Morning all,
My Qipco 1,000 Guineas ante post portfolio was looking so good a week ago. Well, it’s now unravelling quicker than a hand knitted jumper.
Hot on the heels of Monday’s announcement that Inspiral would miss Sunday’s race. Dermot Weld issued a warning that Homeless Songs was only 50/50 to run at Newmarket and could go for the French 1,000 Guineas instead.
It’s day one of the Punchestown Festival. Inside today’s column, I have a couple of eyecatchers from last week’s flat action. Plus, I look at some of today’s races at Punchestown in the main piece.
Before moving onto the eyecatchers. A brief look back at Friday’s action at Sandown.
Tuesday Notebook
Whilst it was jump racing at Sandown on Saturday. On Friday it was a flat card with the bet365 Classic Trial the most interesting race of the day. It was a rare setback for the Charlie Appleby stable with 6/5 favourite Goldspur being turned over. The winner was Westover who managed to hold of Cash by a short head. The winner looks capable of more progress and could stay 1m 4f. He might not be able to confirm with the runner-up though should the pair meet again.
Cash was making just his second career start and he still looked inexperienced when asked for his effort between the final two furlongs. He played up before the start which is a slight concern but if it’s not a sign of temperament looks a very useful prospect with plenty of scope for better.
The Gosden yard saddled a couple of unexposed colts in Frantastic & Franz Strauss. The first named was a big disappointment being beaten 3f out. Franz Strauss was beaten 9-length into fourth. He was another having only his second start and it showed. He was still green when asked for his effort and was soon left behind by the three who finished in front of him.
No joy for the Gosden stable in the Classic Trial. However, they did get a winner 35 minutes later with Emily Upjohn taking the fillies novice stakes. (1m 2f). The daughter of Sea The Stars has a lovely middle distance pedigree and couldn’t have been more impressive when making a winning seasonal reappearance. Now 2-2, she’s a best priced 5/1 for the Oaks which looks plenty short enough. You would think she will take in one of the Trials before heading to Epsom.
Eyecatchers
The first of today’s two eyecatchers ran at Sandown on Friday.
Kimngrace – Richard Hughes
A winner of a 6f Haydock maiden (good to firm) last September the filly was having her first start for 7 months she got bumped at the start and didn’t get the best of passages inside the final furlong before finishing a 5 ¼ length 4th of 9 in the 5f handicap that opened Sandown’s Friday’s card. She looks like she has trained on from two to three and will be suited by a return to 6f. Clearly, she goes well on a sound surface and given her mark of 80 she’s eligible for lesser races than (0-100) she ran in here.
This week’s second eyecatcher ran at Haydock on Saturday.
The Gosden’s have another nice filly in the shape of Nashwa. The daughter of Frankel had enough speed to win over a mile at Haydock on Saturday. She has an Oaks entry and whilst she not guaranteed to stay 1m 4f, her half brother won over the distance which gives hope in that regard. An Oaks Trial will now be on the agenda for her and she’s potentially smart, if learning to settle.
Cruyff Turn – Tim Easterby
The Tim Easterby horses have been needing their first runs and Cruyff Turn was no different. The 5-year-old who needed his seasonal reappearance last season had a very good time in 2021 winning four times, including a valuable mile handicap at York’s Ebor Festival, off 3lb lower. Finishing a 4 ¼ length 6th of 9 in the mile handicap at Haydock on Saturday, he'll be sharper for the run and a mile on a sound surface suits him ideally. Might need to come down the handicap 1lb or 2lb to win but there should be more winning opportunities for him this summer.
Tuesday Racing
Besides Punchestown’s teatime card. There are flat cards this afternoon Brighton, Yarmouth & Nottingham with Ayr concluding today’s action with an evening flat card.
Punchestown Festival – Day 1
It’s the start of five-days at the Punchestown Festival. They have been artificially watering to maintain good to yielding ground and with little rain forecast for the next few days that seems likely to continue.
Whilst it’s good to see so many of the Irish stars in action. In truth this festival would look good if it was held over three days rather than five.
Talking of stars of the jumping code. Sir Gerhard and Dysart Dynamo take each other on in the Grade 1 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (4:15). Stablemates Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi seem likely to renew rivalry in the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase (5:25). Whilst those two Grade 1’s look matches. The final Grade 1 of an eight-race card the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6:35) looks a more interesting affair.
6:35 – Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 3m ½ f
Lucky Cheltenham scorer Bob Olinger takes on six rivals on his step up to 3m for the first time. Capodanno wasn’t disgraced when a 12-length 4th of 9 in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham. However, his jumping wasn’t great that day but hopefully the better ground will suit him. Beacon Edge was a very disappointing 7th in the Brown Advisory. He’s got questions to answer after that. Although you wouldn’t be shocked if he was to run a big race here.
Fury Road bounced back from a poor effort at the Dublin Racing Festival when 5 length 2nd of 4 to Ahoy Senor in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree last time. A reproduction of his Aintree run puts him very much in the mix.
Millers Bank comes over from England and should like underfoot conditions. The 8-year-old posted a personal best on RPR’s when winning the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase (2m 4f) at Aintree earlier this month. He was strong at the finish that day and the step up to 3m could bring out more improvement.
Lifetime Ambition looked suited by the step up to 3m when winning a Grade 3 novice chase at Limerick last month. He’s got a bit to find on official ratings with some of the principals but he’s no forlorn hope. The ground will suit the 7-year-old who is a solid jumper on his day.
Verdict: Boring choice but Bob Olinger will be hard to beat. Millers Bank is open to further progress for a step up to 3m and could be the favourites biggest rival.
The rest of the card, apart from the Grade B Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (4:50) looks unappealing. However, I like the look of Love Envoy in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper (6:00). There’s €100,000 in guaranteed prize money and I was impressed with Love Envoy when he made a winning racecourse debut in a Naas bumper last month. Trainer Liz Doyle has her horses in good from and she's 3 from 7 +19.5 with her bumper runners in 2022.
Tuesday Selection:
Punchestown
6:00 – 1pt win – Love Envoy – 11/2 – Gen.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John
Do you mean Irish Envoy