John Burke

Good morning all,

We’re just one day away from the first day of Royal Ascot and final declarations for tomorrow are now out.

If the thought of 35 top class races doesn’t quicken the pulse, then nothing will. Even the additional races that have been added to the meeting would be the big betting races on a normal Saturday.  Granted finding a Ripon 6f winner pays out the same as the winner of the Wokingham but its hardly as satisfying.  

It’s going to be Royal Ascot all the way for me until Friday. Inside today’s main piece I have a couple of eyecatchers from York. Plus, I have a couple of Royal Ascot trainer stats and a selection from this evening’s meeting at Windsor.

Good morning all,

Chester’s May Festival is back after a year off due to lockdown. It’s the start of a busy week of Derby & Oaks Trials starting at Chester today. Moving to Lingfield on Saturday and York’s Dante Meeting next week.

The feature races are the Group 3 Chester Vase (3:15). It’s an Epsom Derby Trial which was won in 2013 by Ruler Of The World before he went onto victory in that year’s Derby. In 2017 Wings Of Eagles finished runner-up in the race before going onto success at Epsom. Both horses were trained by Aidan O’Brien who has farmed the race in recent seasons winning seven of the last nine renewals.

The other classic trial is the Cheshire Oaks (2:15).  The race was won in 2017 by Enable before her win in the Epsom Oaks. John Gosden or Aidan O’Brien have saddled the last five winners of the race.

Inside today’s main piece, I’m concentrating on this afternoon’s racing from Chester. If you’re lucky enough to be off today or working from home you can watch the best of the Chester action on ITV Racing.

Good morning all,

Saturday see’s the curtain drop on the jumps season. Mind you it’s not long before the new one starts. Whilst I’m now mostly focused on the upcoming month of flat action. There’s still the small matter of next week’s Punchestown Festival and before that Sandown’s Bet365 Gold Cup Day on Saturday.

Inside today’s main piece I preview Saturday's big betting race. Plus, I have selection from Perth.

Good morning all,

The 2020-21 NH season is coming to an end. We have three-days at Perth’s for their April meeting and on Saturday the curtain comes down on the British season with Sandown staging the Bet365 Gold Cup.

Over the Irish Sea, the Irish NH season ends with a bang and five days of high-class action at the Punchestown Festival.

Inside today’s main piece I have some Perth pointers. Plus, I have got a couple for the tracker from Newbury and two early season juveniles who can build on promising racecourse debuts.