Boris A Potential Improver On Handicap Debut

Prussian Eagle stepped up on his last run at Leopardstown on Sunday, but he didn't improve enough to take a hand and he came home 4th, just missing out on place money. He shaped as though he might benefit from a further step up in trip and another couple of furlongs should see him go a lot closer over timber. He is still only a 5yo and he is one to keep an eye out for in middle distance handicaps on the flat during the Summer. 

Tomorrow's selection is a speculative one, and stakes should be kept to a minimum. On a week that saw Boris Johnson visit Antrim on his quest to convince British voters to vote for 'Brexit', Boris Boru would be a topical winner at Downpatrick. This 5yo son of Brian Boru makes his handicap debut for Banbridge based handler Sarah Dawson at Downpatrick, and I think he could make an impact at this lower level after an encouraging run on his last start in a decent looking maiden hurdle at Thurles. 

At first glance it doesn't look like a great run, 10th beaten 29L, but having looked back at the race again I thought he showed that he had a fair bit of ability. He jumped slickly in mid division and half a mile from home he nipped up the inside and looked like he might challenge for a place. However, he was outpaced rounding the final turn and he ended up finishing in midfield, keeping on pretty nicely in  the home straight under Roger Loughran. 

He has been put away since that decent effort and he makes his handicap debut off a mark of 85 at his trainer's local track. Camlann, who was well behind him in that maiden at Thurles has since run creditably off 100 on his handicap debut (beaten 6L) at Leopardstown and On The Dry, who was 9L in front of him that day, was 4th off 102 on his handicap debut (sent off fav). The 3rd, 4th and 6th home in that Thurles maiden have all won races since, and if Boris Boru is fully fit and ready to go I think off 85 he could be set for a big run. At his current odds of 20/1 he looks worthy of a small each way bet in a race that won't take much winning. 

I will be concentrating my efforts for the next couple of weeks on trying to find us some big priced winners at Cheltenham, and as a result I won't have as many selections in the run up to the meeting. However, I will be keeping an eye out for any interesting runners and if I strongly fancy anything you will find it here as per usual.

I have already backed Seeyouatmidnight for the RSA Chase but I must admit I wasn't blown away by his run at Newcastle. I still think he would be way shorter than 12/1 if he was with Nicholls, Henderson or Mullins and hopefully he can run a huge race for Sandy Thomson. If the rains arrive he will go off a lot shorter and on soft or worse he will be hard to beat. 

STEVOS' SELECTIONS: 3.45 DOWNPATRICK-BORIS BORU E/W 20/1

RSA CHASE CHELTENHAM: SEEYOUATMIDNIGHT E/W 12/1