John Burke

Good morning all,

The sport now takes three days off in the run up to Boxing Day. It’s a case of the calm before the storm as we have some cracking racing to enjoy the next ten days or so. The highlights include; the King George VI Chase at Kempton, The Welsh Grand National at Chepstow and of course four days of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. More on some of those big races in the Wednesday and Thursday columns.

Inside today’s main piece I have two for the tracker. Plus, I have a selection from Huntingdon. However, let's begin with a quick look at King George VI.

Read More »Huntingdon Selection & Two For The Tracker

Good morning all,

Southwell is set to say goodbye to its fibresand surface. Inside the main piece you can read my thoughts on the decision. Plus, I have two for the tracker and a selection from Wincanton.

Read More »Wincanton Selection

Good morning all,

I’m beginning to dread a sunny day at our jump’s tracks because you know what it's likely to bring.

Low sun was the enemy again on Saturday, with just the five hurdles jumped in the International Hurdle.  The race was reduced to a bit of a farce by low Sun but that won’t worry backers or the connections of winner Song For Someone.

Inside the main piece, you can read my thoughts on Saturday’s Cheltenham action. Plus, I have a selection from Kempton.

Read More »Jungle Boogaloo at Kempton

Good morning all,

Friday sees the start of the two-day International Meeting at Cheltenham and you can see the best of the action on ITV racing. The course will be witnessing the return of paying spectators for the first time since the Festival.

There’s an eight-race card on Friday with the re-staged Peterborough Chase being added to the card.

On Saturday the feature races are Grade 2 International Hurdle (3.00) and the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup (1.50) is the big betting race of the weekend. The ITV cameras will also be at Doncaster to cover three races from the South Yorkshire track.

It’s that time in the week when I look ahead to the weekend’s big race action. Now I have two weather apps that I use and they seem to be sending mixed messages as far as rainfall is concerned. One is suggesting 14mm of rain at Cheltenham before Saturday and the other just ‘spits and spots’ on Friday. Conflicting weather reports are never good news to the ears of ante post punters.

The going at Cheltenham is being currently described as good to soft. I can’t see it being better than that and if the more pessimistic forecast proves correct it could be soft come Saturday.

Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on Saturday’s Caspian Caviar Gold. Plus, I have a selection from Hexham.

Read More »Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Preview & Hexham Selection