John Burke

John Burke

I have a MA in International Politics and having spent a number of years working in political campaigning but I eventually I realised that politics was not the world where I wanted to work I had been interested in horse racing since the late 1980s but in the early years I was merely just betting and watching racing like most people as a bit of fun and a hobby, then the hobby becomes a passion and that’s what happened to me with horse racing. I soon realised that to make money from my hobby I had to learn as much as I could about the sport and betting in general. The whole process took time but after a number of successful years of betting, I decided in 2011 to take the plunge, gave up my full time day job and decided to bet on horse racing as a part time business and I haven’t looked back since. I like to specialise in the better class of races and I love to solve the puzzles posed by big field handicaps the latter races often provide punters with great value betting opportunities. Whilst most of my time is spent reviewing previous races I like to keep things as simple as possible as even the biggest field handicaps can usually be pruned down to half a dozen strong contenders with the right sort of approach.
  • Apr- 2018 -
    13 April
    News

    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…

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  • Mar- 2018 -
    31 March
    News

    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…

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  • 21 March
    Newshorse racing

    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.…

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  • 7 March
    Newshorse racing

    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…

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  • Feb- 2018 -
    27 February
    Tipshorse racing

    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…

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  • 21 February
    Tipshorse racing

    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…

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  • 14 February
    Newshorse racing

    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…

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  • 6 February
    Newshorse racing

    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…

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  • Jan- 2018 -
    30 January
    Newshorse racing

    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…

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  • 23 January
    Newshorse racing

    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…

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  • 20 January
    News

    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…

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  • 16 January
    Advicehorse racing

    Weekly Eye-Catchers – Horse Racing

     

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  • 16 January
    Newshorse 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…

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  • 13 January
    News

    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…

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  • 9 January
    Newshorse racing

    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…

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  • 6 January
    News

    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…

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  • 2 January
    Newshorse racing

    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…

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  • Dec- 2017 -
    23 December
    News

    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 Âœ 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…

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  • 21 December
    News

    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…

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  • 20 December
    News

    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…

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