Hi all,

Starting this weekend, the next seven weeks or so are some of the busiest of the year.

The new Flat season gets underway at Doncaster on Saturday. Followed in the middle of April by the Craven and Greenham meetings. At the start of May, it’s the 1,000 & 2,000 Guineas, closely followed by Chester’s May Festival and the Dante Festival at York.

Jump fans are also well catered for. April sees the completion of the jumps season and its ends with a bang too. First, we have Fairyhouse’s Easter Meeting with the highlight being the Irish Grand National. Then there’s the Aintree Grand National Festival, the Scottish Grand National and followed a week later by the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown which brings the curtain down on the 2022-23 National Hunt season.

Auguste Rodin Pleases Aidan O'Brien

Last October I advised having go at the 23/1 available about Auguste Rodin for the 2,000 Guineas/Derby Double. I said at the time that I thought the colt would be seen as a potential Triple Crown contender. Well in an interview with David Jennings in the Racing Post his trainer Aidan O’Brien indicated that the Triple Crown was a possibility. Whilst its still to early to be getting excited the vibes coming out of Ballydoyle are very promising.

A Triple Crown winner would be a big shot in the arm for the sport and give me a nice boost to the betting bank.

Yes, the start of the new flat season has me very excited.

John’s Flat Notebook

Tuesday is for the flat season going to be the regular home for my flat notebook and eyecatchers.  I’m starting with a look back at World Cup Night at Meydan and the start of the new Irish Flat season at the Curragh and Naas.

Meydan

Four horses caught my eye on World Cup Night and three of them could be of interest should they show up at Royal Ascot in June.

Broome

With last year’s Ascot Gold Cup winner Kyprios now unlikely to defend his crown in June. His stablemate Broome laid down a marker for the race when winning the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan. He proved his stamina for 2m at Meydan on Saturday and there’s a decent chance that he will stay the 2m 4f of the Ascot Gold Cup. The 7/1 available with William Hill & Coral looks good value to this pundit.

Sight Success  

Hong Kong trained Sight Success would have preferred a stronger gallop in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (6f). Granted it wasn’t the strongest Group 1 sprint you will see this season. However, the 6-year-old who would have preferred a stronger overall gallop and did well to finish a running on 1 ¼ length 4^th of 15 in Saturday’s race. He’s another who could be heading to Royal Ascot for one of the Group 1 sprint races.

Danon Beluga

The Japanese trained Danon Beluga, a useful middle distance performer last year, returned from a 4 month layoff with an excellent ¾-length second of 14 to Lord North in Dubai Turf. The 4-year-old was doing his best work at the finish in race which was modestly run and didn’t suit those coming from behind.  He stays 1 ¼ m so a return to further will suit. Given he goes well on quick turf it would be interesting if he came over to Royal Ascot for the Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes. He’s not quoted in the ante post betting, but I will be watching to see if connections decide to bring him over.

Westover

Last year’s Irish Derby winner and Epsom Derby third Westover was no match for impressive Sheema Classic winner Equinox but this was a better effort from the 4-year-old on his seasonal return. He settled better in Saturday’s race and finished his race off well to finish runner-up. A more strongly run 1m 4f would have suited him. It was a good start to his season and he’s not one to discount in the top middle distance race back in Europe this summer.  

Curragh

It was the return of the Irish Flat season at Curragh on Saturday where the ground was heavy. I commented on the performance of Bucanero Fuerte in winning the first 2-year-old race of the new Irish Flat season. Well there were several other who caught my eye on the Curragh card.

Swift Flight

Swift Flight is on a losing run that goes back to October 2021. However, the 5-year-old was a promising 2 length 3^rd of 11 to Laugh A Minute.  He was slowly away and didn’t get the best of passages inside the final furlong. Given he finished off his race well he would likely have gone close to winning on Saturday. Very effective on soft ground and at 5f/6f he looks on a winnable mark when getting his favoured underfoot conditions.

Starting Monday

Another on a bit of a losing run (two years) is Starting Monday. However, he shaped like a horse who can win soon when a 4 ¾ length 5th of 19 to Razdan in the 1m handicap at the Curragh on Saturday. The 6-year-old might just have needed his first start for five months and should be spot on fitness wise for his next race.

Star Girls Aalmal

Star Girls Aalmal, sixth in last years Irish 1,000 Guineas and fourth in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, was unlucky in the run when a 3 ¼ length 4th of 10 to Insinuendo in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes. She got no sort of run 1f but once in the clear finished her race off well. The winner is a useful mare so even with a clear run she may not have won, However, I have no doubt she would have finished at least second.

Naas

There was more flat action at Naas on Sunday. Just as the Curragh the ground was heavy.

Aidan O’Brien had two nice 3-year-old winners on the card in Paddington & Jackie Oh.

Paddington had no trouble defying a mark of 97 on his handicap debut in the valuable Madrid Handicap (7f). The colt who was having just his third career start shaped like a Group horse in a handicap. He still looked a work in progress and on pedigree he should be capable of more improvement when stepped up to 1m+. He’s one to keep on the right side.

Jackie Oh looked the stable second string on jockey bookings in the fillies mile maiden. However, that didn’t stop her from making a winning racecourse debut. The daughter of Galileo handled the heavy ground well but there’s no reason why she can’t be just as effective on a sounder surface. She’s open to plenty of progress and seems likely to head for a 1,000 Guineas Trial next. A good run there and she would be a serious Irish 1.000 Guineas contender.

Neither Paddington nor Jackie Oh are my Naas eyecatcher though.

Senado Square

Senado Square looks to have improved for a gelding operation. The 3-year-old built on the promise of his Dundalk return. When running out a comfortable winner of the 5f handicap.  He will get a decent rise in the handicap for this success but there should be more to come from and he’s at the right end of the handicap. Granted he’s got prove as a effective on quicker ground but we do know he handles rain softened ground very well. He can win more races this season and probably in better class.

Tuesday Selection

I said yesterday that Monday’s selection Coco Jamboo was, given my present form, probably a better lay than a back bet and sadly wasn’t wrong.

There’s not much to get excited about on a moderate looking Tuesday. I have put up a selection for today. However, I think Broome @ 7/1 for the Ascot Gold Cup is the more interesting bet.

Huntingdon

3:30 – Hardy Boy won two handicap hurdles here (2m 4 ½ f) and at Southwell last April. Both those successes came on good ground so any further ease in the ground would be a slight concern. Out of sorts on his first three starts this season. The 6-year-old produced a clear seasonal best when a short-head 2nd of 11 at Kempton last month. He’s been nudged up 3lb for last time but should be in the mix provided the rain stays away.

Hardy Boy – 11/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John