John Burke

Grand National Analysis From The Eye-Catcher Pro – John Burke

Now the Grand National is not race to be taken seriously from a betting perspective but it’s a bit of fun and that’s what betting on horses should be all about. The race has changed in recent years due to changes in the Aintree fences and the handicappers in encouragement of higher class horses running in the race. I don’t…

The Grand National

I don’t need to say much here as there will be acres of writing on the background to the world’s most famous horse race.  As a spectacle, it’s the highlight of the National Hunt calendar and arguably the highlight of British horse racing jumps or indeed flat.  It’s a race that brings out office sweepstakes and people who have a…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Well, that’s another Cheltenham Festival done and dusted. Still jumps racing hits the accelerator button in the next month or so with the Aintree Festival and of course with it the Grand National. There is the Irish & Scottish Grand National’s, throw in the Punchestown Festival at the end of April and jumps fans have plenty to look forward to.…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

A lack of recent horse racing on the grass and the fact that I have taken a break to concentrate on the upcoming Cheltenham Festival. All means that this week’s article is slightly different, as there are no horses for your trackers this week. That said there is plenty look at with the next week or so in mind. As…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, Well on Thursday it’s the start of Spring, well meteorologists spring anyway, but looking out of the window as I write this it seems more like mid-winter. The “Beast from The East” has arrived and plenty of snow is being forecast for the middle of the week. There is a hint od some milder weather for the weekend…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, Weekend Review The Ascot Chase promised to be the best Grade 1 Chase run this season this side of the Irish Sea and it sure delivered. As my ante-post King George selection Waiting Patiently beat the gallant Cue Card. I won’t be looking into that race today but instead I am going to focus on Haydock’s big Saturday…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, Last weekend’s horse racing couldn’t match the quality of the previous ones but there were plenty of take from the action. Weekend Review Firstly, one had to be impressed with the battling qualities of the Amy Murphy trained Kalashnikov in holding off his rivals to win ‘mud splattered’ Betfair Hurdle. He will now head for the Supreme or…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, Besides the usual eyecatchers, this weeks article looks at some of the notable performances from last weekend’s Dublin Horse Racing Festival.I also have a look at Saturday’s big race the the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and also highlight the chances of two possible runners in the race. Leopardstown Look Back I think we can safely say that last…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, Wakanda’s Late Thrust Lands Sky Bet Chase The “Insight on the Weekend” feature on the upcoming big horse races is doing rather well. Last week I identified the Sue Smith-trained Wakanda as a good each way bet in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster. This is what I wrote last week. “If you knew he was a guaranteed…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, Well, the sun is shining this morning and what a great weekend’s horse racing we have seen even though it was run mostly in the gloom at Ascot & Haydock. All’s good in the world and my last four bets were winners. Does life get any better? Probably, but for now, I will take it. Last week I…

Micro-Angles – Weekend Pointers

Weather permitting Ascot and Haydock take centre stage this weekend with the feature race on the Ascot card being the 2m 1f Grade 1 Clarence House Stakes for which the Willie Mullins Un De Sceaux is set to go off the hot favourite if he runs. Meanwhile,  at Haydock, we have the valuable Peter Marsh Handicap Chase as the highlight…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, I am writing this on what some people have called “Blue Monday” which is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year and if my betting is any guide of late then it’s real “Blue Monday” for me.  Add in the fact that the UK is about to be hit by yet more rain and winds…

Micro-Angles – Weekend Trainer Track Stats

Moving forward, this weekend sees some decent looking racing, weather permitting, with the 32Red Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton over 2m 5f and the Grade 3 Betfred Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick, over a stamina-sapping 3m 5f, which is the best race run at that venue over the season. Here are some notable trainer stats from both those two races…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, As ‘Aussie flu’ sweeps the country. I am writing this week’s column with a streaming nose and a vicious sore throat. Whether it’s the flu or just a common cold I am not sure, but there are plenty of bugs going around at the moment. The weather hasn’t been that great either with plenty of rain last week…

Micro-Angles – Weekend Stats and Trends Preview

Hi all, Saturday Trainer Track Stats and Trends: Here are some of the keys stats for the races on Chepstow’s Coral’s Welsh Grand National card. I have also had a quick look at the last two aces on the Sandown card, including the Veterans Chase. Fingers crossed that the rain stays away and all three jumps meetings are on. Chepstow…

Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

Hi all, Well, I hope you enjoyed the Christmas & New Year festivities. We have seen some top quality horse racing action both sides of the Irish Sea since my last eyecatchers article. It’s fair to say there were plenty of shocks last week. We saw plenty of fancied horses falling, with ante-post Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup favourites…

Micro-Angles – Weekend Big Race Trends

Let’s begin by having a look at some of the key trends and stats for Saturday’s big race at Ascot. Ascot – 3:35 – Racing Welfare Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1) – 1m 7 ½ f Last years race was won by Nicky Henderson trained Brain Power who was sent off at odds of 12/1 and he’s got the…

Micro-Angles – Weekend Trainer Track Stats

We know that trainers are ‘creatures of habit’ and they don’t just target certain tracks but they also target certain meetings and race types at a particular track. Here are some of the more notable or in some cases the most interesting stats. All the stats below are from 2014 to date – They are mostly cover handicap races but…

Micro-Angles – What’s happened to Venetia Chasers?

Hi all, I like to think this weekly preview is the one-stop shop for all your weekend horse racing stats and trends needs.   This week I want to examine the form of the Venetia Williams stable. I am sure, like me, plenty of you have some systems based on Venetia Williams chasers in November & December or her runners on…