John Burke

Morning all,

I hope you had a good Christmas and Boxing Day.

The rain came in over Christmas and that meant an easing the ground across Britain & Ireland. There were some big crowds around the various racecourses in England as you would expect for Boxing Day. I was at Wetherby and there was a large crowd at the West Yorkshire and so it seemed at Kempton. For some of the people I spoke to at Wetherby. I got the sense that they thought it maybe a final chance to watch the racing live before restrictions come back in January.

Inside today’s main piece. I look back to yesterday’s King George VI Chase at Kempton.  Plus, I look ahead to today’s Welsh Grand National and three other races at the Welsh track.

Read More »Bank Holiday Action

Morning all,

Let’s start with some good news. It looks like there won’t be any new Covid restriction in England for now. Which means racing at Kempton & Wetherby and the other English tracks on Boxing Day will be held in front of paying spectators.

Inside today’s main piece. I have a short review of yesterday action at Ludlow. Plus, I have couple to note at Wetherby on Boxing Day. A meeting I will be attending.

Read More »Christmas Crackers – Part 2

Morning all,

Well, I came off the cold list with Dubai Days success at Ayr yesterday. I was beginning to wonder when I would next provide the column with a winner. That’s one monkey off my back. Dubai Day’s victory was the third of three winners on the day for trainer Nick Alexander who has his horses in cracking form at present.

Racing Behind Closed Doors Again

There was bad news for racing. The Welsh Government announced yesterday that spectators are banned from all indoor, outdoor, professional and sports events in Wales from 26 December. This means the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on December 27^th will once again be run behind closed doors. I suspect you’re more likely to catch Omicron variant down the local Tesco than outside in the Monmouthshire countryside.

Hot on the heels of that news. The Scottish Government announced a cap of 500 spectators at sporting events from December 27^th which will last for three weeks.  

Musselburgh’s New Year’s Days fixture will be held behind closed doors. As the racecourse said having 500 spectators wasn’t viable and only annual members, owners, trainers, and staff will be in attendance.

For now, England seems to be holding off adding more restrictions. How long that situation will last is any one’s guess. I fear the sport faces an uncertain few weeks which could run into months.  I hope I’m wrong. The only positive is that racing will at least take place, even if it is behind closed doors.

Read More »Christmas Crackers – Part 1

Morning all,

Well, its less than a week to the big Boxing Day action. It’s hard to believe that Christmas Day is just five days away.  I can’t really, I say I feel very festive.

Its was a tough week for racing last week. First, we had Buzz suffering a severe season ending pelvic injury. Then we got the news that Silver Streak had been fatally injured during a routine canter and then a couple of horses lost their lives at Haydock on Saturday. It just goes to show how fragile these horses are. It remains the case this can be one brutal game.

Inside today’s main piece. I look back at two races from Ascot on Saturday. Plus, there is a selection from this afternoon’s meeting at Lingfield.

Read More »Saturday Review