John Burke

Hi all,

I’m not sure whether it was a case of the January blues, the Baltic weather, or the growing fear that the forecast milder spell won’t arrive in time to save next Saturday’s jumps racing, but I was underwhelmed to be left with just Sandown on Saturday. I had a few strong fancies at Wincanton, but that card failed three Saturday morning inspections.

At Sandown, the Veterans’ Chase Final was the highlight of a seven-race card. As mentioned on Saturday, it was third time lucky for the track after losing this meeting to the weather in each of the last two years. It was also the first running since the Tolworth Hurdle was switched to Aintree’s Boxing Day fixture, and the meeting is poorer for its absence.

Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on the Sandown action.

Read More »Nocte Volatus Shines as Saturday Racing Falls Flat

Hi all,

Compared to recent Saturdays since early November, this looks one of the weakest. Post-Christmas racing is often labelled “turkey sandwich” fare, and that description fits ITV’s Sandown and Wincanton coverage all too well.

The veterans take centre stage at Sandown. The feature is the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final (3:05). Unibet also sponsor a Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle (1:15) and a Middle-Distance Veterans’ Chase Qualifier (1:50).

However, Sandown has already lost the last two running’s of this fixture to the weather, and there’s a danger it could lose this to the frost. This is the first staging of the card since the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle (now the Formby Hurdle) was moved to Aintree’s Boxing Day card, and the card is noticeably weaker as a result. A Listed Mares’ Hurdle (2:25) is a poor substitute.

Wincanton offers only modest fare. ITV are covering a Class 3 and two Class 4 handicaps, which tells its own story. Even so, I do have three fancies at the Somerset track. If you want them, you can get them here.

Inside today’s main piece you’ll find my Saturday ITV verdicts, assuming Sandown and Wincanton survive the frost.

Read More »Veterans’ Chase Takes Centre Stage

Hi all,

I woke up on New Year’s Day convinced it was Saturday. When you’re stuck in the Christmas twilight zone, the days tend to blur into one.

I’d been out for dinner on New Year’s Eve and, walking home, it was clear the Arctic blast had arrived.

Friday’s meetings at Fakenham and Ayr both face inspections due to frost. We already lost Exeter on Thursday. Thankfully, Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Windsor survived to give ITV Racing viewers a full New Year’s Day programme.

Read More »New Year’s Day Racing Review: Cheltenham Crowds, Winners and Talking Points

Hi all,

Happy New Year!

I haven’t wanted a year to end as much as the last one. A true annus horribilis. That’s behind us now and I’m ready to get stuck into 2026.

The Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle (2.35) tops a seven-race card at Cheltenham. Expect the track’s biggest crowd outside the Festival. It may be the classiest race of the day, but the most valuable contest is the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (2.00), worth £56,950 to the winner.

ITV Racing will show four races live from Cheltenham. They also cover two from Musselburgh, where the Class 2 Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (2.15) is the feature, and they’ve added a race from Windsor to the programme.

Read More »New Year’s Day Racing Preview