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Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ludlow and Newcastle.

Ludlow

2:30 – Sacre Coeur – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The mare posted a personal best effort over hurdles when a 2 ¼ length 2nd of 10 in mares only handicap hurdle at Wincanton last time. Just beaten by an improver that day and the front two pulled nicely clear of the rest. On a competitive mark, if she stays 3m.

3:30 – Picanha – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner of a bumper on his debut over rules. The 8-year-old returned from a 697-day absence, shaping with plenty of promise on his Exeter hurdle debut before going onto win a Warwick maiden. Found Grade 2 company at Cheltenham to hot last time and will appreciate the return to calmer waters off what looks a workable mark for his handicap debut.

Newcastle

3:46 – Imperium – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Made it 6-8 on the all-weather when winning at Kempton 33-days ago and the first time cheekpieces he wore last time are retained. Despite being a 6-year-old he remains progressive and although he been raised up 3lb for his latest success I think he can defy the weight rise. Granted he must prove he’s as effective on the tapeta as the polytrack but connections are thinking about the Northumberland Plate over C&D as a potential summer target.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

A poor end to the month but a small profit gained so no complaints and it’s the second successive profitable month for the service.  I’m off on Wednesday so I’m hoping to get the new month off to a winning start. Today’s selections are from Catterick and Newcastle.

Catterick

3:15 – Chanting Hill – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – A respectable enough effort from the mare when 1 ¼ length 2nd of 3 over C&D last time. On her last winning mark and provided they go an even enough gallop she looks more than capable of going close again.

Newcastle

7:30 – True Mason – 5/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – A useful juvenile but hasn’t won his 2-year-old’s days. He in a good effort when a 2 ¾ lengths 5th of 12 when last seen in action over C&D 126-days ago. He was closing when not getting a clear run 2f out that day. Once a gap appeared, he was finishing his race off strongly. Has a long absence to overcome but Hollie Doyle has been booked for the ride and I’m expecting a good run from the 6-year-old.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Final day of the month and another profit made. Not as big as I was hoping for at one point but a profit is a profit. Today’s selections are from Plumpton and Wolverhampton.

Plumpton

3:25 – Mellow Ben – 3/1 @ Gen – On a losing run that goes back to the autumn of 2019 but is well treated on the best of his form and bounced back to form from an 81-day break when 3^rd of 9 at Kempton 17-days ago. The drier the ground the better for the 9-year-old and the yard had a double at Kempton on Saturday.

Wolverhampton

8:00 – Shabs – 5/2 @ Bet365 – Not much signs of ability on his first three career starts but improved for the step up to 7f on his handicap debut, when beaten a nose into second over C&D last month. The front two pull nicely clearly of the rest and the selection can race off the same mark here.

8:30 – Street Poet – 6/1 @ Bet365 – A ten-time winner on the all-weather, including 4-12 over C&D. The 9-year-old returned to form when a 1 ½ length 2^nd of 9 at Chelmsford two starts back. Not in the same form at Southwell last time but on a mark, he can win off when all the cards fall right.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Naas and Fontwell.

Naas

2:00 – Blackbow – 11/8 @ Bet365 – Despite Paul Townend opting for Cash Back. I’m going with the selection. The drop back to the minimum trip suits the 9-year-old. He should get an uncontested lead here and if Danny Mullins gets the fractions right, he will be hard to pass.

3:30 – Magic Word – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has improved with each of her three starts over hurdle. Posting a career best when a 3 ½ length 2^nd of 18 over C&D last time. There is a small handicap hurdle like this in the filly off her present mark.

Fontwell

2:50 – Monmiral – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Last season’s high class juvenile hurdler, won a Grade 1 at Aintree, bids to get his career on track after a very poor run in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his seasonal reappearance. Clearly comes with risks attached after that run and the stable isn’t back in top gear just yet either. However, a reproduction of last season’s best would make him hard to beat.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Phew, Punk Poet got us back among the winners at Dundalk yesterday and it looked like it might be two with Young Butler finishing a close-up second at Exeter. Today’s selections are from Kempton and Fairyhouse.

Kempton

1:50 – Impulsive One – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection impressed when putting a career best on RPR’s when winning at Musselburgh 20-days ago. A right-handed, sharpish track seems to suit him. The drier the ground the better and he won’t be far away here.

4:10 – Herbiers – 6/1 @ Bet365 or 11/2 @ Paddy Power – Made it 4-8 over hurdles when winning at Doncaster (2m 3 ½ f) 91-days ago. That was the 5-year-old’s first start beyond an extended 2m. Step up to 2m 5f asks a new question of him stamina wise but he remains progressive and despite a 7lb rise in the weights can be competitive.

Fairyhouse

3:08 – Enniskerry – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – The selection who is 2-4 over hurdles put in a career best when a ½ length 2^nd of 10 to M C Muldoon at Galway 212-days ago. Long absence to overcome but the yard is 3-4 in the past 14-days so no concerns on stable from. Best form last spring/summer came on a sound surface but if he’s as effective on today’s softer ground. He’s of plenty of interest on his handicap hurdle debut.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Two selections today from Exeter and Dundalk.

Exeter

3:20 – Young Butler – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Took advantage of weak looking race when winning a Plumpton maiden hurdle last month. Looked like he would be suited by a more strongly run contest last time and the step up to 2m 7f can elicit more improvement from the 6-year-old.

Dundalk

5:00 – Punk Poet – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & Ladbrokes – A winner over C&D in October, off 3lb lower, the selection returned from an 8 weeks absence with a 5 ¼ length 7^th of 14 over C&D two weeks ago. He wasn’t the best away that day and couldn’t take up his customary prominent position. Not given a hard race inside the final furlong.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

I’m running late this morning. Today’s selections are from Ludlow and Kempton.

Ludlow

3:00 – Coolnaugh Haze – 11/2 – Gen – Made most to win a Plumpton maiden hurdle 23-days ago. That was just his third career start and second over hurdles. Gets the 4-year-old weight allowance for his handicap hurdle debut and looks capable of better in the sphere.

3:35 – Slate House – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection isn’t the horse he once was but he’s finished runner-up on his last two starts over fences at Wincanton & Taunton. Came up against an improver in Revels Hill last time. He might be vulnerable to stronger stayers, even over a sharp 3m like Ludlow’s, but is handicapped to win a race like this.

Kempton

7:30 – Sip and Smile – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Has won both his career starts at Newcastle. The latest of them coming 19-days ago. Handicap debut off what looks a workable mark and if he’s as effective on the polytrack as the tapeta won’t be far away here.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Now just two selections from Taunton and Southwell.

Taunton

3:05 – Premiumaccess – 11/4 @ Bet365 – The selection isn’t the most consistent of chasers last season but he put in a much better effort when a 7 ¼ length 3^rd of 8 at Fontwell 15-days ago. That was the 7-year-old’s first start for 11 months and he should be sharper here.

Southwell

7:00 – Copper Mountain – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes –The filly has won two of her last three starts, including a comfortable success over C&D 9-days ago. The application of the first time cheekpieces and the step up to a mile contributed to her improved form. Has a 6lb penalty to carry here but that that shouldn’t anchor her if the same form as last time.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Just the one selection today.

Navan

4:05 – Farouk D’alene – 6/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has 8lb to find with stablemate Run Wild Fred on official ratings but he’s only had three starts over fences. A winner here (2m 4f) on his chase debut. He’s since finished runner-up to Master McShee in a Grade 1 at Limerick and a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 7 to Stattler in Grade 3 novice at Naas. He was just beaten by a stronger stayer on the run-in last time but looks a Graded chase winner in waiting.

Cheers

John

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Haydock and Lingfield.

Haydock

2:05 – Third Wind – 7/2 @ Bet365 – The selection built on the promise of his Ascot reappearance in December when a 7 ¾ lengths 3rd of 7 to Sporting John in a Pertemps Series Qualifiers at Warwick last month. He won this race 12 months ago and flat track like Haydock really suits. It was soft ground when he won 12 months ago but he should be fine on heavy.

3:50 – Hillcrest – 5/4 @Bet365 – Hard to look beyond the improving favourite. The selection won his first three starts over hurdles, including a Listed novice hurdle at Cheltenham two starts back. He didn’t get past the third hurdle when hampered by a faller and unseating his rider in a Grade 2 at the same venue on Trials Day. Granted an extended 3m on heavy ground asks a different question of the 7-year-old but he shapes like a stayer.

Lingfield

3:45 – Pirate King – 3/1 @ Bet365 – A four-time C&D winner. The 7-year-old is now down to his last winning mark. Better for his Southwell return when a 1 ¼ lengths 4th of 10 over C&D last month. Doing his best work at the finish, after a slow start, and with Ryan Moore booked, a big run is expected.

Cheers

John