John Burke

Morning all,

It’s “Super Saturday”. It’s not popular with everyone, given the wall to wall racing during the afternoon with no time to draw breath. ITV viewers can watch a bumper programme of action with broadcaster covering no less than 11 races live this afternoon.

The race of the day is Newmarket's Darley July Cup (4.25), one of the world's most prestigious sprint race. Up at York, it’s John Smith's Cup Day. The feature handicap which has £200,000 in guaranteed prize money goes off at 4:05. Down at Ascot there’s Group action with the highlights of a seven-race card being the Group 2 Summer Miles Stakes (3.35) and the valuable 5f Betfred Heritage Handicap (3:00).

It’s a day that you either love or hate. We’ll I’m in the former camp. That said, it doesn’t make writing today’s column easy.  I don’t have the time to preview all the ITV races there are just too many of them.

I have plenty of fancies today and Super Saturday is one of those day’s during the summer when you can have a good swing.

Inside today’s main piece. I have looked at the big races at Newmarket & York. Plus. There’s a second Saturday Lucky 15.

Read More »Super Saturday Preview

Morning all,

Day one of Newmarket’s July Festival saw two winners for Charlie Appleby. I mentioned in Wednesday’s column that the trainer runners were worth following at the meeting. Hopefully some of you got on the bigger prices that were available about Noble Dynasty in the concluding handicap.

On to Day 2. Again, ITV are covering four races live from the meeting and there also two races from day one of York’s John Smith’s Cup Meeting.

The feature race at Newmarket is the Group 1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (3.15).  Inspiral, with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, so impressive in winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot is long odds on to maintain her unbeaten career record. She seems to have scared off most of her rivals as only five fillies have been declared for a contest that has £250,000 guaranteed prize money.

The race of a seven-race card at York is the Group 3 William Hill Summer Stakes (2.40). The sponsors will be delighted that the field size has held up well with twelve fillies and mares declared to meet the starter for what looks a very competitive renewal.

Inside today’s main piece I look ahead to a couple of races at Newmarket. Plus, the Summer Stakes at York.

Read More »Newmarket July Festival – Day 2

Morning all,

We’re on the eve of the Newmarket July Festival and of course “Super Saturday”. Given the poor figures at Sandown on Saturday for the Coral-Eclipse. It will be interesting to see how attendance fare over the three days at Newmarket.

Newmarket is the feature meeting of “Super Saturday” with the highlight being the Group 1 July Cup which is shaping up to be a cracker. It’s another ‘clash of the generations’ this time over 6f. The race will hopefully see Commonwealth Cup Winner Perfect Power taking on the first three home in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes: Naval Crown, Creative Flare and Artorius.  

Newmarket might have on Saturday, but It won’t see the biggest attendance of the day. That will be at York where there’s likely to be twice as many people for John Smith’s Cup Day. It’s a race day that’s always attracted a big crowd and last year 28,158 people were in attendance, albeit just over 40,000 were there to watch the action in 2016.

It looks like the weather is going to pay ball. Fingers crossed, if the weather forecasters are right were heading into a dry and warm, even hot spell of weather

Inside today’s main piece. I look at few trainers whose runners could be worth following at the July Festival and there’s a Wednesday selection from Kempton.

Read More »Newmarket July Festival Trainers

Morning all,

Today I’m sharing with you my notebook of last week’s racing.  It includes a couple of eyecatchers from Sandown and Haydock and a horse that looks good value at 14/1 for the Goodwood Cup.

Read More »Daily Punt Weekly Notebook