Race 1
Nothing appeals as being particularly overpriced here. No bet.
Race 2
The two Willie Mullins entrants at the top of the market look to be a fair way clear on the figures and barring accidents it is hard to see Cadmium getting turned over in this 18f Grade 3 Novice Chase. He handles all sorts of ground and he has won 3 of his last 5 chase starts. Cadmium is the choice of Ruby Walsh and if he runs to his official mark of 147 he is going to be a tough nut to crack. However, I think the each way value in this contest lies with The Last Marju, a 6yo son of Marju who is trained by shrewd handler Denis Cullen.
He was 11L behind Cadmium on his penultimate start, his chase debut, and he got his head in front last time for Denis O’Regan at Killarney (17f gd). He seems to like yielding ground and both his career wins have come over 17f so another furlong should pose no problems. He has run well at Galway before, he looks a much better chaser than hurdler and at odds of 25/1 I think that he could sneak a place for each way backers.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: THE LAST MARJU E/W @ 25/1
Race 3
Big Bad Sal didn’t run well for us on Day 2 but I am hoping another Harry Rogers inmate hits the frame at a nice each way price in this contest. Remarkable Lady scored in this race last year and the 5yo daughter of Zoffany seems to come alive when she runs at Ballybrit. Her form figures over todays course and distance read 2812 and she has never been out of the first two places at the festival.
 |
| Remarkable Lady won this last year off just a pound higher. |
Rogers is obviously hoping that lightning can strike twice with this hardy mare who will be partnered by Sean Davis. He is worth every ounce of his 7lb claim and he has won twice on Remarkable Lady from four rides, including when she won this last year. She is only a pound higher for her repeat bid, she will like the ground and she hasn’t been handed a terrible draw in stall 9. I think she looks overpriced at 16/1 and an each way interest is advised.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: REMARKABLE LADY E/W @ 16/1 NAP
Race 4
Eleven fillies will go to post for this 7f Listed heat and it looks an open enough contest for the grade. The clear form pick is Yulong Gold Fairy who is the 3/1 favourite. She was only just over 4L behind Alpha Centauri in the 1000 Guineas at the Curragh back in May and she went close in a heavy ground Group 3 on her seasonal return at Leopardstown. Hence looks the biggest threat on the ratings, but I think she would prefer a sounder surface.
In fact, plenty of the fillies in this field would have preferred if the rain had stayed away so it would be no surprise to see something at a bigger price sneak some black type. One horse that won’t have any issues on the soft ground is Rickrack and though she has a lot to find on the figures, I think she could make a bold bid from the front. She has form over further and if Colm O’Donoghue goes hard from the outset she could run the finish out of some of these. At odds of 20/1 she is the each way pick, though Yulong Gold Fairy looks the most likely winner.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: RICKRACK E/W @ 20/1; YULONG GOLD FAIRY WIN 3/1
Race 5
No bet for me in this trappy novice hurdle.
Race 6
The Galway Hurdle is the biggest race of the week at Ballybrit and 20 horses will line up hoping to earn a slice of the monstrous 300k pot. By all accounts the ground was riding yielding on Wednesday and with the weather due to get better tomorrow, the ground is likely to improve to good to yielding rather than turn softer. Regular readers of the blog will be familiar with my selection for the Galway Hurdle, and I am praying that he finally shows the ability that I am sure he possesses.
 |
| Project Bluebook ran well here last year. |
I have put up Project Bluebook on more than one occasion in the past, including for this race last year. I thought he was given a poor ride that day but he still managed to stay on from an impossible position for 6th off a mark of 141. That run showed he could handle the track and I am hoping he is ridden a bit closer to the pace today. If he is, I can see him running a huge one off a 6lb lower mark and at odds of 16/1 I think Project Bluebook could go very well.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: PROJECT BLUEBOOK E/W @ 16/1 NB
Race 7
This 18 runner 12f handicap looks an exceedingly tricky puzzle to solve and I am going to take a chance on one at a huge price for small stakes. Tale Of Woe runs off a mark of 66 with Kevin Manning in the plate and on the form of his second career start in a maiden at Navan (15f hvy) I think he is capable of making his presence felt off that rating.
Tale Of Woe finished 2nd at Navan to Art Of Security, beaten 3/4L, and he went close off 77 on his last flat start. Great Trango was 4th, just over a length behind the selection, and he hosed up in the concluding race here last night off 74. Tale Of Woe has to bounce back from a poor run last time, but if he gets back to the form of that Navan run he could stay on late for a place at odds of 40/1.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: TALE OF WOE E/W @ 40/1
Race 8
No bet for me in this bumper. Martin Brassil seemed confident of a big run from his horse You Raised Me Up when interviewed on television after his Wednesday winner and he could be the one to be on at 4/1.
No comments:
Post a Comment