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John Burke

John Burke is a long term tipster at the Victor Value service, a contributor to On Course Profits and of course a regular contributor here at the Daily Punt. Https://victorvalue.uk

ITV Racing Bonanza & Musselburgh Betting Angles

Hi all,

All eyes are on the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) this weekend.

The DRF is a superb meeting in its own right, with huge prize money and elite horses on show. But let’s be honest it’s also the launch pad for Cheltenham, perfectly placed in the calendar as the final major staging post before March.

ITV Racing viewers are in for a real treat. An incredible 22 races will be shown live across the weekend – two from Leopardstown on Saturday and a further five on Sunday.

I sent my full Saturday DRF preview to subscribers on Friday lunchtime, and just writing it got me genuinely excited about what’s in store. I’ve got plenty of strong fancies at Leopardstown and at Sandown and Musselburgh so it’s shaping up as a big betting weekend to close one month and start the next.

Weather Watch Again

There is, however, one fly in the ointment. Leopardstown faces an 8am inspection after further heavy rain was forecast for Friday night. If it fails, Saturday’s card will be rescheduled for Monday weather permitting.  At least that’s some consolation and would be cracking Monday treat.

If Leopardstown can race the race of the day is stellar Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3:30). It’s likely to be the strongest staying Grade 1 chase of the season and I include the Cheltenham Gold Cup in that sentiment. If Galopin Des Champs wins the race for a fourth successive year the crowd will take the roof off.

Sandown also now faces a 7:30am inspection. I think they’ll be fine, but more rain than forecast would be a concern. Let’s hope they don’t regret not opting for an all-chase card.

What should be the most exciting weekend of the jumps season could yet turn into a damp squid. Fingers firmly crossed it doesn’t.

Of Saturday’s jump meetings, the only one guaranteed to go ahead is Musselburgh.

Inside today’s main piece, I focus on two of the three ITV races there, where it’s the bet365-sponsored Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend.

Read More »ITV Racing Bonanza & Musselburgh Betting Angles

Meydan and Southwell Action + 33/1 Free Tip

Hi all,

There’s very little to get excited about on these shores on the eve of the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF). Even Friday’s Meydan card on the Flat struggles to lift the mood. I’ve done the DRF stats for the column over the past couple of days, so that box is ticked. Now it’s about analysing the races, with final declarations in for Saturday’s card.

If you’d like my previews and selections, they’re available for a one-off £9.99 here.

Sandown’s hurdles course passed a Thursday morning inspection albeit further heavy run would warrant a further inspection. That means it won’t be an all-chase card and the £100,000 Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (3:10) will be run.

Leopardstown has had 170mm or about seven inches, for older readers, of rain over the past ten days, with more forecast today (possibly another 13mm) and a further 10mm on Friday night.

At most tracks, that would put the meeting in serious doubt. At Leopardstown, it doesn’t.

The course drains quickly, and I’d still expect the chase track to ride no worse than soft by Sunday. With a couple of dry days, it could even edge back towards good to soft. Ok, that’s a fanciful outcome but I’m not expecting heavy in the going description

The hurdle track is another story altogether. That is likely to be a proper slog in the mud if further rain arrives.

Inside today’s main piece, I focus on three turf races from Meydan this afternoon, plus one from Southwell.

Read More »Meydan and Southwell Action + 33/1 Free Tip