Sunday's Selection

Nuts Well ran a very disappointing race yesterday for us at Haydock but I am convinced that he is a better animal than what he showed. It looked as though he was sweating up before the race even started and that is never an encouraging sign. His jumping was poor and he was beaten a long way out. Maybe the two wins on bad ground took a bit too much out of him, and he is one to be interested in next season after he gets a nice summer break.

Today sees a cracking card of action at Leopardstown where there will be lots of classic clues to be found. I am heading out there this afternoon and I will be cheering on Cosy Club in the opener, the first runner in Ireland for the up and coming Ontoawinner syndicate. He ran a cracker on debut at the Curragh (5f soft) behind Mister Trader for Adrian Keatley and the bit of rain that has fallen should suit.

The step up to 6f should suit too, both on the evidence of his run last time and his pedigree. He is by So You Think who was a cracking performer at up to 10f, and he is half brother to a number of winners, including the ill fated Alkimos, who was placed at Group 3 level (10f good to soft). For a horse that showed so much promise on debut he looks a huge price at 25/1, but there is a reason for that. He is drawn widest of all and that rarely bodes well on the 6f course at Leopardstown. Fran Berry has been booked and if any jockey is capable of overcoming the draw it is him, but there are plenty of potential dangers in the field and he is probably best watched for today.

The one I like goes in the Derrinstown at 3.35 and Beacon Rock looks a fascinating contender. He is one of 4 runners for Aidan O'Brien and Colm O'Donoghue has been booked for the ride. Judging by prices and jockey bookings he is the 3rd string, but he has some serious form in the book and a slight ease in the ground should suit this son of Galileo perfectly.

He is impeccably bred, as most are that come from those quarters, and his sister Wedding Vow is a classy performer on her day. She  won a Group 2 at the Curragh last year (9.5f good to yielding) before going on to run a cracker behind Legatissimo at Goodwood in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes (10f good to firm). His dam was beaten by the great Snow Fairy in the Oaks at Epsom and she is a half sister to Dylan Thomas, among others.

Beacon Rock has shown he also has plenty of ability with some cracking efforts last season.  He won only once from 5 starts, a maiden on his 2nd start at the Curragh (8f yielding) and he was then stepped straight into Group company at the same venue. He was less than a length behind Port Douglas in 3rd and that horse should have won at Chester on Thursday. His next run was behind Gifted Master in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket (8f good) and he was again beaten less than a length. That form has also been franked this season. He stayed on really well in the closing stages in both of those races and the step up to 10f looks sure to suit.

He was poor on his seasonal reappearance over today's course and distance behind Harzand last month, but the bottomless ground was never going to suit. The ground will be a lot more to his liking today and with the worst of the rain not due until 5pm it should be perfect for him. There looks sure to be a strong pace, which should bring his stamina into play, and he should be staying on strongly at the finish. I think he looks overpriced at 14/1 and he is the each way selection in what is a fascinating renewal of the Derrinstown.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.35 LEOPARDSTOWN-BEACON ROCK E/W 14/1