Hi all,
Not a bad day’s sport across Britain & Ireland on Sunday. Inside today’s main piece I’m looking the Munster National and the best of the action at Kempton and Sedgefield.
The highlight is the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National (3:40) at Limerick. It’s heavy ground at Limerick which means the day’s most valuable race, which has £53,097 on offer to the winner, has attracted just 13 runners.
There’s also a competitive flat card at Leopardstown. The highlights of a seven race card are two Listed races: the Knockaire Stakes (2:10) and Trigo Stakes (3:20). Although the most valuable race is the October Handicap (5:05) which has attracted an excellent line-up of middle distance handicappers.
Limerick
4:15 – JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – 3m
A poor turnout for this valuable prize but it could be worse given Gordon Elliott saddles eight of the 12 runners. I fancied Walk Away for this but he's a now a non runner.
The two Elliott runners I like most are Coko Beach and The Goffer. Given the quality of his jumping you can never rule out the former and Danny Gilligan takes off a handy 5lb. On the negative side he’s well beaten in this race last year on his seasonal return.
The Goffer stepped up on Galway seasonal return when a 9 ¾ length 5th of 17 in last month’s Kerry National at Listowel last time. Today’s stamina test should suit. He’s got a nice handicap chase pot in him off his present mark when everything clicks.
Kempton
This side of the Irish Sea there’s a competitive jumps card at Kempton. The feature race is a 2m Listed Hurdle (4:05). Sceau Royal has won the last two running’s of the race and he’s the one to beat. First Street return from wind surgery and did win first time up last season and is a serious rival. Rubaud made all to win the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle over C&D in February and improved again when winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April. He’ll need to have improved again over the summer to beat the other pair, but he might get his way out in front. If he does, he’s a player.
Sedgefield
Up at Sedgefield highlight of a seven race card is the Durham National Handicap Chase (4:25). It’s arguably the most valuable race run at the course during the year but sadly the 3m 5f contest has attracted just seven runners. It will be interesting to see how fit No Cruise Yet is on his seasonal return. He ended last season with a couple of lesser efforts but prior to that had been a progressive staying handicap chaser. A mark of 114 is more than workable and he will a handicap chase or two this winter.
Two for Friday
As I'm away this week I will be missing the opening day of Cheltenham's Open Meeting. However, I do have a couple of Christian Williams horses that are worth noting should they run on the day. The first of them is a recent eyecatcher from Chepstow's Persian War meeting.
Cheltenham
4:30 – Strictlyadancer is 2-2 over C&D and won this corresponding race in 2021. He’s now 1lb below his last winning mark. The 9-year-old returned from a 21 month absence with an encouraging 12 ¾ length 6th of 7 to Stolen Silver at Chepstow earlier this month. He wasn’t knocked about when his chance was gone and hopefully that kindness will be repaid in the coming weeks.
I notice that trainer Christian Williams has booked Gina Andrews for the ride. The going is currently soft at Cheltenham and Strictlyadancer needs good or good to soft ground and if he gets his ground, I think he's got a good chance.
5:05 – It could be a good day for Christian Williams as I also fancy one of his runners in this 2m 4f Handicap Hurdle. Stringtoyourbow seemed to improve for the step up 3m when winning at Ayr (good to soft) in April.
The 6-year-old was hiked up 14lb for that comfortable Ayr success. He looked well ahead of the handicapper that day and is capable of more progress which makes a mark of 115 workable. The drop back in trip shouldn’t inconvenience him as he didn’t look short of speed last time.
Sunday Selection:
Limerick
4:15 – The Goffer – 13/2 @ Bet365.
Good luck with your Sunday bets.
John