Lady In France a top prospect for yard in great form
| Published date | 12 May 2021 |
| Publication title | Weekender |
juveniles look a particularly nice bunch this season, plus we have some interesting fillies for later on."
Burke, who trains in Middleham, has 130 horses and admits he has been very fortunate to have strong support despite the problems the pandemic has brought for the sport.
"From our point of view I'm optimistic despite the current climate, but I know a helluva lot of people are struggling. The prize-money is a huge issue that will only get worse. I think the industry is in a lot of trouble and the next 12 months are going to be even more important as things get stickier.
"The bookies, and particularly the racecourses, aren't playing ball in my opinion. I know they've had a hard time but they have massive revenue that they're holding back and aren't being transparent about the media rights. We keep asking to see exactly what they're getting but nothing is forthcoming.
"Until they disclose them and the bookies put more in, things are never going to change and we aren't going to be anywhere near as strong financially as the French, Australians or Americans where so much more is put back into the sport."
Older horses Ainsdale 4 b c Mayson - Bruni Heinke He ended his juvenile season in fantastic form, rattling off three straight wins, and his handicap
shot up from 75 to 97. Last season we didn't get him out until early autumn but he still managed to win at Newmarket in his last race of the term. He ran another good race when third at Chester on Friday. He's reliable but is ground dependent as he needs to have some cut. He's equally effective over 5f or 6f but I wouldn't run him if there were no ease underfoot.
Angel Of The Glen 4 b f Gleneagles - Archangel Gabriel She won first time out last season, having missed her two-year-old season, when successful at Thirsk over a mile and went back there to sign off with victory over 7f. This season she has bumped into a couple of decent fillies in her two runs, finishing second on each occasion. Her owners are breeders and I'd like to think we can get some black type for her before the end of the season, but she has to step up from where she is. I'm thinking of taking a punt with her in a 1m2f fillies' Listed race at Ayr in two weeks' time to see if we can get some of that black type.
Astro Jakk 5 b g Zoffany - By The Edge He's a useful handicapper and did us proud last season with four wins on the all-weather. His current marks of 88 for the all-weather and 85 on turf are close to his limit. There's definitely a good race to be won with him when everything drops right.
Exalted Angel 5 b g Dark Angel - Hurryupharriet He has really progressed over the last six months - after having the summer off he returned in October on a mark of 80 and is now up to 108.
He won a couple on the all-weather and ran a cracker when a head second to Summerghand at Lingfield. At Newmarket the ground was...
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