Hi all,
Current Option saved the day with a ‘gutsy’ win in the lucky last at Leopardstown yesterday. A Momentofmadness ran a cracker to finish second In the Portland Handicap and how unlucky was Deirdre in the Irish Champions. Aside from a couple of runners I was pleased with yesterday’s effort.
On to Sunday and Irish Champions Weekend moves to the Curragh for Irish St Leger Day and whole host of other top class and competitive races.
Curragh
1:20 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Bold Lad” Sprint Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 6f
The action gets underway with a 25 runners sprint handicap. The last seven winners of the races shared the following:
Age: 3yo to 5yo
Wins At Track: 0 to 1
Wins At Distance: 1+
I’m concentrating on the younger horses with my three against the field being Make A Challenge, Master Matt and Miss Jabeam.
Make a Challenge, the 4-year-old has won his last three races going up 19lb in the weights. Last time out he beat Master Matt a neck, off 4lb lower, over C&D 30-days ago. Joey Sheridan who won on the horse at Galway takes off a valuable 7lb.
Master Matt, a winner here over 5f last month followed that up with a close second behind Make A Challenge. Only 6th of 12th at Cork, back over 5f, 24 hours later although that race probably came to quick after his game effort the day before. The 3-year-ol do better today on a track that suits and he won’t mind any rain that falls either.
Miss Jabeam, is 2lbout of the handicap but Nathan Crosse takes of a valuable 5lb which negates that. The 3-year-old has improved in big field handicap this season, winning two of her last four. Two starts back she was 3rd of 23 over C&D off 5lb lower. The filly was doing her best work at the finish when 5th of 12 at Navan when dropped back to 5f. Return to 6f will be in her favour. Suspicion that she wouldn’t want the ground to ease to much before post time, but she won’t be far away.
Make a Challenge – 11/2 @ William Hill
Master Matt – 10/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – each way (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Miss Jabeam – 16/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – each way (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
4:10 – Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1) – 1m 6f
A field of ten are declared to go post for this years Irish St Leger and it looks an ultra-competitive renewal.
Last years Irish Derby winner Latrobe and second in this race last year, albeit a much weaker race, was a decisive winner of a Group 3 at Leopardstown 38-days ago. Interesting that Donnacha O’Brien stays in the saddle rather than ride one of his father’s runners in the race. The 4-year-old has each way claims again
Search For A Song, is the only 3-year-old in the field. The filly shaped like she would appreciate 1m 6f when winning the Listed Galtres Stakes at York last month. Needs to find plenty more improvement on what she’s shown so far but given this is only her 5th career start such progress could be forthcoming. Like fast ground so any rain would probably be a negative.
Kew Garden’s is the class pick. Last years English St Leger winner and Arc 7th is having his first start since finishing runner-up in the Coronation Cup on Oaks Day. His long absence has to be seen as a slight negative.
Latrobe 10/1 @ Bet365 & Coral – each way
6:00 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Northfields” Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 1m 2f
Seventeen go to post for this valuable handicap with €88,500 on offer to the winner.
Hamley & Tudor City were first & second in this race 12 months ago. Hamley won with a bit in hand that day and is just 2lb higher this time around. Doesn’t come into the race in as good a form as she did last year. However, there are excuses for her last two runs. Had a tough draw and a mile was to short at Galway last time and prior to that she was undone by a slow early pace when 4th of 9 at at Leopardstown. Tudor City won the Galway Hurdle last month but disappointed back on the level at York last time. Hamley is almost double the price of Tudor City and I think the mare can finish ahead of her old rival again.
Nickajack Cove, a winner at Navan back in June, off 8lb lower, has only had five career starts and could be able of better than he’s shown so far. The 3-year-old put in a career best when beaten ¾ length into second over C&D on his next start, finishing two places ahead of Hamley. Has to give the mare 7lb for 1 ½ lengths today. Had little chance at the weights when 5th in a Group 3 over C&D last month
Cuban Hope is another 3-year-old with some upside. Hasn’t run for 60-days but if in the same form as for his last win at Fairyhouse warrants serious consideration.
Numerian’s 3rd of 25 in the Irish Cambridgeshire was given a boost when the runner-up won at Leopardstown yesterday. Steps up to 1m 2f for the first time today and could well improve for it. Looks more than capable of landing a valuable handicap like this but has been well found in the betting.
War Diary, has just had the five career starts and remains open to further progress. A winner here over 1m 4f two starts back, he ran just as well when 4th of 12 at Galway last time. Not sure the drop to 1m 2f will play to his strengths. For all that he needs respecting although stall 17 might be difficult to overcome.
Great Grey looked set to win when taking the lead inside the final furlong at Leopardstown 31-days ago but was outbattled by the eventual winner. Looks competitive on form and has each way claims once more.
Insignia Of Rank always needs respecting at the Curragh, 2 wins from 5 runs, including 1 win over C&D and he’s 2 wins from 9 runs 3 placed in field sizes 16+. Comes into the race after finishing well down the field at Listowel last Monday. Hard to know what sort of form he’s in but he’s got a chance.
Verdict: Toughest race of the day. I have a long shortlist for the race but have a slight preference for Cuban Hope, Hamley, Great Grey and War Diary.
Cuban Hope 14/1 @ Ladbrokes & Coral – each way (paying 4 places ¼ odds)
Hamley – 16/1 @ Bet365- each way (paying 4 places ¼ odds)
War Diary – 12/1 @ William Hill – each way (paying 4 places ¼ odds)
I will be back on Thursday with selections from Ayr’s Western meeting, if not before.
Cheers
John