Hi all,
It’s a busy week of racing ahead. The Punchestown Festival kicks off on Tuesday, and then all eyes turn to Guineas Weekend at Newmarket on Saturday and Sunday. The latter is what really excites me, but there’ll be Punchestown selections across the next five days.
For now, I’ve looked back at last week’s Flat action, with several horses worth noting for your trackers.
Future Winners to Follow
Here’s a quick round-up from Sandown’s Classic Trial card and the weekend action at Haydock, Leicester, and Ripon.
Sandown – Classic Trial Card
Almaqam looked as though he’d come on for the run when finishing third to Al Aasy in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes. He should do well this season, particularly with some cut in the ground. Sea The Fire disappointed, but she may prefer quicker going and can bounce back particularly against her own sex.
Dancing Gemini maintained his improvement and was impressive in victory in the Group 2 bet365 Mile. He heads for the Lockinge next, but quicker ground would pose another question. Tamfana, second under a penalty, should come on for the run and could reverse the form at Newbury.
The Group 3 Classic Trial didn’t scream Derby winner, but Swagman won well for Aidan O’Brien. The third home, Damysus, still looked raw and should improve with experience. He shapes as though 1m4f will suit.
In the Esher Cup, Fifth Column made it 2-2 since being gelded with a tidy win. The step up to a mile this year has suited, and he can win again. Runner-up Seraph Gabriel (Ralph Beckett) didn’t get the clearest run but finished well. He’ll be sharper for it, stays a mile well, and could improve over 1m2f. One to follow up to Royal Ascot.
Haydock – Saturday
Blue For You wasn’t ideally placed in a steadily run race 7f handicap but shaped with promise. He’s won at York in each of the past three seasons and looks one for the Dante meeting mile handicap.
Skukuza (Ed Dunlop) was the real eyecatcher. Last seen finishing second in the Britannia at Royal Ascot, he shaped well on return from a long absence. He can win at a mile and is a possible Royal Hunt Cup contender.
Leicester – Saturday
Completely Random overcame an awkward start to land the King Richard III Cup (Handicap) and is now 2-2 this spring. A valuable 6f handicap like the Wokingham could now be the target.
Plenty in behind shaped well in a race that should work out well:
Germanic (5th) ran a solid race on stable debut for Julie Camacho. If he settles better, he can land a sprint handicap soon.
Akkadian Thunder (David O’Meara) (8th) was unlucky not to finish closer. He met trouble 1f out and wasn’t subjected to hard race after. Twice a winner over 7f last season he travelled well enough to think a strongly run 6f can suit. There are races to be won with him over 6f/7f.
Havana Pusey was another who didn’t get a clear run but kept on after being outpaced. She might appreciate a return to 7f.
Ripon – Saturday
The Ripon Sprint Trophy produced a couple of useful efforts:
Venture Capital landed his fifth career win and continues to progress. He’s effective on good or quicker ground and form figures of 311 on the all-weather suggest a tilt at Gosforth Park Sprint Cup a possibility. It’s a race trainer Kevin Ryan won last year with Bergerac.
Pilgrim, last season’s Palace of Holyrood House Handicap winner, ran a huge race from the front in a briskly run contest on return. Only collared late by a fit rival, he looks primed for a successful campaign.
Punchestown Festival – Day 1
The five-day Punchestown Festival begins today, and we kick off with three Grade 1 contests.
The William Hill Champion Chase (6:00) sees Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale take on Fact To File, who was so impressive in winning the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Marine Nationale is the specialist 2-miler, but the strong-travelling Fact To File might not be fazed by the drop in trip. It’s a clash to savour.
Willie Mullins, fresh from landing the UK trainers’ title, will be looking to make a big start at Punchestown. Besides Fact To File in the Champion Chase he dominates the day’s other Grade 1s.
The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (4:15) features six runners, four trained by Mullins. Kopek Des Bordes, unbeaten over hurdles and impressive in the Supreme, takes on stablemate Salvator Mundi, a Grade 1 winner at Aintree. It may not be a big field, but it’s full of talent.
The final Grade 1, the Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase (4:50), features nine runners – and five from the Mullins yard. Ballyburn, who fluffed his lines in the Brown Advisory, could bounce back if allowed to stride on in front and find a rhythm. His main danger might not be Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson, but Impaire Et Passe. The latter was let down by his jumping when behind Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival but has since gone onto win the Grade 1 Manifesto Novice Chase (2m 4f) at Aintree. If he stays three miles, he’s a serious threat.
Besides the three feature races are also a couple of interesting big field handicap hurdles on the card. If you want my previews and selection for the Punchestown Festival and for the rest of the month you can get them here.
It was a good to start the week with a winner (7/1) and I will take on Ballyburn with Impaire Et Passe today. Albeit the 6/1 available yesterday was more appealing than the 9/2 at the time of posting. Hopefully he'll drift before post time.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John