Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I review the best of Saturday’s action.

What’s happened to this year’s Summer? It seems to have disappeared at the end of June. I thought last Saturday’s weather was bad enough but this one was even worse. Heavy rain meant we lost both the Curragh and Redcar cards on Sunday.

We’re just a week away from ‘Glorious’ Goodwood and if a meeting needs sunny and dry weather it’s this one. Sadly, given the wat the Summer has gone its probably unlikely.

Worst summer I can remember in a long time this, absolute utter garbage. Ah well there’s always next year.

Curragh

Irish Oaks

When it comes to an Irish Classic. Aidan O’Brien runners are usually the first point of reference for punters.

Aidan was bidding for a seventh Irish Oaks win and had the hot favourite in Savethelastdance. Back on soft ground it looked a good opportunity for Epsom Oaks runner-up to go one place better.  

Two furlongs out it looked like Savethelastdance had no chance and she looked beaten. Indeed, she went 999/1 in running. To jockey Ryan Moore’s credit, he never gave up on her and she rallied inside the final furlong to collar Bluestocking close home.

It looked Colin Keane has produced Bluestocking to win her race when taking it up from long-time leader Library in the final half furlong, but she was just done by a dour stayer.

It was a grand effort from the Bluestocking. And she can win a Group race over 1m 4f and further on better ground.

Warm Heart, stablemate of the winner, was never travelling on the rain softened ground and she confirmed to me that she needs top of the ground. She’ll be seen in a better light back on a sound surface.

What Next for Savethelastdance?

Savethelastdance will be suited by further and looks a St Leger horse. That said, she tends to hit a flat spot in her races and a quick ground/tactically run St Leger could be her undoing.

Yep, she looks a real slow boat, and you could see her being a Cup horse if she stays in training as a 4-year-old.

I’m sure the ‘lads’ will keep the Arc option open, but she would need bottomless ground at Longchamp to have any chance.

I wasn’t convinced about the Epsom Oaks form prior to the race, and Saturday’s race hasn’t changed my mind.

Art Powers Home

I mentioned in Thursday’s column that Art Power was good value at 5/1 with Bet365 for Saturday’s Group 3 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh.

The 6-year-old made it a perfect 4-4 at the track with an impressive success. Returned 6/4 he’s one of the few ante post bets I have got right this year.

Given he goes so well here I’m sure he’ll be back over C&D for the Group 1 Flying Five in September.

Sadly, Saturday’s selection Gooloogong ran poorly in the Group 2 Curragh Cup. The race was won by stablemate Emily Dickinson who proved too strong for her rivals in the 1m 6f contest.

On soft ground the filly is a strong stayer and a very useful at 1m 6f/2m. I’m sure she will be back for the Irish St Leger in the autumn and if he gets her ground, she’ll be a major contender.

I wrote on Thursday that I had two that I really fancied in the Paddy Power Scurry Handicap. The two were Strike Red (1^st) and No More Porter (4^th). I advised both horses to Victor Value subscribers on Friday. The winner I put up at 10/1 on what turned to be a good day punting wise.

It’s a simple angle. But go with the English trained runners in these valuable Irish sprint handicaps and Irish trained runners in staying flat handicaps this side of the Irish Sea.

Newbury

The two best performance from Newbury came from Commanche Falls in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes and Relief Rally in the Super Sprint.

Commanche Falls gained his first Group success in the Hackwood Stakes. The 6-year-old was off the bridle at halfway which was a good sign for his backers. If he’s not being pushed along its normally a sign that leaders haven’t gone quick enough for him.

One thing you can say about him is that he’s a brave horse who finds plenty for pressure. He had to dig deep to win on Saturday and this breakthrough Group success was a well-deserved reward for his consistency.

Relief Rally isn’t the biggest filly, but she’s got a touch of class as she showed when powering to a 3 length success in the valuable Super Sprint.  She was pushed along between the final two furlongs but once she hit top gear wasn’t for stopping.

The Queen Mary runner-up was sent off the even money favourite and proved far too good for her rivals. You often get one that has run well at Royal Ascot, like the winner did, and looks a good thing for the race. They can win as Tiggy Wiggy did in 2014 but they can get beat as Ventura Rebel did in 2019 after finishing runner-up in the Norfolk Stakes.

I think she’s the best winner of the race since Tiggy Wiggy and she’ll try to emulate that filly and land the Lowther Stakes at next month’s Ebor Festival. I think she’ll get the extra furlong at York and will be tough to beat.

Super Sprint stat titbit:

The last ten winners of the Super Sprint have been drawn ten and above. Those in a single digit draw are 0 winners from 94 runners after Saturday’s race.

And finally…..

When betting opened last week on the Listed Steventon Stakes Al Aasy was put in as the 4/6 favourite. I don’t think I have seen a more ridiculous favourite all season. Yes, at his best he wins the race but at 4/6 there’s no way would you back him.

He was 11/8 on Friday lunchtime which was just as bad in my eyes. However, just before the off he drifted out to 7/2. I was so close to putting on a couple of pounds at that price which was equally ridiculous for the opposite reason. In that he had become a value bet. In the end I didn’t bother and of course he went onto win.

Market Rasen: Summer Plate Day

There were some big fields at Market Rasen for Summer Plate Day, but it was as far away from Summer as you could get. The weather was perfect for National Hunt racing though with the going changed to soft after the first race.

The feature race the Summer Plate Handicap Chase went the way of the Iain Jardine trained Born Famous who was completing a five timer in victory.  

It seemed an unlikely win early in the contest as the mare was detached from the main group. Backers of the 3/1 favourite must have been expecting her to be pulled up.

However, all credit to jockey Harry Cobden who rode a fine race on the winner. He allowed the filly to find her feet and she slowly worked her way into the race to hold every chance at the last before heading Courtland in the final half furlong.

The front two produced a great finish and pulled nicely clear of the third on the run in.

You won’t see many better hold up rides all season than the one Cobden gave Born Famous. I also thought Gavin Sheehan gave the runner-up Courtland a great ride but was just done by a better handicapped horse close home.  

It was a good race for Victor Value subscribers. I had put up two horses – Born Famous and Courtland and they finished first and second. I advised the gambled on winner on Friday at a tasty 10/1 which I have to say was very satisfying.

It looked a tricky Saturday punting wise and I wasn’t that confident going into it. So, to walk away with a good profit made the weekend all the sweeter.  

Monday Review

It’s a quiet start to the week but it starts to get better from midweek onwards. Culminating in what could be the race of the season in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

As for next week we have the Goodwood & Galway Festivals to look forward. I’m going to start my build up to Goodwood in Thursday’s column.

Onto today’s action which is moderate to say the least. We’ve lost the Cartmel card due to waterlogging which wasn’t unexpected given the rainfall over the last few days in the area.

Here are some Monday pointers.

Ayr

3:40 – Whiskey Priest improved when dead heating for first on handicap debut at Yarmouth (good to soft) 5 days ago. Has a 6lb penalty to carry for that success but should go close on ground like last time.

4:15 – Gentle Ellen, 1-1 over C&D, returned to winning ways at Carlisle (good to soft) 35 days ago. She’s likely to get a strong pace to chase and looks to have been given a chance to follow up from 4lb higher.  Irish challenger Pretty Boy Floyd is on a losing run that goes back to October 2021. He’s on a good mark and would go close if reproducing his short head 2^nd of 24 at the Curragh in May. However, he’s been well beaten on three subsequent starts which is a worry.

Beverley

7:00 – In These Shoes won over C&D (good to soft) in April and was a good length 2nd of 7 in a better race at Newmarket 9 days ago. Soft ground would be an unknown but her two best RPR’s have come on good to soft so he might be ok.

7:30 – Ey Up Its Jazz twice a winner in the spring on soft & heavy ground. The 4-year-old returned from a 10 week absence with a 6 length 6th of 11 at Ayr last Monday. Ground will be fine, but he’s does need to settle better than he did last time over today’s ½ f longer trip.

8:30 – Freak Out has won his last two starts both over C&D. Well positioned when winning last time and seems likely to get a similar pace set up here. A 3lb rise looks more than workable if handling today’s even softer ground.

Monday Selection:

Whiskey Priest and Freak Out are likely to be short-priced favourites in their respective races. That means I’m left with In These Shoes as today’s selection and even here the bookies have taken no chances with the fillies odds.

Beverley

7:00 – In These Shoes.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John