John Burke

Good morning all,

I have to say Charlie Deutsch is riding with great confidence. That was exemplified by his winning ride on yesterday’s selection Don Herbager at Exeter.

Don Herbager is just an old-fashioned plodder and Deutsch didn’t panic when his mount seemed to lose his place at the 10th.  Instead, he just allowed the horse to find his feet and stay on resolutely for the win.

The weather outside is frightful and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better before the weekend.  Haydock’s Saturday card which is due to be covered by ITV and features four Grade 2 races, including the Peter Marsh Chase is in doubt. The ground is already heavy and more rain is forecast. In addition, colder weather is being forecast for later in the week and possibly snow. It’s hard to see the meeting going ahead which is a big shame.

Hopes are good for Ascot. The going there is currently soft but they are expecting up to an inch of rain in the next few days so the ground is likely to be heavy come race day. ITV are also covering one race from Taunton, part of an eight-race programme, so would assume they will cover more races from the Somerset track in the likely event of Haydock not racing.

Inside today’s main piece I’m looking ahead to Saturday’s Ascot card. Plus, I look at today’s action from Newbury but first a few words on Charles Byrnes.

Read More »Newbury Selection & Clarence House Chase

Good morning all,

It’s hard to believe but it’s only eight weeks to the Cheltenham Festival. There has been plenty of talk of late that there may not be any runners from Ireland at the meeting. If that was the case Cheltenham would be the loser, that’s for sure, given that over 40% of the runners at last years festival came across the Irish Sea.

For what’s it worth I think the big trainers like Mullins and Elliott will have their horses in attendance. However, should either Covid-19 restrictions or Brexit see them not travel over, then it’s worth taking a looking at what the Championship races betting would like without the Mullins and Elliott stars and see if there are any value betting opportunities.

Inside the main piece I go through some of the contenders for Saturday’s Classic Chase at Warwick. Plus, I have a selection from Catterick.

Read More »North Yorkshire Grand National Selection

Good morning all,

The first few weeks of January tend to be miserable on the quality front. Add in no crowds at racecourses and what looks like some bitterly cold weather lined up for most of this week. Things can only get better. You would hope so.  However, looming on the horizon is another national lockdown. A lockdown which could resemble what we had in the spring.

What does that mean for professional sport and of course horse racing? I think we should brace ourselves for the real possibility that the sport maybe taking another break. Fingers crossed my gloomy prognosis is wrong.

On the plus side we do have some good racing to look forward to this Saturday, weather permitting of course, with the re-scheduled Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. At Kempton it’s the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle and in addition the Relkeel Hurdle moved from Cheltenham’s cancelled New Year’s Day fixture. Even Wincanton gets in on the act with Dipper Novices Chase, also from that Cheltenham meeting.

A great week of racing ended at Sandown on Saturday. Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on a couple of races from that card. Plus, I have a selection from Fakenham.

Read More »It's looking bleak for racing

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