Good morning all,
The Derby Trials had been rather underwhelming until Sunday. However, that all changed at Leopardstown with Bolshoi Ballet demolishing his field in the Derrinstown Derby Trial. The recent Ballysax winner maintained his improvement with a decisive 6 length success.
Ryan Moore kept it simple on the winner who was always in a good position. Taking it up three out the colt showed a good turn of foot two out to put the race to bed. After that it was just a case of the jockey keeping up to his work which he did.
Last season’s Futurity winner Mac Swiney had been expected to go close on his seasonal reappearance. He went second three out but couldn’t match the winners change of gear and lost two places inside the final half a furlong. A disappointing effort on the face of it and the bookies pushed him out in the betting for next month's Derby. As he showed last year the more testing the ground the better and if he was to get deep ground at Epsom, he would have each way claims.
Lough Derg a stablemate of the winner plugged on for second but he looks more of St Leger type, although he wouldn’t be bred for 1m 6f.
As for Bolshoi Ballet he will now head to the Derby, for which he is the 7/4 ante post favourite. He’s bred for 1m 4f so his improvement hasn’t levelled out either. If he handles the track, he’s the most likely winner. Visually impressive as he was at 7/4 he looks plenty short to me.
Inside today’s main piece I have few horses that caught my eye last week from Chester. Plus, there’s a couple of interest from Killarney.
Last Week’s Notes and Eyecatchers
My tracker is really stating to fill up. Here are a few that caught my eye last week at Chester.
Wednesday
Showalong – Tim Easterby
Won the 5f handicap with more in hand than the official margin of ¾ length suggests. Will win again and he’s a 3-year-old handicapper going places.
Selected – Richard Fahey
Was dropped in from his high draw which wasn’t the place to be and didn’t seem totally happy on the turning track. He kept on nicely enough when 5th of 10 behind Paws For Thought and has races in him.
Thursday
Count D’Orsay – Tim Easterby
Is well suited to easy ground and his form figures on good to soft/soft going are now 1121122 after his 2nd of 9 behind the front running Jabbarockie. Did best of those coming from the rear and can have his effort marked up
Copper Knight – Tim Easterby
Finished one place behind Count D’Orsay in the 5f handicap. The 7-year-old isn’t the horse he was but he’s become temptingly handicapped and can race in 0-85 handicaps.
Friday
Dulas – Charles Hills
Has returned to action in good form finishing runner-up at Haydock and occupying the same position behind Grove Ferry in the extended 7f handicap here. Dictated from the front and looked to have his rivals on the stretch when kicking for home two out. He can win a decent handicap pot.
Postileo – Roger Varian
The 4-year-old came into the Chester Plate an improving stayer and he maintained his progress when 2nd of 13 to Green Book. Not helped by interference at the start and then on wasn’t well positioned. Made good headway from three out but was never likely to catch the enterprisingly ridden winner. He remains one to be interested in going forward as does the well treated Speedo Boy who finished 4th.
Tuesday racing
Killarney
7:15 – Pinpointed has returned to action in good form, finishing runner-up at Leopardstown before going one better at Tipperary last time. She’s got 5lb more to carry and drops back a furlong in distance but looks set to go close.
7:45 – Hook Head lightly raced for a 4-year-old he put in a career best performance when winning a 1m 5 handicap at Navan 16-days ago. Up 4lb for that success but Luke McAteer takes off a handy 5lb. Shapes like he will stay further and in his present form is capable of following up.
Tuesday selection:
Killarney
7:45 – Hook Up – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John
John Burke is the tipster behind the long standing Victor Value service you can join him here – https://victorvalue.uk
John
You must be a caravanner seeing that you think the horse is called HOOK UP….when it's really called HOOK HEAD
Thanks Norman, corrected now
for the 7.45 kilarney you mean Hook Head not Hook up
Thanks Carlos, will correct that
Time and horses name do not match.
Is there a mix up between hook up and hook head
Both running at the meeting
Cheers.