Out Sam plugged on into 5th in the Cork Grand National yesterday which meant the place part of the bet was landed if you went with a bookie paying five places.
The flat racing season may have fizzled out in Britain. However, if you like you International racing then you have the Melbourne Cup to look forward to in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Then at the weekend it’s Breeders Cup time at Keeneland.
Now I love a dabble in “The race that stops the nation”. I have never found the winner of the race but I have had some big priced place efforts. I’m not going to go into the race in any detail but I have a couple of fancies for you.
Before the big race ‘Down Under’ there’s some tricky big field puzzles to solve across the Irish Sea at the Curragh.
Curragh
1:30 – Kodiac Prince has been running consistently in big field handicap like this all season. He goes well in the mud and should be there or thereabouts again. Miss Myers was predictably outclassed in a Group 3 at Naas yesterday. Prior to that she had finished close-up in handicaps over 7f & 1m. If she runs must be respected with a talented apprentice taking off a handy 7lb.
1pt each way – Kodiac Prince – 20/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
1pt each way – Miss Myers – 14/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
2:40 – Gregory’s Gift remains a maiden after 11 starts but has run well on two of his last three starts to have a chance here. Was beaten just a nose of today’s mark at Limerick last month off today’s mark and was 4th of 13 over C&D 18-days ago.
1pt win – Gregory’s Gift – 9/1 @ Ladbrokes
3:15 – Grace To Grace needs to bounce back from a couple of moderate runs but if the filly can reproduce her 2nd of 12 at Roscommon (soft to heavy), beaten a nose then she would have a decent chance here.
1pt win – Grace To Grace – 13/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Lexus Melbourne Cup – 2m
Tiger Moth is a bit of a boring selection. The Aidan O’Brien trained 3-year-old is the least experienced horse in the race. A winner of a Leopardstown maiden on his second start. He followed up that success by finishing runner-up in the Irish Derby. Off the track for 77-days he returned to win a Group 3 on Irish Champions Weekend. Stall 23 isn’t great but he’s got a light weight and Kerrin McEvoy in the plate. He could be a Group 1 horse in Europe next season. If you can get the 7/1 with Coral take it.
Surprise Baby, a fast finishing 5th in the race 12 months ago. Has a decent draw in stall 5 and could turn out to be the best of the home team?
German trainer Andreas Wohler saddled Protectionist to win this race in 2014. He saddles Ashrun this year. The 4-year-old showed his well-being by finishing 4th in the Geelong Cup on his first start Down Under. Needed to win on Friday at Flemington to sneak in at the bottom of the weights which he duly did. The step to 2m will be in his favour and If the race doesn’t come to quick, he should give former Irish Conditional jump jockey Declan Bates a great spin. Another with a wide draw in stall 24 to overcome but the 25/1 available with Sky Bet looks value.
1pt each way – Ashrun – 20/1 @ William Hill (paying 6 places 1/5 odds)
1pt win – Tiger Moth – 7/1 @ Coral.
Cheers
John