Hi all,

Inside today's main piece I conclude my review of the Weekend’s big races with look at Irish 1,000 Guineas Day. Plus, there’s a couple of future winners for the tracker.

Epsom Derby Festival News

The final confirmation stages for the Oaks & Derby are out.

Fifteen were left in Friday’s fillies classic and they include Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Eternal Hope who was supplemented by Godolphin at a cost of £30,000.

Six of the 15 entries are trained by Aidan O’Brien and they include ante post favourite Savethelastdance.  All the big names remained in the line-up with the most notable absentees being Musidora third Infinite Cosmos and recent Newbury Listed runner-up Bluestocking.

Nine were left in Friday’s Group 1 Coronation Stakes. They include last year’s Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn who looks set to make her seasonal reappearance. Other notable entries are Derby third Westover, Hurricane Lane, Point Lonsdale, Broome and German Group 1 winner Tunnes.

Sixteen colts were left in Saturday’s Derby at Monday’s confirmation stage. Ante post favourites Auguste Rodin & Military Order and the other major contenders have stood their ground. They will be joined by recent Dante third Passenger who has been supplemented for the race at cost of £85,000.

Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival

Before I look at Sunday’s action at the Curragh, I want to mention a couple of nice juveniles who won the first two races on Saturday and who could be heading to Royal Ascot for the Coventry Stakes.

Unquestionable made all to win the 6f maiden that opened Saturday’s card. The further they went the better he looked. He’ll stay further than 6f but for now it looks like he will head to Royal Ascot for the Coventry Stakes (6f).  He’s an improving colt and you can tell how regarded he is that Aidan O’Brien put him in a Listed race on his debut. O’Brien already has the Coventry ante post favourite in River Tiber and now Unquestionable has a strong looking hand for the race.

Givemethebeatboys a winner of a Navan maiden on his racecourse debut improved again to take the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes. The son Bungle Inthejungle looked well suited to the better ground on Saturday and must be respected at Royal Ascot. A sharp professional juvenile there’s another big performance in the colt.

Sunday

Tattersalls Gold Cup

The Tattersalls Gold Cup hasn’t been the strongest of Group 1s in recent years. However, there can be no doubt this year's contest was good with just 2lb separating the three main protagonists Vadeni, Bay Bridge & Luxembourg on Official Ratings.

It turned into a tactical race and one which Ryan Moore & Aidan O’Brien got the tactics right. Ryan sent Luxembourg into the lead, and he was able to dictate the pace of the race. Being out in front is no negative in small field contests at the Curragh.

Bay Bridge was a bit keen in the early stages behind the leader. He got into the clear coming to the final furlong and in plenty of time to win. He got within a neck of Luxembourg inside the final furlong but couldn’t get past him. Likely his early keenness prevented him from producing the thrust necessary to pass Luxembourg.  For me he’s a horse who would benefit from a pacemaker.

Luxembourg is a tough horse who got the run of the race and found plenty to hold off the runner-up.  On softer ground maybe the runner-up reverses places with the winner but I wouldn’t be so sure.  If Aidan O’Brien can get a clear run with Luxembourg, he’ll win more Group 1’s this year.

The 11/8 favourite Vadeni was never on a going day and was beaten 2f out.  You must think something was amiss with the colt on Sunday and he can quickly bounce back.

Verdict:

If you needed a reminder that Ryan Moore is the best jockey in the world you got it here.

Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas

Tahiyra runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket was the standout contender and hot favourite for the first Irish fillies Classic. The filly didn’t let favourite backers down as the cream came to the top.

Winning jockey Chris Hayes didn’t panic, he tracked his nearest market rival Meditate and waited for the gap to come and when it did his mount had the gears to take it.

Runner-up Meditate ran much better than she had done at Newmarket. However, just like in last year’s Moyglare Stakes she had no answer to the winners turn of speed inside the final furlong.

The race was steadily run, and it turned into a 3f sprint for home. The winner would have preferred a stronger gallop and I think the runner-up was flattered to finish as close as she did.

It will be interesting to see what plans there are for Tahiyra. Will she still come over to Royal Ascot for the Coronation Stakes?  Let’s just hope one day we’ll see her take on the colts. Yep, I think she’s that good.

The Jim Bolger trained Comhra ran on well to grab third close home.  The first time cheekpieces certainly galvanised her. Given her full sister was at her best at 1m 4f this was a decent looking Irish Oaks Trial.

Tarawa, a stablemate of the winner is from a family who do better with racing, ran well to finish fourth with what looked like plenty left in the tank. She’s improving and can progress further for a step up to 1m 2f. Apart from the winner she’s the one I would take out of the race. There’s a nice pot in her this season.

Verdict:

Tahiyra was a good winner of the race and proved her tactical versatility. There's no reason why she can’t end the season as the best miler in Europe.

Future Winners

The first horse for the tracker got a good mention in Monday’s column.

Bodorgan ran well on his seasonal reappearance/handicap debut to finish fifth in Saturday’s Bowl Handicap. He starts the season on a decent mark and should win a handicap before too long.

I put up Korker as a future winner after his recent second at York.  You can ignore his run at York on Saturday he got badly hampered at the start and had no chance afterwards.

I didn’t back him on Saturday given his slow starts I couldn’t at 100/30. However, I will be with him when he runs next which will hopefully be the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Two from the Curragh

Adelaise, was having just her second run for Joseph O’Brien and her seasonal reappearance when a ½ length 3^rd of 20 to Rahmi in the mile handicap on Friday. She didn’t get the clearest of runs when making her effort 1f out but was closing down the two that finished in front of her at the line. The good ground suited her well and she’s only had seven career starts so is likely capable of better.

Kingswood improved to win a Cork maiden on his seasonal return last month and wasn’t disgraced when a ½ length 3^rd of 6 in Sunday’s Group 3 Gallinule Stakes.  He looks to have a bit more speed than his half-brother last year's St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov but still looked like he needed further 1m 2f here. He travelled through the race like he’s a Group horse and could be a lively Irish Derby outsider.

Tuesday Preview

One of the better races on Tuesday is at Ballinrobe this evening. However, I thought it was too tricky to bother with on a Bank Holiday Monday. and instead have headed to Redcar.

Redcar

2:50 – It’s saying something about the day when a maiden handicap has interested me. On pedigree Fishing Rights was expected to improve for the step up 1m 4f on handicap debut/seasonal return at Lingfield 26 days ago. He didn’t but he also wasn’t suited by the steady pace that day. He remains capable of better and if he gets a better gallop to chase could get into the places.

4:20 – Roaring Ralph didn’t like heavy ground when last of 8 here over a mile on seasonal return/handicap debut. There was more to like about the 3-year-old’s 1 ½ length 4th of 8 at Newcastle 22 days ago. The first time cheekpieces he wore last time are replaced by even more severe headgear in the shape of blinkers. Bred to be better than a 61 rated horse and he remains with potential.

Tuesday Selection:

I don't have a strong fancy today and I'm not sure I will be having a bet so I'm happy to sit this one out.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John