John Burke

Morning all,

Unfortunately, I had a few technical problems with Microsoft Office yesterday which meant I had to reinstall the software. Of course, this meant I couldn’t produce Tuesday’s article. Well, I’m back on track today. Albeit a day late with Tracker Tuesday becoming ‘Tracker Wednesday’ and my look ahead to Saturday’s big race action. Plus, I will be looking at the Thyestes Handicap Case in Thursday column. This means there won’t be a ‘Path To Cheltenham’ piece this week.

The WIFI down here in Wiltshire is better that at home which is a big positive. Anyway, I have three horses for the tracker. Plus, I have a selection from today’s teatime meeting at Kempton.

Morning all,

It promised to be interesting and informative weekend. The ‘Clash of the Titans” and the race of the season so far took place at Ascot on Saturday. Meanwhile up at Haydock Jonbon was bidding to enhance his Supreme Novice Hurdle claims in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle.

By the time you read this I will be on the road. I’m heading way for a few days away in Wiltshire. It’s a good opportunity for a mid-season break to recharge the batteries. However, I shall still be doing my Tuesday to Thursday columns as normal, albeit they will likely be shorter than normal.

Today I’m looking back at Saturday’s big race action. Plus, there’s a Monday tip from Kempton at the end of the main piece.  

Morning all,

An early morning optician’s appointment for yours truly means a shorter main piece today. In today’s main piece there is another ante post selection in my “Path to Cheltenham” series. Plus, a selection from Wincanton’s Somerset National.

Morning all,

A stellar weekend of racing begins on Friday. It’s the first ever Winter Million Festival Weekend at Lingfield. The feature race is the 2m7f Winter Million Hurdle (2.25).  Four of the races are being covered by ITV. The ITV cameras are also covering four races from Market Rasen, including the Listed Mares’ bumper (2:40) which last season was won Eileendover.

It gets even better on Saturday. Fingers crossed it will be Shishkin v Energumene in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase (3:35).  Up at Haydock there are four Grade 2 races including the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (2.35) and The New One Unibet Hurdle (2.00). There’s also a good all-weather card at Lingfield with a new race the Winter Oaks (3.40) a handicap, with £100,000 guaranteed prize money, the highlight of seven race card.  ITV are covering the best of the action from Ascot and Haydock on a seven-race programme.

On Sunday its back to Lingfield for the final day of the Winter Million Festival. The highlights of seven race card look to be the Fleur De Lys Chase (3:00) which has £150,000 guaranteed prize money and the Surrey National (3:35). Once again ITV will be covering five races from the Surrey track.

Inside today’s main piece. I look ahead to Saturday’s big races the Clarence House Chase and the Peter Marsh Chase. Plus, there’s a selection from today’s Newbury card.