Baz Worth Backing Down In Trip At Cork

Tsarina Sophia was actually jumping much better than she had previously at Fairyhouse earlier this week, but she dived at the 6th and her race was over. Thankfully horse and jockey both got up straight away, and while I think Tsarina Sophia is a horse with definite ability she will need to jump better if she is ever going to get her head in front.

Ricky Doyle is riding with confidence at the moment.

I tipped up a horse called Shimmer and Shine recently in a 20f handicap hurdle at Cork and today’s selection caught my eye in that race. Bazarov had shown one or two glimmers of ability over hurdles last season, and indeed his best run came when 6th of 14 here in a maiden over 16f on heavy back in January.

He ran another relatively decent race over 16f at Thurles on heavy when 5th of 16, but he was beaten nearly 40L and his next four runs, including his handicap debut at Wexford, were awful. He ran here earlier this month in the 20f race Shimmer and Shine finished 4th in, ridden under exaggerated waiting tactics in first time cheekpieces to finish 5th, only 1L or so behind Shimmer and Shine.

Bazarov came from an awfully long way back, and I think dropping back to 2 miles could suit if he is ridden a bit more aggressively. It was good to yielding the last day so he won’t mind if the ground dries out a bit, but I think the yielding to soft ground at Cork on Sunday will be fine. The cheekpieces are retained, Ricky Doyle looks a good booking and off a mark of 84 I think Bazarov could go well for John Clifford at odds of 33/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 1.20 CORK-BAZAROV E/W @ 33/1