With 58 winners so far in 2022, Karl Burke is currently eighth in the Flat Trainers’ Championship. His tally is the sixth greatest, ensuring he has had a fine first half of this calendar year. His juveniles have been running particularly well, and he runs four horses on Sunday at Ayr and Chelmsford.
Alexa’s Princess (1.35 Chelmsford)
Burke’s runners are currently of distinct intrigue for a number of reasons, but ALEXA’S PRINCESS, as a two-year-old, is of particular interest.
Were the Trainer’s Championship, judged on prize money won through the season, restricted to juvenile runners, Burke would be leading the way. That is predominantly down to star filly Dramatised, but with 11 winners in that age group so far placing him third in that category too, his others of the age group are worth monitoring.
Alexa’s Princess contests the opening race at Chelmsford on Sunday. Racing in the colours of Nick Bradley, who has been a fine supporter of the Burke yard, she has had three runs without success so far, but has steadily improved with racing.
Her form figures alone show this: 854, with that fourth of ten at Ripon a dramatic improvement on previous efforts. Given how well she finished off over 5f that day, this step up to 7f could work very well for her. Despite being the top-rated here, she has demonstrated greater progression than any of her rivals.
Marshman (2.17 Ayr)
Another juvenile for Burke on the day is MARSHMAN, who runs at Ayr on his debut.
He is a son of Harry Angel, the superb sprinter for Clive Cox in 2017 and 2018. His progeny have not immediately found their feet this year, in what is his first season as a sire, though he has had three winners and 12 of 26 have hit the frame in their various races so far.
Marshman’s dam was a winner over slightly further than 1m and is herself a daughter of Galileo. None of Harry Angel’s progeny have had him as a damsire just yet and as king of the stallion ranks, he could well provide Marshman with some toughness which has been lacking in a few of his siblings so far.
Clifford Lee is Burke’s man at Ayr on Sunday and has a near 0% strike rate in conjunction with him this season. At the very least, this horse is an intriguing debutant here.
Negwah (3.27 Ayr)
Lee is also aboard NEGWAH, a three-year-old filly looking to get off the mark in an open maiden event at the Scottish venue.
The daughter of Mukhadram has had two runs to date, improving a little between finishing fourth at Redcar on debut and placing third at Carlisle in separate novice races. The winner of the first of those may be very smart, while the filly who won at Carlisle had the benefit of an extra run in terms of experience.
Two of her rivals here look to be virtual no-hopers, but Keith Dalgliesh’s Celestial Star, rated 75 having had five career runs, and the unraced Emirates Empress, could both be big dangers.
Nevertheless, Negwah is unexposed and this 7f trip may suit a lot more. If she settles into the race, she should challenge.
Muveran (4.30 Chelmsford)
This handicap at Chelmsford looks up for the taking and MUVERAN may be able to win for the second time in his career.
His 2022 has not been successful in terms of results, but there have been respectable efforts in among them. His fifth of 16 at Redcar in May was a decent effort, while though he was last of five at Nottingham, he was beaten only two lengths.
Moreover, in his 12 runs so far, his only victory came on the all-weather at Newcastle last December. That came off a mark of 62, while after a poor run at Beverley last time, in which he hung left on the right-handed track, he is now down to a rating of just 60.
These conditions should suit him well. Similarly, Danny Tudhope is an excellent booking for the purpose and the combination could strike.