John Burke

Morning all,

Although Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle Day is billed as “Super Saturday”. I’m not sure it lived up to the title this year. There was nothing wrong with the quality of the racing on offer. It just lacked depth with small fields for the feature races at Newbury & Warwick.

Despite the lack of runners. We witnessed some intriguing contests and gained some further Cheltenham Festival clues.

Inside today’s main piece. I look back at my highlights from Newbury & Warwick. Plus, there’s a Monday selection from..

Read More »Weekend Review & Catterick Selection

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,

It might be recency bias but with crowds returning I think this was the best Dublin Racing Festival so far. The sight of unrestricted and no socially distanced crowd also added the spectacle. The racecourse even seemed to get the watering right. Compared to recent seasons we didn’t have the deluge of non-runners on the Sunday card.

Inside today’s main piece. I look back at the four Grade 1’s on the Leopardstown card. Plus, there are some eyecatchers from the Dublin Racing Festival and a selection from Market Rasen.

Read More »Dublin Racing Festival Review – Part 2

Morning all,

With two million Euros in prize money the Dublin Racing Festival goes from strength to strength. And, it was good to see this year’s meeting taking places in front of unrestricted crowds.The atmosphere they create just add to the sport.

It wasn’t all about Leopardstown though. The racing this side of the Irish Sea was of a high quality on Saturday. And, we saw exciting novice chasers La Homme Presse and Ahoy Senor both confirming they’re on course for the festival with comfortable successes at Sandown and Wetherby.

La Homme Presse continued to impress with his jumping and strength at the finish in winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday. It wasn’t the strongest renewal of the race but the winner is very good prospect and won’t be disgraced in the Turners Novices' Chase at the festival. Connections will be hoping that Galopin De Champs goes for the longer race.

Ahoy Senor faced just three rivals in the Grade 2 Towton Novices Chase at Wetherby. Unlike last time at Kempton. He got into a good jumping rhythm out in front. He powered clear three out to give his rivals 5lb and good beating. He’s back on track for Cheltenham and which ever race he runs at Cheltenham. Trainer Lucinda Russell has got nice festival problem. Does Ahoy Senor go for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase or do they roll the dice and go for the Gold Cup with him.

Inside today’s main piece and tomorrows, I will be dissecting a great weekend of action at Leopardstown. Plus, there is a selection from this afternoon’s meeting at Fontwell.

Read More »Dublin Racing Festival Review – Part 1