Hi all,
Disappointing Saturday but if Rajinksy holds on at Haydock it’s a profitable one. Those fine margins some days they go with you on other’s they don’t. Still, there’s a chance to return to winning ways on Irish 1,000 Guineas Day at the Curragh today. Besides the first Irish fillies’ classic there’s also the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and a couple of big field handicaps for punters to get stuck into.
Curragh
2:40 – Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) – 1m 2 ½ f
Broome has returned to action in great form winning three times, including a Group 2 success here last time. Back into Group 1 company here but likely we haven’t seen the best of the 5-year-old just yet
Stablemate Serpentine could be the biggest danger to the favourite. Was enterprisingly ridden to win last year’s Epsom Derby and wasn’t seen to best advantage on either start in Group 1 since his Derby win. He might prefer a sounder surface and will probably better for the run but if he’s ridden aggressively, from the front he might be hard to peg back. His backers will know his fate quickly.
1pt win – Sepentine – 9/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
3:15 – Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas (Group 1) (Fillies) – 1m
Pretty Gorgeous was the best of these as a juvenile, ending last season with a decisive success in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket (soft). A worthy favourite she Looked the sort to do better as a 3-year-old and is the one they all must beat.
Joan Of Arc is an improving filly who made all to win the Group 3 Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown last time. Capable of more progress with racing and will stay further.
Fev Rover made a great start to the season when a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 11 in the English 1,000 Guineas. The first time cheekpieces she wore at Newmarket are retained and she’s got solid claims on easier ground.
Fantasy Lady is the one who could out run big odds. A winner over C&D Listed race on soft ground on her final juvenile start. She was 4 ½ lengths behind Joan Of Arc in the 1,000 Guineas Trial but she did fluff the start at Leopardstown and wasn’t well placed in the race as the winner. The first-time blinkers are applied and if the headgear has the desired effect, she’s got each-way claims for a yard in good form.
Verdict: The fillies mile division probably needs Pretty Gorgeous to win this comfortably. She’s the worthy favourite but I’m going with Fantasy Lady to get in to the frame.
1pt each way – Fantasy Lady – 22/1 @ Bet365 & Coral (both paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
3:50 – Betway Premier Handicap – 1m 2f
Dance Jupiter ended last season with a career best effort when winning a 1m 2f handicap at Naas (heavy). Probably needed the run after six months off the track when 12th of 21 over a mile here last month. Better can be expected back over 1m 2f a trip he’s unexposed at. Dylan Browne McMonagle who rode him to win at Naas is back in the saddle and takes off a handy 5lb.
Baby Zeus is having his first start for Willie Mullins. The 4-year-old was a good 3rd of 10 in the Ulster Derby last summer. Looks on a workable mark and should go well.
Mirann is 2lb lower than when a length 2nd of 10 here over 1m 6f last summer. Stays further than 1m 2f so will likely need a strong pace to chase but he gives the impression that he can win a race like this when all the cards fall right.
Alghazaal shaped well enough on heavy ground when 2nd of 17 in a Cork maiden last August. The 4-year-old broke his maiden tag when winning at Dundalk in October. Looked to have improved again when 2nd of 12 back at Dundalk 53-days ago. Stays 1m 4f and looks the type to win more races.
Annexation, trained by Henry De Bromhead, has been running over hurdles and is having his first start on the flat since finishing a ½ length 2nd of 17 at the Galway Festival. Now 1lb lower he’s a competitive mark although this is first start over`1m 2f on the flat. Should stay, won over 2m over hurdles, and has an each-way chance.
Verdict: I suspect we haven’t seen the best of Dance Jupiter over 1m 2f. Baby Zeus is interesting on his first start for Willie Mullins but I’m taking a chance with the nicely treated Mirann and Annexation.
1pt win – Annexation – 12/1 @ Bet365
1pt win – Mirann – 10/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
4:20 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Habitat’ Handicap – 1m
Bopedro, a previous C&D winner, took advantage of a falling handicap mark when winning a 7f handicap at Cork on his seasonal return last month. The return to a mile will suit and the 5-year-old remains on a competitive mark despite a 4lb rise in the weights. Tends to be held up in races and yesterday it paid to be close to the pace at the Curragh.
Fil The Power has already had seven starts this year. A winner of a Gowran Park maiden (soft) in April. The 4-year-old didn’t get the best of passages on two subsequent starts but showed he remains on a good mark when a head 2nd of 20 at Cork 16-days ago. Up 1lb for that effort but Colin Keane stays in the saddle and the step back up to a mile will suit.
Fame And Acclaim put in a career best effort on RPR’s when a neck 2nd of 21 over C&D last time. He can race of the same mark as last time and Dylan Browne McMonagle takes off 5lb. The ground was quicker last time but he’s won on soft in the past and should be ok.
Star Of Cashel was 4th of 24 in the Irish Lincolnshire over C&D on the first day of the new flat season and is better than his 8th of 14 at Roscommon 12-days ago suggests. Better can expected from the 4-year-old today.
Verdict: Bopedro’s chance likely depends on how strong a pace there is. Fil The Power remains on a winnable mark. Star Of Cashel is another capable of getting into the money.
1pt win – Fil The Power – 9/1 @ Bet365
1pt win – Star Of Cashel – 14/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
Cheers
John