at the Galway Festival with 17 winners from 62 runners 27% +39.04 33 placed 53% since 2017.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Saturday turned out to be even worse than Friday. On the eve of the Goodwood & Galway Festival’s I’m off to Uttoxeter for today’s selections.

Uttoxeter

1:55 – The Big Sting – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A modest 92 rated hurdler the 7-year-old had a good time in points last season winning six of his eight starts. Sent off the 11/8 favourite for his first start over regulation fences when a 6 ½ lengths 3^rd of 8 at Worcester last month. All his point success came on a sound surface and he’s capable of winning a handicap chase like this.  Trainer Harry Fry has a 26%-win strike rate with runners at the track.

3:05 – Ruthless Article – 7/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – The 9-year-old bounced back to his best when a 4 ¼ length 2nd of 16 to Jerrysback in the valuable Summer Cup (handicap) over C&D last month. The third Francky Du Berlais won the Summer Plate at Market Rasen on his next start and if the selection can build on his last time promise he will go close here. There doesn’t seem to be much pace on here so he should be better positioned than most if the modest gallop prevails.

3:40 – Geordie Des Champs – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – He might be a veteran, but the 11-year-old showed he remains capable of winning a handicap like this when winning over C&D last November, off 1lb higher. At his best on a sound surface. A solid enough 3 ¾ length 3rd of 8 over C&D last month. He should appreciate the slight ease in grade here and won’t be far away if on a going day.

Cheers

John