Sir Worth One More Chance At The Curragh

Joaldo ran a good race for us earlier this week, but unfortunately it wasn't good enough to reward each way support. Antony Brittain's charge was outpaced down the back and it took him a long time to find his stride. When he did, he stayed on strongly down the home straight, just failing to get up for 4th by a measly head. It was a frustrating result and perhaps he will be suited by stepping up slightly in trip next time out. 

 

Wayne Lordan does well when riding for Nicole McKenna.

Today I am going to chance one at a big price at the Curragh where the ground is going to be very testing. Sir Ector is a horse that hasn't won for a long time, but I think that it is telling that connections are persisting with the 10yo son of Dynaformer. He was well beaten on his return to the flat at Cork over an inadequate trip of 10f last time out (gd/yld), but he should be much better suited by the return to further and the softer ground at the Curragh this afternoon.

This fella was a very useful handicapper a couple of years back, and he defeated none other than Quick Jack at Leopardstown the last time he won (14f soft) off a mark of 100. That victory in November 2013 seems like an age ago now, and he has since left Jimmy Lambe and he is now trained by Nicole McKenna. He has looked badly out of sorts since moving yards, but he is starting to look well handicapped and McKenna’s horses are flying.

She has had two runners in the past fortnight, with Rattling Jewel winning here at 14/1 and Modern Tutor running a cracker to be placed at Carlisle yesterday. She has booked Wayne Lordan for the ride, and he has a good record when riding for the stable. He has a win and 7 top 4 finishes from just 20 rides for the yard, a frame hitting strike rate of 40%. Stakes should be kept small with this one, as this horse may well be just on the downgrade. However, he must be showing something at home to convince connections to persist, and at odds of 25/1 I can’t resist having a tiny each way bet.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 16.45 CURRAGH-SIR ECTOR E/W @ 25/1