Hi all,
We had an interesting card at Leopardstown on Sunday with two Guineas trials followed by the Ballysax Stakes.
Inside today’s you’ll find my thoughts on the Leopardstown card. Plus, there’s a few eyecatchers from the notebook.
The ground at Leopardstown was officially described as heavy and the times backed that up.
Having recently taken an interest in the going descriptions at various racecourses. I have to say the Irish seems to be getting more accurate than their British counterparts. An example of this came at Ascot on Sunday and its final jumps fixture of the NH season.
The meeting started on what officially described as SOFT ground. That was swiftly changed too good to soft after the first race. However, looking at the times on the hurdles track its was no worse than good and indeed was bordering on good to firm.
As I have said on numerous occasions over the last few months. What chance do punters have if racecourses can’t provide accurate going descriptions?
Anyway, back to Leopardstown.
Leopardstown Review
A hopefully informative mile maiden for 3-year-old fillies got the card underway. The race was won by the race fit Curvature, trained by Jessica Harrington. The winner is going the right way and should progress further.
I also think there are a couple of further future winners who finished third and fourth respectively.
Persian Jewel, trained by Paddy Twomey, was a promising third on her racecourse debut. He inexperience showed here but she should improve plenty for the run.
The well bred filly Hazalaya is another worth noting with the future in mind. The daughter of Siyouni did best of those to come off the pace, on just her second career start. There was plenty of encouragement to be taken form this performance, given she will stay 1m 2f.
Guineas Trials
The 8/13 favourite Hans Anderson was too good for his four rivals in the “Red Rocks” 2,000 Guineas Trial. It looked a weak renewal, and the winner probably didn’t improve much on his juvenile form. He’s said to be heading to the French 2,000 Guineas but overall I would expect that Aidan O’Brien has much better 3-year-old colts lurking in Ballydoyle.
The “Priory Belle” 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes went to the form pick and favourite Never Ending Story. Just a shade below the best juvenile fillies last season the daughter of Dubwai has improved from two to three. As befits a pedigree that suggests she will do well at 1m 2f she was strong at the end of this 7f contest. I was impressed with her and she’s filly worth following.
No doubt the winner will be heading to either the French or Irish 1,000 Guineas after this success and she will go close in whichever one she runs in. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw her line up alongside stablemate Meditate at Newmarket. If she runs at Newmarket, I will want to be with her.
White upset in Derby trial
The Group 3 Ballysax Stakes saw Derby ante post second favourite Alexandroupolis go off the 4/5 favourite. However, there was an upset in the first Derby Trial of the new season. With 22/1 shot White Birch handling the heavy ground better than his five rivals. The outsider of the field it was nice to see a success by smaller yard in this case John Murphy.
Given the prevailing going it would be easy to dismiss the result as a bit of a fluke. I don’t think it would be wise to do so as I think the form of the race is ok.
The winner’s pedigree suggests he can only improve with age and racing, and he shaped in victory smart prospect. He doesn’t have a Derby entry, but connections will surely give the race serious consideration after this performance. His full brother stayed 1m 3f so he could have the stamina for 1m 4f.
The runner-up Up And Under will surely win races this summer. Also I wouldn’t write off Alexandroupolis just yet as he still looked a bit green, and Ryan Moore didn’t subject the colt to a hard race. He’s capable of more improvement and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was come across for a Derby trial at Chester or Lingfield. There was less to like about the performance of stablemate Denmark in fifth. He seemed fine on soft ground at Longchamp last autumn but was laboured here. He’s surely better than this and his next run should reveal more about the son of Camelot.
John’s Notebook:
Doncaster
The heavy ground at Doncaster on Saturday meant plenty of horses ‘didn’t give their running’. There we’re at least three from the Lincoln Handicap who can fall into the ‘didn’t give their running’ category.
Atrium who had ended last season with a C&D success in a 16 runner handicap last September had looked like he’s been laid out for the race. His Doncaster success came on good to soft according to the times rather than officially described soft ground. Testing ground didn’t suit him at all and he’s worth keeping in mind when back on a sounder surface.
Wanees was another to fail to handle the heavy ground and wasn’t subjected to hard race on his seasonal return. Its best to forgive the run. The 4-year-old was a progressive handicapper last season, and we’ll see him in a better light back on a sounder surface.
Yanifer an improved performer over 7f for his new yard last season probably did too much too early in the Lincoln that and a combination of heavy ground and the mile trip all combined to produce a underwhelming performance from the 5-year-old. He’s not one to discount this season when dropped back to 7f.
Lincoln Eyecatcher – Boardman
Boardman never got involved after a tardy start and didn’t get the best of runs 2f out either before finishing 11th. To be fair Boardman’s not one to catch first time out – 0 wins from 5 runs on his seasonal return. He remains 4lb above his last winning mark but there’s another handicap to be won with the 7-year-old in the coming weeks. Especially as his form figures in April/May (not on seasonal reappearance) are 1111511.
My second Doncaster eyecatcher ran in the Lincoln consolation race.
Isla Kai
Isla Ka looked to have strong claims in the Spring Mile and the market thought so to as he was sent off the 9/2 favourite. On the face of it his 40 ½ length 18th of 22 looks dreadful. However, it turned out he was a badly drawn horse in stall 1. He led the small group that went far side, but it was soon clear that those racing over that side had no chance. He was a length 4th of 17 in Newbury’s Spring Cup last April from 7lb higher and that race could well be on the 5-year-old’s radar once more. He’s down to handy mark, after failing to win last season, and a win shouldn’t be long in coming.
A couple to note from Doncaster on Sunday where the going had dried out to soft from Saturday’s heavy.
Aleezdancer, trained by Kevin Ryan, was well positioned, in a race where it proved difficult to get involved in from off the pace, but still ran out an authoritative 2 ½ length winner of the 6f handicap. He’s going to be aimed at the Ayr Gold Cup and if he gets some juice in the ground, he already looks a big contender for Ayr annual cavalry charge. A smart performer when getting the right underfoot conditions. In winning on Sunday, he took his 6f record on good to soft/soft ground to 4 win from 4 runs +10.13.
Spoof is now on a losing run of 14 after his head 2nd of 10 in the 5f handicap. However, he’s not been long with trainer Kevin Frost and is down to a winnable mark over the minimum trip.
Leopardstown
Earlier in the piece I mentioned Persian Jewel and Hazalaya as two fillies from the mile maiden who look future winners. However, if there is one to take from the Leopardstown handicaps its Plunkett. The 6-year-old who had finished last of 12 at Naas the previous Sunday might still have needed the run when a 13 length 6th of 13 in the mile handicap. This was a much better effort as he didn’t get the best of runs 1f out, albeit he wouldn’t have won even if he had. He seems to be building up to a win and could go close next time returned to less testing ground.
Tuesday Selection:
At first, I thought great, racing is back at Thirsk, and there are some big fields. Then I saw that not one of the handicaps is better Class 6. That slightly put me off the card but for those with an interest, I have had a look at four of the Thirsk races.
Thirsk
3:15 – Edwina Sheeren seemed to stay 1m 4f on her first start at Southwell last time. The cheekpieces are on for the first time and she probably has a race like this in her on turf. However, she not one I want to take short odds about.
3:45 – Jackmeister Rudi wasn’t disgraced when 4th of 9 at Wolverhampton 10-days ago. He’s got race fitness on his side and both his career wins have come on turf on good to soft. Back down to his last winning mark and should go well back at 7f. Brunello Breeze is an eight race maiden but his second best RPR came on his seasonal return last season and he’s in with a chance on return from a winter break if stall 11 isn’t an inconvenience.
5:15 – Fen Tiger proved to be a consistent handicapper last season winning two of his last three starts over C&D and Leicester. Now 5lb higher than winning at Leicester in October but looks to have a favourites chance albeit 2/1 doesn’t make much appeal from a value perspective.
5:45 – Zoom Star might be better at Catterick. However, he's well suited 5f and finished 3rd of 10 on his only previous start over C&D. One win from just three starts in a light campaign last season and has gone well of a break in the past. The 5-year-old is 1lb above his last winning mark, but Mark Winn takes off a handy 5lb. I would be looking for at least 7/1 about his chance but he makes appeal if getting those odds and bigger.
Southwell
7:00 – A fillies mile handicap and probably the race of the day albeit that’s not saying much. The Charlie Appleby trained Mountain Song is sure to be popular with connections. The 3-year-old has finished runner-up on her three starts maiden/novice company and should go well on handicap debut.
Sid’s Annie isn’t the most straight forward of fillies, but she was on a going day when beating four rivals over C&D 19-days ago. Nudged up 2lb and in a better race but not handicapped out of it if in the same form as last time.
Double March got off the mark at the third attempt when winning a C&D maiden on her final juvenile start. She must be respected on her handicap debut/seasonal return with James Doyle 10 winners from 28 rides 36% + 19.84 when riding for trainer Sean Woods in the saddle for the first time.
Dayzee won a Dundalk maiden in January before switching to the Freddie & Martyn Meade yard. The filly followed up on her first start for the Meade’s yard at Wolverhampton 39-days ago. Open to further progress and must be respected on handicap debut.
Tuesday Selection:
Thirsk
5:45 – Zoom Star – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John