Ended last season with an excellent second to Next Destination in a Grade One at Punchestown. Reappearing at Down Royal, he overcame lack of a recent run to make most of the running in a nineteen-furlong Beginners Novice Chase. Impressed Mr Russell with his jumping ability and the way he got out of trouble when too close to the last fence. Winner of the Pertemps Final in March at Cheltenham, he should prove a Graded chaser up to three-miles this time round.
Just one run over fences when fifth in a useful Novice Chase at Carlisle won by Vinndication. He jumped well and stayed in the race until higher rated horses came to the fore. Enjoys soft/heavy ground and stays two and a half-miles. As he strengthens and develops three-miles will come into his stamina range. Given his connections (J P McManus), he is one to note when the market speaks in his favour.
Progressive three-mile chaser who ran well for a long way behind Rock The Kasbah at Cheltenham. Despite showing good form on heavy ground, he is effective on good to soft. Class Three/Four handicap chases on left-handed tracks appear his best options. Sharp Response (IRE) looked a picture pre-race. He finished sixth but left the impression he would improve for the run. Considered to be on a workable handicap mark for staying chases up to three and a quarter miles. Thought to be best on good through to soft.
Readers of this column will be happy, if not apprehensive, ahead of the Oaks today at Epsom. Lah Ti Dar, Magical and Sea Of Class have all ended up missing the race which now leaves us with a 9/4 favourite who has the best form in the race courtesy of her win in the Prix Marcel Boussac and her fourth in the Guineas.
The soft ground at Epsom – Andrew Cooper has it described as good to soft, soft in places – isn't going to be a worry for her based on two-year-old form unless the ground becomes a bog and she's out of winning two-miler Rumh. The worry for her is that she's starting from stall 1, a cursed draw at Epsom over 1m4f.
Stall 1 is 0-104 in double-figure fields over 1m4f at Epsom since 2000 – with two defeats when stall 1 was a non-runner – and she's now short enough here for on the day players.
Aidan O'Brien has won three of the last five renewals of this race and has another stacked challenge. Magic Wand was a convincing winner of the Chester Oaks trial when Forever Together was a fast closing second. Both horses have had just three runs so far with the runner up sure to do better this time, but it remains to be seen how they will respond to being back on a slower surface and there's strength in numbers from the Ballydoyle challenge.
Bye Bye Baby has shaped like she'd make into a useful stayer for a long time, having won the Staffordshire Stud Stakes as a juvenile, and she made huge improvement from an early reappearance to lead from the drop of the flag in the Blue Wind Stakes at The Curragh. That came on soft to heavy ground so the rain will have suited her and she promises to improve for the step up in trip; She had a widely regarded and impressive maiden winner in the shape of Jaega well beaten at The Curragh and and the third and fourth finished second and third to the smart Turret Rocks at Gowran on Tuesday.
Perfect Clarity was an impressive winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial who we know will handle the track with aplomb and the way she came from last to first was very taking with the finishing climb in mind today, but she also relished the fast ground then whilst Flattering looked as if she'd very much appreciate more cut in third.
A 10-length winner of a Cork maiden on heavy ground, she would have loved the rain that the Southeast has had and whilst it's probably not soft enough for her given that the course didn't take the monsoon that hit the South East, she should enjoy getting her toe in and would not be the most outlandish winner of the Oaks – Was did something similar in 2012.
Give And Take and Ejtyah must improve on the Musidora form and I Can Fly has to put a dreadful Guineas run behind her.
The Coronation Cup (3.10) ought to go to Cracksman by multiple lengths whilst Dark Red can go well in the Investec Wealth & Investment Handicap (3.45).
In the opening Woodcote Stakes, Marie's Diamond ought to take the beating on her debut win or Newbury third, with the ground not an issue for her.
When thinking of horses to follow through the jumps season proper not many will turn their heads back to Galway, but tonight's opening Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle (5.15) looks to be a race that form watchers ought to keep a close eye on. Favourite Three Wise Men has had just two starts, but he looked a decent prospect when taking his maiden hurdle and ran a fine race to be third at the Punchestown behind two high class prospects in the shape of Koshari and Bello Conti. The latter named of those had been fourth in the Neptune and then again at Aintree, so sets a high level of form, whilst Sound Money (nine lengths behind) has since won to boot.
Joesph O'Brien had his first winner at the festival – a tally that's sure to rise rapidly this week and through other years – and his Oathkeeper has impressed in two hurdle wins over longer distances. The drop back shouldn't inconvenience him too much whilst one has to be wary of Penhill, the 100 rated flat horse who burst a blood vessel last time out at Killarney. If bouncing back he should go very well and they make a fascinating trio of market leaders; Master of Verse should be happier at this trip than others but has failed to take advantage of being in strong positions the last twice whilst Billy's Hope has run in better company and been beaten here. Derulo should appreciate the return to good ground whilst Hudson's Bay makes more appeal than Gunner McGregor for an each/way bet.
Former Cheltenham Bumper winner Briar Hill has been reasonably popular as he attempts to get back on track in the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase (5.45). If he shows his best form he should take the beating but injuries sustained at the 2013 festival have taken their toll in a significant way and this trip looks to be shorter than he would want even at a stiff track. However he doesn't seem to have a huge amount of opposition here although his chief rival Tocororo is of most interest. A Consistent juvenile hurdler, she gets plenty of weight and may have more to give than Joesph O'Brien's Draco.
Aidan O'Brien and Dermot Weld dominated the juvenile maiden yesterday with the colts and they are expected to do the same with the Colm Quinn BMW E.B.F. Fillies Maiden (6.15) in the shape of Ezyira, a good second on her Tipperary debut when surrounded by horses with previous experience. She makes more appeal than Hydrangea, widely expected to improve significantly on her late running 10th at the Curragh in a maiden the stable have used to good effect. Both are probably too short however and a third contender with experience is of significant interest here.
Magen's Moon looked as if she would improve for another furlong when she was fourth at Naas behind and impressive winner who has since finished runner up in a Group 3 and if she breaks on terms today from 3 she could find herself on the premises once again. Any money for Falling Angels, a Galileo filly who is out of the trainer´s Moyglare and Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Again, would speak volumes whist Dreamy Gal, a Dream Ahead filly out of a winner at a previous festival, is also one to watch in the market.
On the ratings, the Caulfield Industrial E.B.F. Maiden (6.50) is a match between the useful Saffaar and the once raced Sikandarabad, gelded and absent for 404 days since finishing second to the subsequent group 2 winner Painted Cliffs when giving weight. He has likely had his issues but surely has been primed to the minute for this and would be preferred of the two on natural ability.
The BMW Mile (7.20) is one of the toughest and most fiercely contested events of the week every year and this renewal is no different. It's interesting to note that despite the draw playing a major factor over the course of the week, several of the past winners of the decade, six in total, have come from double digit draws to boot. The market has several contenders stacked on the inside, all of whom with decent claims, and of those Creggs Pipes and Gussy Goose are of most interest. Creggs Pipes, an all out Listed winner at Killarney when following up a decent Curragh handicap win, only went up 4lbs for that, a fair verdict even if many contenders disappointed there. Gussy Goose, coming from last year's winning stable, had no luck in running there and would surely have been close with a clear run to boot. Only 6lbs higher than her last winning mark, she's of great interest here although trouble in running could become a serious issue again for her, a chance worth taking. Brian Ellison's three ore of interest, perhaps headed by Stipulate on better ground than he faced at Doncaster with Baraweez having a pig of a draw and Top Notch Tonto well handicapped but exposed still. Dermot Weld's pair of Ashraf and Karalara are of major interest, although the former wants it softer on all previous evidence (having disappointed in two handicaps before) and the latter is dropping in trip two furlongs after breaking her maiden.
In the Caulfield Industrial Handicap (7.50), Weld's Malinka may be flattered by a mark of 76 and is already popular but Previous C&D winner Could Should Would was caught late by a well-handicapped horse over 1m at Killarney last time and this drop in trip gives him a fine chance of making amends here.
The debate over which code is better rages on and on through the year, and especially the long hot summers, but fans of both codes are the real winners this week as the Galway Festival kicks off tonight with a mixed card before Glorious Goodwood tomorrow, giving us one of the most action packed weeks of the entire year.
This evening's card starts with a sight familiar to many jumping fans; A long odds on Mullins French import in a novice hurdle (5.15) and it would be a surprise if Muthaza, a three time French winner on the flat and a two time winner in Ireland so far, was beaten here. She has not extended out of a gallop in two wins, including when beating buyer Beware at Bellewstown, and it should be as simple again although players in the markets without and each/way thieves. Buyer Beware may be a good bet in those markets, seeing as she is on 7lbs better terms with her last time out conqueror Tagg's Island, and that maiden hurdle form looks a bit better than St Lawrence's Gap win last time.
The Easyfix Handicap Hurdle (5.45) is the first of many competitive events of this style throughout the week and market confidence behind Camlann and Sarwistan should be noted, especially with the former having had a convincing flat win under his belt. Beckwith Star, a winner of this race for the last two years, has been well out of form this time around even with the help of 7lbs claimer Dylan Robinson and he makes less appeal than both those. Stormey has quickly become a useful horse in a short space of time with a win in a maiden hurdle at Sligo followed up by a second at Ballinrobe on his handicap debut. Dixie Highway went one better, winning two handicap hurdles by a neck and half a length in June and May. It's interesting to note that he's been kept ticking on the flat since and in a race where many at the top of the market lack leading form he makes appeal.
Aidan O'Brien and Dermot Weld are likely to go head to head between themselves a lot this week and their pair dominate the Claregalwayhotel.ie (C & G) E.B.F. Maiden (6.15) with Courage Under Fire and Right Honourable. Dermot Weld's Right Honourable gets the vote on the basis that he ran in the stronger maiden of the two, when he got no run late on. Watch out for the Ger Lyons pairing of Brutal and Buffalo Blues.
It's tough to get a handle on the Claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap (6.50) with a 15 draw for Heartful over 7 furlongs taking away from the general appeal of the favourite although there's lots to recommend her. Zebgrey, a winner of two of her last three starts, has to be considered a serious player.
The Connacht Hotel Q.R Handicap (7.50) is one of many battles between the flat and the jumps and it would be no surprise to see the Time To Inspire leave his recent debut (handicap) behind with a visor on for Fintan Maguire but it's a competitive enough race and he makes the market in what should be an each/way race with the rest of the field 10/1. Listed winner Benkei (also a course and distance winner), was a slid winner over 1m6f the time before and must go well for Jamie Codd whilst strong-finishing Curragh third Weather Watch is entitled to be thereabouts off same mark for Jessie Harrington.
Roconga didn't get a clear run in a Fairyhouse apprentice handicap but if he'd have had a better run there he may well have gone close to winning so this step up in trip is a positive for him. Of serious interest on jumping form are the crack pair of handicappers Ted Veale and Rennetti, both of whom are flat winners. Rennetti has had a fine jumping season, finishing fourth in the Greatwood and then third in the Ladbroke, needed the run badly on his recent flat return but should be straighter now and could be best of all.
The Eventus Handicap (7.50) is one of those contests where any one of 6 last time out winners could realistically be the choice. Motherland's impressive maiden win would make him the visual choice ahead of the others but the best form may belong to My Fantasia, who has bumped into two progressive prospects on the AW before winning last time. John Oxx has been back in recent form and he could land a notable winner here.
The last (8.20) should be lucky for some with experience already and Robin Des Forest should improve on his opening show of fourth at Wexford whist Sizing Knockeen should have more left in the locker if he managed to keep company with his rider on his way to the start this time like had failed to do at Clonmel. Both can go well along with Bensachuine but Jessie and Kate Harrington partnered up well to take a number of contests at big festivals with debutants in bumpers and their Kalinte is of real interest here.