Hi all
On Sunday the big race action switches to Ireland. There’s action for fans of both codes of the sport. It’s the Ladbrokes Munster National (4.30) at Limerick and the Curragh hosts the Irish Cesarewitch (3.05). This side of the Irish Sea Goodwood hosts its final fixture of the 2021 flat season.
Not the best of weekend’s so far after last week but there’s still time to end it on a profitable note.
Like yesterday I’m concentrating today’s preview on those races where I have selections. Beginning at the Curragh.
Curragh
2:30 – Pretty Boy Floyd is at his best on soft/heavy ground so any further ease in the ground would be very much in his favour. A previous C&D winner hasn’t had soft ground since he won at Haydock in the spring.
Not Now Zeb is another previous C&D winner. The 4-year-old has yet to hit form on his three starts but he’s now dropped down to 5lb below his last winning mark over C&D. Not out of this if bouncing back to his best.
Rough Diamond won a 6f maiden on soft ground last season. Has been running like he can win a handicap like this if reproduces the form of his ¼ length 3rd of 14 at Tipperary in June, off 2lb higher. Mikey Sheehy takes off a handy 5lb which makes the 4-year-old look nicely treated.
3:05 – Paddy Power Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap) – 2m
It’s 8/1 the field. Of those at the head of the betting National Ballet makes appeal. The 3-year-old has improved with each of this season’s three starts winning a Limerick handicap two starts back and then didn’t seem total at home at the track when a 5-length 4th of 13 at Galway. He was doing his best work at the finish that day and should be suited by further than 1m 4f.
Line Out a useful chaser/hurdler has had three starts on the flat this summer. Winning at Tramore maiden in August over today’s distance on the second of them. The 9-year-old didn’t seem suited by the drop back to 1m 4f when only 8th of 17 here two weeks ago. The first time cheekpieces are added and the return to 2m is a plus. A mark of 79 looks workable given he’s rated 131 over hurdles.
The lightly raced Ebendi has only had one start since switching to the Joseph O’Brien yard. Likely in need of the run after an 11-month absence when a 5 ¾ length 5th of 7 at Killarney in August. Remains with potential and gets the first-time blinkers today.
4:15 – Earls came good at this time last year winning twice in October/November with the last of those wins coming at Naas off 1lb lower. The 4-year-old bounced back to form when a 2 ½ length 2nd of 13 at Listowel two starts back and ran to the same level of form when a 2 ½ length 4th of 14 at Bellewstown 10-days ago. He takes on several 3-year-old’s with potential none more so than Karlsberg who finished 3rd of 30 here over 6 ½ f two starts back before going onto win at Cork (7f) 64-days ago. Goes well on soft ground and a 5lb rise in the weights looks workable.
Limerick
3:55 – JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase (Grade A) – 3m
The ground is being described as soft for today’s Limerick feature race. Cavalry Master has been well placed to win his last four in novice company. Has been given an 86-day break since jumping well to win at Killarney. Has won fresh in the past so fitness shouldn’t be an issue for the 7-year-old and the Henry De Bromhead yard is among the winners. Handicap debut off what looks a good mark and is the one to beat if as effective on today’s softer surface.
Ontheropes is 0-5 since going over fences but seemed to put in a much-improved effort when a 4-length 2nd of 11 behind his high-class stablemate Monkfish at Fairyhouse last November. First run since and if you take hislast effort literally he would look nicely treated for his handicap chase debut.
Fairyhill Run was well fancied for the Kerry National but failed to get a run. She comes into the race in great form having won her last three races. Her trainer trainer thinks she could be a Graded horse but 3m on soft ground could test her stamina.
Top weight Chatham Street Lad has a touch of class winning the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham last December. The softer the ground the better for the 9-year-old who ended last season with a Grade 3 win over C&D in March. That was his first start beyond 2m 4f over fences and remains unexposed over the distance.
Betting Advice:
Curragh
2:30 – 0.5pts win – Pretty Boy Floyd – 10/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook.
3:05 – 1pt win – National Ballet – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Line Out – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:15 – 1pt win – Karlsberg – 11/2 @ Bet365 and 0.5pts win – Earls 12/1 @ Bet365
Listowel
3:55 – 1pt win – Cavalry Master – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John