I think all the recent sunshine has gone to my head. Yeah, I feel great having finished moving over a tonne of dust collectors from our old house to our new house the last few days and evenings. The new house offers some badly needed space and my own study/office at last! To celebrate the move (I know who cares but me!) I have three free bets posted in this week’s blog as well as asking Martin to post them up on our Facebook page.
The summer national hunt season is kicking off proper in Ireland as all roads lead to the huge seven day Galway Festival later this Month. It is a great time to watch the races and pick out the improvers for Galway over the coming weeks. Traditionally, the Galway hurdle trial races take place at Cork and Tipperary so keep an eye on the races at those tracks next week.
Bellewstown three day meeting starts tonight with a mixed card on offer but my main interest will the on the last three hurdle races. A lack of national hunt racing has really whetted the appetite despite really enjoying my first Irish Derby meeting last weekend. I am backing the following three horses tonight and expect to make a nice profit overall:
- Bellewstown 19:55 – Shadow Catcher EW @ ~ 7/1 (4 places)
- Bellewstown 20:25 – Green Dragon @ 2/1
- Bellewstown 20:55 – Never A Secret EW @ 6/1 (4 Places)
Like us on Facebook to get free tips like those above with several tips posted during weekday meetings.
The racing was top notch last weekend at the Curragh but I admit that but for Domination winning the last at a nice 12/1 early doors the day from a betting perspective would have been a wipe-out. The 3 year old middle distance form is up and down like the proverbial you know what this season. Both Ruler of the World and Libertarian did not run their races probably needing a break.
Ruler of the World sweated up pretty badly before the race so they can be forgiven the lacklustre efforts on the day. Sugar Boy jarred himself on the firm ground. Galileo Rock ran well again to help put the Epsom Derby form into perspective. He is a probable Leger horse and could not go with Trading Leather at the end of the Irish Derby.
Watching Trading Leather win the Irish Derby having backed him antepost at 33/1 for the English Derby was not enjoyable. God damn Godolphin and their plan to run Dawn Approach in the English Derby. Yep, Jim Bolger said as much after the Irish Derby that they messed the horse (Trading Leather) around bringing him back to a mile in the Irish Guineas after running in the Dante Trial at York.
The last thing connections of Dawn Approach wanted in the Derby was a stalemate making the running and setting a true stamina test. As it turned out it would not have mattered with Dawn Approach not settling but Trading Leather would have gone very close on good/firm ground!
Anyways, that is all past tense the big question that nobody can answer at this stage of the season remarkably is which three year old is top of the middle distance pecking order? You could name four or five and still not get the right one.
Unless this years crop contain several exceptional horses the older horses have little to fear from the young pretenders who start to compete against their elders this weekend in the Eclipse Stakes. When “writing the betting slip” over the coming weeks in the open age group races side with the older horses for now at least!
Eye Catchers that ran over the previous Week and weekend 29th/30th June
Majestic Queen – Trainer Tracey Collins – Jockey Michael Hussey
She won the Fillies handicap on the Irish Derby Card very easily. Hitting the front just after the two furlong marker she drew a couple of lengths clear and just kept up to her work to hold off the pack winning by over two lengths at the post. The Irish handicapper was suitably impressed too raising her a whopping 12lbs to a new high rating of 95. However, she has only races four times and is improving fast and is progressive. Her trainer mentioned that “She is a class filly” and all going well she can improve more to prove that statement spot on.
Ernest Hemingway – Trainer Aidan O’Brien – Jockey Seamus Heffernan
The Curragh Cup (Group 3) over the Leger trip of 1m6f was a true run race with no place to hide. Johnny Murtagh must have thought he had the race won when pulling out more from the front on leader Royal Diamond at the two furlong marker. Ernest Hemingway was been scrubbed along by his jockey and looked like an also ran. However, once pulled to the outside and given a couple of cracked he showed an very impressive turn of foot to close down the leader quickly and power clear winning by five lengths. His new rating of 115 (up 10lbs) is well up to Leger winning standard. Aidan mentioned that after the race that “He’s a very good mover and probably loved that ground”. So we need to be wary of backing him on rain softened ground most probably.
I’m off for an Ice Cream,
Best of Luck and enjoy the summer heat wave,
Nicky