John Burke – Page 19 – Victor Value

Victor’s Saturday Preview – May 13th 2023

Hi all,

Its Classic Trial Day at Lingfield. Sadly, the turf track is unraceable, so the card has been switched to the all-weather track. Whilst it’s not ideal it also happened in 2012 and the winners of that year’s trials ran well at Epsom.

Besides four races from Lingfield ITV are also covering three races from Ascot and one from Haydock.

Haydock provides the sole mixed card in the British racing calendar. The Haydock feature is the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (3:15) which has £56,950 on offer to the winner. The latter race is also the most valuable race across Britain & Ireland on Saturday.

The highlight of a seven race card at Ascot is the valuable Peroni Nastro Azzurro Victoria Cup (2:40). Twenty three were left in the race at final declarations, which makes it the most competitive race of the day.

Let’s begin with a look at three of the Lingfield races on ITV4.

Victor’s Chester May Festival Final Day Preview – Friday May 12th 2023

Hi all,

The final day of Chester’s May Festival is with us, and it plays host to the most famous race run at the track the Tote Chester Cup (3:15).

Today’s card is also the competitive of the three days and the biggest one for me from a betting perspective. Besides the big handicap there’s a good supporting card of races including the Group 2 Huxley Stakes (2:40).

Not the best of Festival’s so far but I have left most of my selections until the final day. Indeed I have as many selections on Friday as I did on the first two days.

Victor’s Chester May Meeting – Day 2 Preview – Thursday May 11th 2023

Hi all,

Not the best of starts to Chester’s May meeting for your truly but not too much damage done and Thursday’s card looks much more interesting betting wise.

Victor’s Chester May Festival – Day 1 Preview – Wednesday May 10th 2023

Hi all,

Chester’s three day May Meeting gets underway at the Roodee this afternoon and the ITV Racing cameras are covering five races live from the track. Inside today’s main piece I look ahead to the best of today’s action at Chester. In truth it’s a trappy card. Uncertainty on the weather front is not helping matters. Will the racecourse miss the heavy showers for example. If heavy showers do hit the racecourse, then the going will be softer than presently described.

Victor’s Norfolk National Picks – Tuesday May 9th 2023

Hi all,

A busy week of racing ahead with the highlight being Chester’s three day May Festival which gets underway on Wednesday.

Victor’s Sunday Preview – May 7th 2023

Hi all,

There were a few gremlins in the works yesterday and Daily Punt readers got more race previews than intended. Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of the action at Newmarket.

Victor’s Saturday Preview – May 6th 2023

Hi all,

It’s Coronation weekend in the United Kingdom but more importantly for me the first English Classics. Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of the action on ITV this afternoon.

Today’s it’s the Qipco 2,000 Guineas (4:40). Due to the Coronation of King Charles III this year’s race is set to go off at 4:40. Mind you we should be thankful that racing didn’t cancel itself to honour the new sovereign.

ITV4 are covering five races live from Newmarket and one each from Goodwood and Thirsk on a seven race programme on Saturday afternoon. I have previewed all seven of the ITV races inside today’s main piece.

Victor’s Friday Selections – May 5th 2023

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of today’s action at Newmarket.

Newmarket’s three day Guineas Meeting gets underway this afternoon. There are eight races each day. However, just 61 runners have been declared for today’s card with only one race having a double digit field. Hopefully the Saturday and Sunday cards will produce some bigger fields.

Given the course was described as good at final declarations that’s a disappointing turnout. Would it be harsh to say that a three day meeting just doesn’t seem to be working and going back to a two day meeting would be a sensible move.

It will be interesting to see how many racegoers are tempted to attend for a card littered with small fields. At this corresponding meeting 12 months ago, there were just 3,272 in attendance and that figure included Members and Complimentary Badge holders.

The ITV will be covering five races live from Newmarket and three from Goodwood on an eight race programme.

Victor’s Ascot Preview – Wednesday May 3rd 2023

Hi all,

Flat racing returns to Ascot for the first time this season. The Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes (3.15) is the feature race of seven race card which includes three other races which are styled as trials for Royal Ascot. The best of those looks to be a competitive looking Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes (3:50).

Inside today’s main piece I preview the three Ascot pattern races and I have selections in both handicaps on the card.

Victor’s Nottingham Selections – May 2nd 2023

Hi all,