Hi all,
A big day for Irish racing this afternoon with the highlights being the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Irish 1,000 Guineas.
This side of the Irish Sea there’s £40,000 in guaranteed prize money on offer in the Clarke Chase (Handicap) at Uttoxeter.
In today’s preview I’m looking at the best of the action from the Curragh and Uttoxeter. Starting with the two Group 1’s at the Curragh.
Curragh
2:45 – Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) – 1m 2f
Just the six runners but it’s a mouth watering renewal with just 2lb separating the big three on Official Ratings (OR’s).
Luxembourg had Vadeni back in third when winning last season’s Irish Champion Stakes. I thought he beat Vadeni fair and square that day. He will have needed his seasonal a return in a Group 2 over C&D last time and should be spot on fitness wise today.
Vadeni went on to finish runner-up in the Arc and will also have needed his seasonal return when fourth in the Prix Ganey at Longchamp. Last year’s Coral Eclipse winner is top on OR’s courtesy of his second in the Arc.
Bay Bridge posted a career best effort when winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October. He finished one place in front of Vadeni in the Ganey on his return to action. Like the other two he will be spot on fitness wise for this.
Of the rest Piz Badile will appreciate quicker ground. Last year’s Irish Derby runner-up is capable of better as a 4-year-old but has a to improve plenty to win this.
3:50 – Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) – 1m
Tahiyra will be long odds to win the first Irish fillies classic after Newmarket second. It’s hard to see her losing but this will be the quickest ground she’s raced on.
Next in the ante post betting Meditate who was 11 lengths behind Tahiyra in the 1,000 Guineas. Qucker ground will suit her than at Newmarket, but she’s been beaten by the favourite twice already albeit on softer ground.
The bookies were going 12/1 bar two on Saturday morning. That brings in Meditate’s stablemate Jackie Oh and Tahiyra’s stablemate Tarawa. Both fillies are open to further improvement with the latter from a family that improve with racing. It’s hard to see either of them beating the favourite at this stage of their careers.
English challenger Breege was a useful juvenile and will appreciate the drying ground. As will the Jessica Harrington trained Eternal Silence. A 6 ¾ length third to Tahiyra in last year’s Group 1 Moyglare Stakes here on her final juvenile start. Has 2 ¼ lengths to find with Meditate on that running and could be the each-way alternative to the favourite.
Rest of the Curragh card:
2:15 – Not sure what her French form is worth but looking at RPR’s Petit Calvados looks weighted to be competitive in this 6f handicap for fillies and mares. Marsa a winner at Dundalk (7f) in November can race off an 11lb lower mark back on turf. The drop back to a strongly run 6f could suit the daughter of Slade Power with Colin Keane up for the first time.
3:15 – Lanwades Stud Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) – 1m
Insinuendo won a Group 3 over C&D on her seasonal return in March. She wasn’t suited by the modest early pace when a 3 length 4th of 7 to Visualisation in a Group 2 here (1m 2f) 27 days ago. Back against her own sex here is a plus but the lack of early pace is a worry.
Joseph O’Brien saddles three of the eight runners: Honey Girl, Goldana and Jumbly. The latter may need the run but both Honey Girl and Goldana come into the race after wins here (7f) in Group 3 company last time. There’s just 3lb between the pair on OR’s but at the prices and back on a sounder surface I just prefer the claims of Goldana.
5:25 – A tricky getting out stakes with 21 runners declared for this 1m 6f handicap. Most of the runners are out of form exposed handicappers but there are two with potential for better in Star Kissed and Newfoundland.
Star Kissed got off the mark at the third attempt when winning a Bellewstown maiden (1m 4f) on his seasonal return last month. The 4-year-old is open to further improvement for her handicap debut and she’s bred to be better than 79 rated horse.
Newfoundland a Navan maiden winner when trained by Aidan O’Brien looked a bit slow when a 4 ½ length 9th of 19 in the valuable King George V Handicap (1m 4f) at Royal Ascot and on his stable debut for Joseph O’Brien at Tipperary. Hopes are pinned on the step up to 1m 6f, the booking of Ryan Moore and better ground seeing the 4-year-old return to form.
Golden Twilight’s best form has come on the all-weather and can race off a 9lb lower mark on the grass. His turf form has been mixed but he did win his maiden here in 2021 and was only beaten a nose when 2nd of 23 in a valuable 1m 5f handicap at Leopardstown last September, from 4lb lower. Respected from a yard among the winners.
Morph Speed is more exposed but he’s now 2lb below his last winning mark (1m 6f) and the 7-year-old made a pleasing enough debut for new trainer Joseph O’Brien when a 4 ¾ length 7th off 11 at Cork (1m 2f) last month. He was doing his best work at the finish at Cork after a slow start. He’s effective on a sound surface and the return to today’s distance should see the 7-year-old in a better light.
Last Ammo is fairly treated on his best form for Charlie Appleby but has finished down the field on both starts for his new yard. Better ground should suit the 4-year-old and he’s not without a chance but does need a major revival in form based on this season’s two runs.
Uttoxeter
3:55 – Clarke Chase (A Handicap Chase) – 2m 4f
Twelve have been declared for the Uttoxeter feature. The four that appeal to me most are Raffle Ticket, Coastguard Station, Northern Bound and Witness Protection.
Raffle Ticket bids for the hat trick after wins at Kempton and Worcester. Overcame the drop back to an extended 2m at Worcester and will appreciate the return to 2m 4f. Unexposed after just three starts over fences and he’s the rightful favourite.
Coastguard Station a winner on his chase debut at Doncaster in November. He’s since finished runner-up twice and posted a career best effort when a 4 ½ length 3rd of 9 to Malystic at Ayr last month. He was doing his best work at the finish last time and although he’s got to prove his stamina for 2m 4f he’s a winning pointer so should stay this far.
Northern Bound at his best on a sound surface was given a winter break after winning at Newbury in November. He raced like the race was needed but was staying on when unseating his rider at the last Chepstow 30 days ago. This is a better race, but he remains competitively weighted and he’s 7 wins from 10 runs, 8 places when returning from a 16 to 30 day layoff.
Witness Protection is back down to the same mark as when beating Red Rookie at Chesptow in November. Just the three starts since all on soft or heavy ground with the latter two at around 3m. The drop back to 2m 4f will suit as will better ground. Vulnerable to less exposed rivals but nicely treated.
Betting Advice:
Curragh
2:15 – Marsa – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Ladbrokes and Petit Calvados – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:50 – You Send Me – 1pt each way – 20/1 @ Ladbrokes (paying 3 places)
5:25 – Morph Speed – 1pt win – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Newfoundland – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Uttoxeter
3:55 – Raffle Ticket – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Coastguard Station – 1pt win – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John