Hi all,
Things don’t get any better than Sunday. Do they? When Dancing Vega got chinned on the line. I thought it was going to be one of those days. I was wrong. As four went in all at good prices. I was particularly pleased to see Jeremiah’s win at Ascot as he was my value bet of the day.
A busy week ahead and It will get tougher. The Galway Festival starts today and the Qatar ‘Glorious’ Goodwood gets underway tomorrow.
I’m going to ease into Goodwood with some selections from a competitive looking Galway card.
Galway
6:45 – A field of twenty go to post for this amateur rider’s handicap and jockeyship is likely to win the day. Dalton Highway (Jamie Codd), De Name Escapes Me (Derek O’Connor) and Sharjah (Patrick Mullins) were first, second & fourth respectably at the Curragh last time.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Dalton Highway upholds form with the runner-up today. However, at the revised weights talented hurdler Sharjah could be the best of the trio.
Grandmaster Flash was only 7th behind Dalton Highway but that was his first run for 198-days and he was entitled to need to the run. The colt should get closer today and needs respecting on his close-up 3rd of 10 at the Curragh 17-days ago. Shaped that day like a return to this sort of trip will suit and has each way claims.
Great White Shark won this 12 months ago and shouldn’t be far away again although he’s 8lb higher than this time around.
Princess Zoe was a comfortable winner of the Ladies Derby, over 1m 4f, at the Curragh 9-days ago. Up 13lb demand more but she’s clearly in good heart and Finian Maguire is a good jockey booking.
Takearengo was 7 ½ lengths behind Princess Zoe in the Ladies Derby and should be a lot closer at the revised weights. The four-year-old was noted making sone good late headway and now had the added assistance of Lisa O’Neill in the saddle.
Verdict: Sharjah has the ability to win thisbut his price reflects his chance. Stablemate Great White Shark was successful 12 months ago and can’t be dismissed even off 8lb higher. Princess Zoe comes into the race in great form and a 13lb hike in the weights shouldn’t stop her going close but I fully expect Takearengo to get closer to her over today’s longer trip. Grandmaster Flash maybe a better horse on the all-weather but his recent third placed effort at the Curragh gives him each way claims.
0.5pts each way – Takearengo – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
0.5pts each way – Grandmaster Flash – 18/1 @ William Hill (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
7:15 – Dazzling Darren was well placed to win three races on the all-weather in February. He’s continued to progress on three starts on turf since the resumption of Irish racing finishing runner-up on all three starts at Roscommon, beaten less than a neck in all three. The 3-year-old has paid a price for such consistency, going up 10lb without winning. Beaten just a head, off 1lb lower, 20-days ago. The cheekpieces he wore that day are replaced by the first-time blinkers and if they can eek out a bit more improvement he won’t be far away.
1pt win – Dazzling Darren – 13/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John