Hi all,
A poor start to the month which is complete contrast to the previous months when we’ve had a flyer only to see things tail off from mid-month onwards.
There’s a decent enough card at Leopardstown this afternoon and there’s an interesting enough 2m 4f handicap chase (5:05) that concludes Wincanton’s jumps card.
Leopardstown
3:40 – Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs is the headline act. As the filly bids to bounce back from a couple lesser runs last season in the Listed Heritage Stakes. Of her seven rivals the Paddy Twomey trained Mea Domina makes some each way appeal. A winner of a heavy ground Listed race at Saint-Cloud last October. The daughter of Pivotal has her first start for the yard today and looks interesting if ready to roll first time up on the, on the forecast soft to heavy ground.
Mea Domina – 1pt each way – 9/1 @ Bet365 (paying three places)
There are several tricky big field handicaps on the Leopardstown card. However, there are a couple of horses that have caught this pundit’s eye. Both are making their seasonal reappearance, so you must take fitness on trust.
4:50 – Zephron is below his last winning mark and would have to be respected if reproducing his ½ length 2nd of 15 at Galway (soft) last July. He goes well on soft ground and is on a handy enough mark if ready to roll after a 161-day absence.
Zephron – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
5:52 – Gudrun Genberg is another who lurks on potentially winning mark on seasonal return. Granted the 4-year-old is a ten race maiden but she’s handicapped to go close if reproducing her neck 2nd of 19 at Navan (soft) last October. Drawn out widest of all in stall 19 does temper enthusiasm today though.
Wincanton
5:52 – Triple Trade was well supported in a better race at Kempton last time. The 7-year-old was in the process of running a big race when stumbling and unseating his rider three out. Looks to have a favourites chance down in class. His biggest rival looks to be Lazy Sunday. The mare completed a handicap chase hat trick at Ffos Las 31-days ago. Has a 9lb rise in the weights to contend with in a better race but her she’s a solid jumper of a fence and her improvement may not have levelled of just yet.
Lazy Sunday – 1pt win – 7/2 – Gen.
Cheers
John