Hi all,
All eyes across the Irish Sea on Saturday where its 2,000 Guineas Day at the Curragh.
The Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes (3:00) and the Group 2 Temple Stakes (3.30) are the feature races on a seven race card at Haydock.
ITV are covering five races from Haydock this afternoon and two each from Goodwood & York. Plus, we have the bonus of the broadcaster taking the Irish 2,000 Guineas live.
Inside today’s preview you can read my thoughts on the two Group 2’s at Haydock and the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Plus, the otherraces where I have selections.
Let’s begin with the first Irish Classic of 2023
Curragh
3:40 – Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) – 1m
Eleven have been declared for the first Irish colts Classic. The ground will be totally different to what we saw at Newmarket for the first British colts Classic.
Hi Royal (2nd), Royal Scotsman (3rd)and Galeron (4th) from the 2,000 Guineas reoppose here. The bookies think the supplemented Royal Scotsman will finish best on Saturday.
Given Royal Scotsman raced away from where the main action was and didn’t settle you can see why that may well prove to be the right position to take. However, I’m happy to go in with Hi Royal to go one better than he did at Newmarket. If he had kept straight between the final two furlongs, he would have finished closer to the winner.
The best of the rest could be the Aidan O’Brien trained Paddington. The colt completed the hat trick when winning a Listed race over C&D 26 days ago. There should be more to come from him, but he does need to take another big step forward to win on Saturday.
I would have Hi Royal and Royal Scotsman much closer in the betting than they are and he’s the pick.
Haydock
3:00 – Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
Little Big Bear disappointing on soft ground in the 2,000 Guineas is back down to 6f and back on a sound surface. The clear pick on juvenile form and a worthy favourite but the bookies are taking no chances with his price.
Cold Case and Bradsell were first and thirdon their seasonal returns at Ascot 24 days ago. Both looked like their seasonal returns were needed. Cold Case rallied well after being headed by Bradsell 2f out and although today’s sharper 6f should suit the latter I wouldn’t be surprised if Cold Case confirmed form once more.
Matilda Picotte, a speedy juvenile, looks to have trained on from two to three and last time out was a solid 8 lengths 3rd of 20 to Mawj in 1000 Guineas. Hard to see her having the class to beat a back to his Little Big Bear but it wouldn’t be wise to underestimate her.
3:30 – Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2) – 5f
A cracking renewal of this sprint contest. You must go back to 2014 for the last 3-year-old to win the race but the front two in the ante post betting both represent the Classic generation.
Smart juvenile filly and winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye The Platinum Queen makes her debut for Roger Varian. If she’s trained on, she will be hard to stop over a speed favouring 5f. Her stablemate Mitbaahy can’t be ruled out either. The 4-year-old won a Group 3 over the trip at Newbury in September. He finished 4 ½ behind The Platinum Queen at Longchamp but wouldn’t have liked the soft ground that day. On a sounder surface he has good each way claims.
The Platinum Queen’s Group 1 penalty means she must give weight to some good rivals including another smart 3-year-old in Dramatised. The winner of last season’s Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. She finished well ahead of The Platinum Queen in the Breeders Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland. Although the latter was probably feeling the effects of a busy campaign in receipt of 5lb Dramatised must be seriously considered.
Twilight Calls runner-up in last season’s King Stand Stakes, wasn’t suited by the soft ground in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket three weeks ago. Back on quick ground better expected from the 5-year-old who was beaten a head in last year’s race.
Royal Aclaim looked like a sprinter going places when winning her first three starts including an impressive success in a York Listed contest last July. She’s only had five career starts and remains capable of better as a 4-year-old.
Rest of the Haydock card
1:50 – Mountain Road was a big improver on the all-weather in the second half of last season winning twice at Chelmsford over 1m 6f/2m. Might be capable of better this year if transferring that form over to turf.
Carzola is bidding for the four timer after winning at Lingfield (twice) and back on turf at Doncaster Heavy) three weeks ago. Different ground and 10lb higher today thought but she’s going the right way and probably hasn’t reached her class ceiling just yet.
Law Of The Sea caught the eye when a 1 ¾ length 4th of 16 to Metier in the Chester Cup. That was the 5-year-old’s first start for Ian Williams. Nudged up 1lb but has winning form on a good to firm and should be bang there.
2:25 – Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m
Twelve of the last fourteen winners of the race were returned 15/2 or shorter and finished first or second on their last start. There are just three qualifiers among the 11 declared runners at the time of writing on Friday afternoon – Covey, Royal Cape and Gincident with James McHenry likely to be a qualifier come race time.
Covey was far too good for four rivals in a Newcastle novice 25-days ago. The son of Frankel looks a smart prospect. He should be suited to the step up to a mile and if he can translate his all-weather form to the turf is sure to be there or thereabouts on handicap debut.
Royal Cape won on soft ground at Windsor 26 days ago. The son of Gleneagles is capable of further improvement on handicap debut, if proving as effective on quicker ground.
Gincident who improved on the all-weather over the winter posted a career best on RPR’s back on turf when winning at Musselburgh (good to soft) last month. Trainer Richard Fahey is 2-5, 4 placed with his runners in the race returned 15/2 & shorter and finished first or second last time out.
James McHenry bids for the hat trick after wins at Ripon and latterly C&D 14 days ago. He’s up 7lb and although he might prefer more ease in the ground, he’s going the right way and can’t be discounted.
Finally, there are three more big field handicaps at Goodwood, York and the Curragh that are worthy of further investigation.
Goodwood
2:05 – William Hill Harroways Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
Urban Sprawl has come up against two progressive types in Gincident and Surely Not on his last two starts. He probably didn’t like the soft ground when third to Surely Not at Chester last time and has a handy low draw in stall 3 for a prominent racer and should go well.
Yacowlef showed he handled the track when winning last October and has returned to action in good form finishing a close-up 2nd of 14 at Newmarket on his seasonal return. Before finding the return to 7f posed no problem when returning to Newmarket (soft) to win there three weeks ago. Seems to be progressing with racing and a 6lb rise in weights is workable. Albeit the ground will be quicker today.
Tafreej is probably better than he was able to show when a 3 length 3rd of 8 at Newbury on seasonal return last month and is another with a decent draw in stall 2. Looks on a workable mark and should go close.
Bresson can’t be ruled out on handicap debut for the Gosden’s yard and should be seen in a better light back on a sound surface.
York
2:40 – William Hill Epic Boost Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
A typically competitive York sprint handicap and I can make a case for six of the 14 declared runners.
Previous C&D winner Korker was a ½ length 2nd of 13 to Regional over C&D 9 days ago. Up 3lb but has a favourites chance but a lot depends if he gets off on level terms with his rivals. If he does I think he wins but it’s big IF that he doesn’t fluff the start.
Previous C&D winner Bedford Flyer was one place and 1 length behind Korker last time. That was the 5-year-old’s first start since joining Michael Appleby and he’s got to be in the mix off the same mark today.
Mondammej was back to form when a 2 ¼ length 4th of 13 to Regional last time. He gets a handy 5lb pull in the weights from Korker and must be respected.
Burning Cash has been down the field on both this season’s two starts. That means he’s now 3lb below his last winning mark, is well suited to quick ground and has each-way claims.
Zarzyni is also 3lb below his last winning mark and wasn’t disgraced when a 6 ½ length 5th of 13 to Silky Wilkie at Musselburgh on his seasonal return. Not easily dismissed on ground that will suit.
Chipstead improved to win twice at Doncaster & Catterick in the second half of last season and was first past the post in the valuable Portland Handicap at Doncaster. Never got competitive on seasonal return in the Group 3 at Newmarket. Needs to bounce back but though.
Sound Of Iona bounced back from a couple of low key runs this season when a 5 ¼ length 5th of 9 to at Musselburgh 12 days ago. The mare didn’t get any sort of run 1f out but showed she’s on a handy enough mark when everything clicks. Up a couple of notches in class here but not out of this.
Curragh
4:50 – Novibet Guineas Festival Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 1m 2f
Another cracking handicap with plenty in with a chance.
Previous C&D winner Wild Dollar is well enough weighted to think he’ll be thereabouts but his best form has so far come on softer ground.
Smooth Tom is another previous C&D winner, and he bounced back to winning way for the fitting of the first time visor at Leopardstown (heavy) 20 days ago. A 10b rise in the weights in a better race makes life tougher for the 4-year-old but should go well again.
Brave Troop has improved to win both this season’s starts. He’s 15lb higher that winning at Gowran Park last month but another bold bid could be forthcoming from the 4-year-old who could be capable of further progression.
Safecracker finished a 1 ½ length 2nd of 22 in a similar handicap over C&D last September. Likely needed the run when 5th of 10 at Tipperary on his seasonal return last month. Should be sharper today and there is a handicap like this in him this season for a yard among the winners.
Ceallach improved for the step up to 1m 4f when winning twice at Dundalk at the end of last year. There should be much more to come from the 4-year-old this year and even off a 9lb higher must be respected if ready roll on his first start for 176 days. Yard had a winner at the Curragh yesterday which is promising.
Timeless Soul ran well on her first start for Joseph O’Brien when a 1 ¼ length 4th of 11 at Cork (1m 2f) last month. The first time hood has been applied and she should be in the picture once more if the headgear has the desired effect.
Laelaps, a five length 14th of 27 in the Irish Lincolnshire sandwiched between two runs over hurdles. The 5-year-old was a length 3rd of 11 over C&D last June for his previous yard. This is more his trip than a mile and given Osin Murphy has been booked he can’t be safely ruled out off what looks a handy mark.
As has been the case in the past few weeks I’m sending on Saturday’s preview ahead of my selections and betting advice which will be with you on Saturday morning.
There is likely to be more selections from the Curragh on Sunday for Irish 1,000 Guineas Day. So, watch your inboxes for updates.
Cheers
John