John Burke

Morning all,

We can firmly look ahead to Cheltenham now. Granted we have two Saturdays of racing until the tapes go up on the runners in the Supreme. However, with all due respect to Kelso’s Morebattle Hurdle Day, Newbury’s Greatwood Gold Cup, and the Imperial Cup at Sandown it’s all about Cheltenham now.

The final pieces of the “Festival” puzzle were put in place on Tuesday. With the publication of the weights for the Cheltenham handicaps.

Inside today’s column you’ll find my penultimate “Path To Cheltenham” instalment. Plus, there’s a Thursday selection from Ludlow.

Read More »Cheltenham Pointers

Morning all,

The days’ feature race is the Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle (3.10) at Huntingdon a race won by Shishkin in 2020 before going on to win the Supreme at Cheltenham. Sadly, the five strong field doesn’t include Grade 1 Challow Hurdle winner Stage Star who wasn’t declared at the 48 hour stage.

At Thurles Chester Cup Winner Falcon Eight bids to book his place in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle with a win in the 2m 7f maiden hurdle (4:00). Besides the Falcon Eight. Connections of Gentlemen De Mee will be disappointed if he can’t get off the mark at the third attempt in the beginners’ chase (1:45).

Yesterday, it was announced that Defi Du Seuil was being retired from racing. Its good news he seemed to have fallen out of love with the game. I had at one point feared that he might be switched to Ben Haslam. Nothing against Ben Haslem as a trainer but it would have been sad seeing the 9-year-old doing something either he couldn’t or didn’t want to do anymore. Here’s wishing the five-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles and fences a long and happy retirement.

Inside today’s main piece there’s another instalment in my ‘Path To Cheltenham’ series. Today I’m focusing on the on the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle. There’s also an interesting Cheltenham stat for those who like such things.

Read More »Albert Bartlett 33/1 Selection & Cheltenham Festival Trend

Morning all,

After a thoroughly enjoyable few day’s away. It was great to be back for Saturday’s Cheltenham Trials Day and there were plenty of talking points to come out of the meeting.

Two of the most notable were the going at Cheltenham and the performance of the Paul Nicholls runners at both Cheltenham & Doncaster.

The going was officially described as good at Cheltenham. However, the way the horses were finishing their races suggests the going was more like dead, stamina sapping ground.

If you were backing Paul Nicholls runners on Saturday you ended the day very much out of pocket. Nicholls had ten runners across the Cheltenham and Doncaster cards. They all lost and only one placed. More notably for me. They all seemed to struggle to get home.

Today I look back on the highlight performances from an informative Cheltenham Trials Day. Plus, there’s a selection from Plumpton at the bottom of the main piece.

Read More »Cheltenham Trials Day Review and Plumpton Selection

Morning all,

I have had a few issue this morning. The article I was working on last evening hasn't saved so I have had to hastily rewrite this morning.

Inside today’s main piece I’m once again looking ahead to March and the Cheltenham Festival. There’s another free ante post selection. Plus, I have a selection from this afternoon’s meeting at Catterick.  

Read More »Path To Cheltenham and Catterick Selection