Thursday Selections – September 16th 2021

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Ayr & Naas on what looks a tricky day’s punting.

Ayr

3:00 – Jewel Maker – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Did best of those coming from the rear when 4th of 9th in a steadily run race at Carlisle last month. That was the 6-year-old first start for nearly 4 months so he’s entitled to be sharper today. Now below last winning mark he can win again when he gets a more favourably run race.

3:35 – Daniel Deronda – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The top-weight has been running well this season. He found the race coming too quick when down the field two starts back but quickly returned to form when a neck 2nd of 13 at Thirsk 12-days ago. Nudged up 2lb but the suspicion is that he remains capable of a bit better for a return to a mile. Really quick ground would be slight unknown but a chance is taken that he handles it.

5:50 – Graces Quest – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 3-year-old only won a Musselburgh seller last time but that was a career best from the filly and she remains open to more improvement off a light weight if her wide draw in stall 14 isn’t an inconvenience.

Naas

3:10 – Wide Eyed Girl – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Had shaped with a ability on her three starts in maiden company and was a useful 3rd of 10 on her nursery debut at Navan last month. Given she didn’t have the best of passages she did well to get within 3 ¼ lengths of the winner last time. It was her first start since April so she should be sharper here and the way she travelled through her suggested she’s in a winnable mark granted more luck in the run.

Cheers

John

Wednesday Selections – September 15th 2021

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Sandown.

Sandown

4:05 – Deep Sigh – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – One of the least exposed of the eight fillies she seemed to handle rain softened ground well enough when beating three rivals at Doncaster when last seen in action 69-days ago. Today’s soft ground should ensure the emphasis will be on stamina rather than speed which will suit.

4:40 – Ziggy – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked an improver when winning at Nottingham two starts back and the top-weight improved again off an 11llb higher mark when a 1 length 4th of 11 at Goodwood last time. That run came over 1m 3f so he drops 1f in distance today but the easing on the ground and s light drop in class can overcome that.

5:10- Harston – 5/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power – Showed improved form to get off the mark at the 4th attempt on her handicap debut at Lingfield 51-days ago. Like Ziggy she takes a slight drop in distance here but should continue to progress further and we likely haven’t seen the best of her yet.

Cheers

John

Tuesday Selections – September 14th 2021

Hi all,

The service was back among the winners on Monday with Dark Terms successful at Kempton.  A 5/1 SP was also a nice surprise. Thank heavens for the BOG bookmakers.  

Today’s selections are both from this evening’s meeting at Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton

7:20 – Alphonse Karr – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection won a novice here over 6f in May and finished a 1 length 3rd of 6 at Chelmsford 19-days ago. He was doing his best work at the finish over 6f last time and return to 7f could enable the 3-year-old to gain a second career success. Yard had a winner at Kempton yesterday evening.

8:20 – I’m Watching You – 4/1 @ Bet365 – Both the 4-year-old’s career wins have come here, albeit over 6f. The last of those wins came in February off 1lb higher. He’s not been as good on turf since but wasn’t beaten far when 4th of 10 at Goodwood 18-days ago. On a winnable mark if handling the drop back to 5f.

Cheers

John

Monday Selections – September 13th 2021

Hi all,

Today’s selections are from Brighton and Kempton and we’ll know their fate in a 45 minute spell.

Brighton

5:00 – Olivia Mary – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection may be a ten-race maiden but she’s returned from a 9-month absence with two second place efforts in the past two weeks. Last time out looked sure to win well inside the final furlong but was collared in the shadow of the post. Nudged up 2lb but should be competitive again, provided a third quick run doesn’t take its toll.

Kempton

5:15 – Mythical Star – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Coral – Was well backed to make a winning nursery debut before finishing a 3 ¾ length 7th of 11 over C&D last month. The gelding ran better than his final position suggests as she didn’t get the clearest of passages when making his effort 2f out. Has been dropped 3lb in the meantime and looks capable of better than he’s shown so far.

5:45 – Dark Terms – 100/30 @ Bet365 & Coral – The filly finished three places in front of Mythical Star here 24-days ago. That was her first start in nursery company. She still looked a bit green when asked for her effort 2f out but stayed on well all the way to the line and remains open to more progress.

Cheers

John

Sunday Selections – September 12th 2020

Hi all,

Disappointed that we couldn’t snatch a winner on Saturday instead we had to settle for two seconds. Today’s three selections are from Haydock.

Haydock

5:30 – Exminster – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection won a Redcar maiden on his racecourse debut before running well under a 6lb penalty at Ripon last time. Should be able to be competitive in handicap company for a yard who had two winners here at the last meeting.

6:25 – Silver Gunn – 8/1 @ Bet365 – Put in a career best when winning over today’s trip on the last Sunday Series meeting at Sandown three weeks ago. He’s up 4lb for that success but looks to be progressing and still be ahead of the handicapper.

6:55 – Snowalot – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old unlucky at Sandown two starts back, won at Goodwood over 1m 6f last time. He’s up 4lb for his latest win but seems likely to improve for the step up to 2m.

Cheers

John

Saturday Selections – September 11th 2021

Hi all,

It’s Good To Laugh maintained the winning run at Chester yesterday at what turned out to be a generous SP of 5/1.

Today’s selections are from Leopardstown and Chester.

Leopardstown

12:40 – Limiti Di Greccio – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection took a big step forward from her two starts when winning a C&D maiden last month. That was her first start for trainer new trainer Paddy Twomey and there should be more to come from the filly with racing.

Chester

3:10 – Instinctive Move – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes A winner at Bath on his racecourse the debut. The Clive Cox trained juvenile found the step up to Listed company to hot on his next start at Sandown but bounced back to form when a 1 length 4th of 20 on his nursery debut at York 24-days ago. Looks capable of better and the trainer’s runners are in great form.

4:25 – Group One Power – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A winner at Epsom in April. The 4-year-old has remained in solid form on subsequent starts and showed that Chester holds no terrors when a ½ length 3rd of 12 over a furlong longer two starts back. One sole poor run came when a well beaten last of 10 at the Shergar Cup. Ran like something was amiss that day and hopefully we will see a lot better from here.

Cheers

John

Friday Selections – September 10th 2021

Hi all,

Nice to return to winning ways in style with three winners out four on Thursday.  I doubt there will be three winners among today’s selections but hopefully there’s one.

Doncaster

1:40 – Ribhi – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Produced a really good performance to win on his racecourse debut at Salisbury 30-days ago. He surged clear of his rivals in the final furlong that day looking like a very useful prospect.   A long striding colt, open to plenty of improvement. He should be well suited to Doncaster’s galloping track and given he wasn’t stopping at the finish should stay today’s extra furlong.

Sandown

3:00 – Al Rufaa – 5/1 @ Bet365 – The selection shaped better than his 7th of 9 at Goodwood suggests after 11 months absence last month. Didn’t seem totally at home on the Goodwood undulations and wasn’t given a hard race when his jockey realised, he couldn’t win.  Provided they could go a decent gallop I’m expecting better from the lightly raced 4-year-old.

Chester

4:30 – It’s Good To Laugh – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Was only beaten a short head on his first start for new trainer Jennie Candlish, here two starts back. Disappointed at Goodwood in a better race last time but a return to this venue can hopefully see the selection back in a better light. Off the same mark as when runner-up here and should stay today’s extra furlong

Cheers

John

Thursday Selections – September 9th 2021

Hi all,

Another frustrating day at the office. We could do with going on a winning run sooner rather than later. Today’s selections are from Doncaster, Chepstow and Epsom.

Doncaster

2:10 – Harrow – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The improving Harrow bids for a hat trick, after wins at Ffos Las and on his nursery debut at York last month. York win was over 7f but the slight drop in trip shouldn’t be an issue provided the forecast strong pace materializes.

3:45 – Motawaajed – 2/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection is progressing nicely and bids for the hat trick after wins at Lingfield and over C&D last month. He had useful Dance Fever ½ length back in second here and has only been raised 2lb for that win. He showed a battling attitude to prevail last time and is open to more improvement.

Chepstow

4:05 – Vince Lombardi – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Promising enough nursery debut from the selection when a 2 ½ length 3rd of ten at Sandown 18-days ago.  Given he’s bred for further he shouldn’t have any problem with a step back up to 6f.  Open to a bit more improvement albeit at a modest enough level.

Epsom

3:25 – Knowing – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 5-year-old has run better than his form figures suggest and didn’t get the best of passages inside the final 110yds when a 2 ½ length 4th of 6 at Brighton last time. Has dropped down to an attractive mark and carries 5lb less than when winning over C&D in September 2019.

Cheers

John

Wednesday Selections – September 8th 2021

Hi all,

The service is still struggling for form but it did break a frustrating run with a welcome winner yesterday with Hello Me’s success at Windsor.

The St Leger Festival gets underway today. However, I’m looking away from Doncaster for today’s selections.

Carlisle

2:40 – Battle of the Nile – 11/4 @ Bet365 – Travelled powerfully and was good enough to make a winning nursery debut at Wolverhampton. Only won by a length at the line but was value for a bigger margin of victory. Up 5lb weights but looks the type to stay ahead of the handicapper for a while yet.

Wolverhampton

7:20 – Nibras Gold – 5/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Failed by a head to land the hat trick when runner-up at Bath three weeks ago.  Nudged up 1lb but he remains open to improvement for the step up to 2m. Won here in July so no issues with a return to the tapeta for the 3-year-old.

7:50 – Zartaj – 13/2 @ Bet365 – The filly bounced back from a poor run on soft ground at Lingfield when a keeping on 5 ¼ length 5th of 13 at Kempton 21-days ago. Has been dropped 2lb since and looks interesting stepped up to an extended 1m 1f.

Cheers

John

Tuesday Selections – September 7th 2021

Hi all,

Goodwood

1:50 – King’s Castle – 7/2 @ Bet365 or 100/30 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The 4-year-old won a Beverley novice when trained by William Haggas. He’s yet to get his head in front for Joseph Tuite but has run well on couple occasions notably when a ¾ length 2nd of 7 at Epsom 7-days ago. Same mark here and reproduction of that performance will see him go close.

Windsor

4:15 – Hello Me – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Twice a winner on the all-weather last season. The filly posted a seasonal best when a ½ length 2nd of 10 over C&D last month. Up 2lb for that improved effort but the first time cheekpieces are applied and hopefully they can eke out some more improvement in the 3-year-old.

6:45 – Barenboim – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – A seven race maiden the selection showed that he handles the track when 2nd of 11 over 1m 2f two starts back and ran just as well when a 2 ¼ length 4th of 12 at Lingfield 12-days ago. Both his last two runs came in Class 3 handicaps and he drops into Class 5 company here.

Cheers

John