4.10 Salisbury, Wednesday, June 27

Burgonet has won her last three starts, including one over the testing mile and a half at Leicester so, with the step back up in distance seemingly in her favour, looks to have every chance of completing a four-timer. Mark Johnston’s filly only just held on when winning a 0-90 fillies’ handicap over 1 mile 2 furlongs here earlier this month, but stayed on very gamely under today’s jockey Franny Norton and the handicapper may have taken a chance by raising her just 2lb for that narrow success.
In the Whitsbury Manor Stud Bibury Handicap (4.10) at Salisbury on Wednesday,

The daughter of Helmet has improved with every run so far, but has never won by more than half a length and appeals as the type who may continue to frustrate the official assessor for a little while yet. With proven ability of the prevailing good to firm going, no stamina doubts and her trainer and jockey in fair form of late, Burgonet has plenty going for her. She races against colts for the first time in handicap company, but off a feasible mark, she’s just the sort of progressive filly that we should be looking out for. Mark Johnston has a 7-28 (25%) strike rate at Salisbury over the last five seasons, so the statistics offer further cause for optimism.

Selection: Salisbury 4.10 Burgonet to win 3/1

5.40 Leicester, Monday, June 4

In the Betvictor’s Million Pound Bet Handicap (5.40) at Leicester on Monday.  Kachumba has discovered the winning habit since switched to turf at Brighton last month and looks to have bright prospects of completing a hat-trick. Rae Guest’s Mayson filly has been raised 2lb for winning, all out, by a neck at Chepstow two weeks, but the weight rise is more than offset by Sebastian Woods’ 5lb claim and she may be open to a little further improvement in any case. She weakened inside the final furlong on her sole attempt over a mile, at Lingfield three starts ago, but has plenty of stamina in the bottom of her pedigree, so should find this testing 7 furlongs well within her compass.

She has taken some time to come to hand, but has won her last two starts in the style of an improving filly and is, apparently, headed for the July Sales at Tattersalls. Connections will, presumably, looking to extend her winning run to maintain interest in her and this run-of-the-mill handicap appears to be an excellent opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, in a race where winning form is as scarce as hen’s teeth, she’s unlikely to escape the notice of the bookmakers but, hopefully, in a field of 18, she should at least be backable.

Selection: Leicester 5.40 Kachumba to win 11/4

Selection: Leicester 5.40 Kachumba to win 11/4