John Burke

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

Good morning all,

Crowds are back on UK racecourses this afternoon. The racing isn’t exactly stellar this afternoon/evening but for the lucky few who have got a ticket for Ludlow, Haydock, Lingfield or Kempton that won’t matter. It’s a day out at the races for them and it’s a long time since people have been able to do that.

It’s going to be anything but normal. The COVID-19 security will be tight. You won’t be able to drink alcohol unless your having a “substantial meal”. However, in the great scheme of things all that doesn’t matter for the now. All that does is spectators at sport are back. It’s limited numbers for sure but at least we take the first tentative steps back to normality.

How long it will last?

I suspect that the COVID-19 story which has had more twists than your average Tales of the Unexpected episode, isn’t over just yet. I hope I’m wrong.  

Inside today’s main piece I look ahead to Saturday’s Becher Chase at Aintree. Plus, I have a selection from Haydock.

Read More »Haydock Fancies & Becher Chase Preview

Good morning all,

Cloth Cap & Impact Factor did the business for me at Newbury and Fairyhouse respectably. The first time cheekpieces really worked on Cloth Cap who jumped better than he has ever done when making all to win the Ladbroke Trophy.

Ok, the race didn’t contain a Denman or a Bobs Worth but Cloth Cap got a great ride from Tom Scudamore. I’m glad I kept the faith in the 8-year-old who always had a decent handicap chase pot in him when he got decent ground.

Meanwhile across the Irish Sea Impact Factor defied 576-day absence to win the big handicap chase at Fairyhouse.  He got into a great jumping rhythm from the off and showed he was on a winnable mark for his handicap chase debut.

More on the Ladbroke Trophy and also Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante'd return to action inside the main piece. Plus, I have a selection from Ayr.

Read More »Weekend Thoughts & Ayr Fancies