Morning all,

Inside today’s main piece. I look back at the flat action across the Irish Sea on Trial’s Day at Leopardstown on Saturday. Plus, there’s a Tuesday tip at the end.

Classic pointers at Leopardstown

Leopardstown held the first of the new season’s Classic Trials on Saturday. One of the Trials produced a winner who looks a Classic contender and another produced

The Ger Lyons trained Dr Zempf won the 2,000 Guineas Trial. Last year’s race had been won by subsequent English 2,000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare. I suspect we didn’t see a Guineas winner running in the race this season. The winner was clear of his field on juvenile form but I don’t think he improved on his 2-year-old form in winning Saturday’s race.

I’m not convinced Dr Zempf will stay a strongly run mile at Newmarket and I don’t think he has the class to win a 2,000 Guineas. Around 33/1 with the bookies for the first colt’s classic. Those odds reflect his chance for me.

Homeless Songs advertises 1,000 Guineas credentials  

The Irish 1,000 Guineas Trail was won by the Dermot Weld trained Homeless Songs. Unlike the other Guineas Trial this race produced a classic contender in the winner. The daughter of Frankel a highly regarded juvenile looks to have progressed nicely over the winter. Settled in midfield she with a run on the outside 2f out, producing an impressive change of gear to cut down long-time leader Agartha inside the final furlong. She idled a bit out in front which allowed the runner-up to get within a length at the line.

Sacred Bridge was sent off the 5/4 favourite. However, she never really looked she would reward favourite backers and finished a 2-length 4^th of 11. Very effective over 6f as a juvenile a drop back to sprinting looks the way to go with the filly rather than going up to a mile for the Guineas.

I tipped up both Inspiral & Discoveries in this column at big prices last season and I have now added Homeless Songs at 16/1. Granted she won first time up as a juvenile and didn’t build on that promise on her next two starts but she looks a different filly now. We know she’s trained on and come to hand early which are big plus’s when it comes to the first fillies Classic. Newmarket is a different track to Leopardstown. However, the turn of foot she produced to win makes her very much a Classic contender.

Derby contenders emerge in Ballysax

The Group 3 Ballysax Stakes is first Derby Trial of the season. The race produced a great finish. It looked like the Joseph O’Brien trained Buckaroo had been produced to win his race when heading Piz Badile inside the final furlong. However, the latter rallied close to home to win by a short head.

Piz Badile is now a best priced 20/1 for the Epsom Derby. On the evidence of this run he can progressive further over 1m 4f. He’s now set to go for the Derrinstown Derby Trial back at Leopardstown before heading to Epsom. The Derrinstown will tell us more about the colt but he looks smart and he could renew rivalry with the runner-up there.

Third home was the Dermot Weld trained Duke De Sessa in this year’s renewal. He finished 3 ¾ lengths behind the front two. However, he was giving the pair 3lb for his juvenile Group 3 success last season. A bit fresh in the early stages of the race. He had to wait briefly for a gap in the straight and the two who finished in front had got rolling before he could. Switched to make his effort in the centre of the track he stayed on well to take third.

His trainer had said before the race that the son of Lope De Vega should come on plenty for this run. If he was to head for the Derrinstown I could see him getting a lot closer to Piz Badile and Buckaroo. The first three are all smart colts who should do well this season.

Tracker Time

Just the one for the tracker this week.

Brasil Power – Joseph O’Brien

A winner on his nursery debut for George Boughey at Kempton (7f) on his final juvenile start last season. The colt was having his first start since switching to Joseph O’Brien (same ownership) in the 1m 2f handicap. Sent of the 7/4 favourite and up 3f in distance. He came with a promising run 2f out but his stamina seemed to give away inside the final furlong and he finished a2 ¾ length 5^th of 10. He can win races this season when dropped back in trip.

It should pay to also keep the runner-up and handicap debutant Enthrallment onside in the coming weeks. A winner on soft to heavy at Tipperary (1m 1f) on his second juvenile start in October. He had to wait for a gap between the final two furlongs, may have cost him the win as he got within a neck of the winner at the line. The step up to 1m 2f suited and he’s another who should be able to find a winning opening soon.

Tuesday Racing

Pontefract provides today’s sole flat card and there’s jumps action at Exeter and Southwell. Small fields are the order of the day at Exeter with just 42 horses being declared for a seven-race card.

I’m off to Pontefract today. So, I have had a look at a few of the handicap races at the West Yorkshire track. The going is being described as soft and I would expect the going to remain on the soft side today.

Pontefract

2:40 – A good-sized field for this Class 2 handicap run over 1m 2f and the race of the day. The early money was for top-weight Injazati. A winner three times last season over today’s distance. The 4-year-old failed to stay 1m 4f in the Old Rowley Cup on his final start. The rain softened ground will suit him and trainer Charlie Fellowes thinks he could be a Group level performer this season.

3:15 – Richard Fahey has won five of the last eight running’s of this 6f handicap. He saddles Buckshaw Village who improved with each of his four juvenile starts and returns today from wind surgery. Not raced on ground worse than good ground so far but if he handles it must be respected given his yard’s record in the race.

Karl Burke prevented a six Fahey win in last year’s race when saddling Bickerstaffe to success. He run Lethal Levi here. Twice a juvenile winner on quick ground the 3-year-old seemed to handled soft ground well enough when a 1 ½ length 2^nd of 10 over C&D on his last start. Very much respected on his return to action from a 183-day layoff.

4:25 – Music Seeker goes well on soft ground and is well treated on his best form but he’s on a long losing run.  

Stately Home seemed to handle good to soft when trained in Ireland. The 5-year-old has gone close on his last two starts on the all-weather. He’s got race fitness on his side and has a handy draw in stall 2 for a prominent racer.

Gainsbourg twice a winner at around a mile last season, including a C&D soft ground success in October. Back in 0-75 company here and if ready to roll from a 160-day absence should go close.

Tuesday Selection:

Pontefract

2:40 – Injazati.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John