Ireland 
/ Patrick Jupp / 28 March 2011 / Leave a Comment 
The main Irish action this weekend took place at Leopardstown
"The one to take out of the race is the third-placed History Note. She made a big impression on her sole start in 2010, winning a Curragh maiden, and did really well to finish as close as she did on her return, enduring a troubled passage and passing the post with running left in her."
There were a couple of jumps meetings in Ireland this weekend but they were both just ordinary cards, so for the second week running we're going to focus our review on the Flat, where at Leopardstown it was Guineas' Trials day...
The first of the two Group 3's on the card was the 2000 Guineas trial, but the race lost much of it's interest when the well-touted Cocozza was withdrawn after getting upset in the stalls. This left the way clear for Dunboyne Express to record a workmanlike victory, only needing to be kept up to his work to beat Exodus by a length and three quarters, doing little more than proving his well-being in the process. There will be tougher challenges ahead, the Irish 2000 Guineas reportedly on his agenda, and though he isn't a likely winner of such a race, he would deserve his place in the line up given his smart two-year-old form.
An hour later came the turn of the fillies and this contest proved more informative, even though it was a race where it paid to be prominent. Empowering came out on top to land a gamble, making just about all under a well-judged ride to beat stablemate Wild Wind by a length and three quarters, but the one to take out of the race is the third-placed History Note. She made a big impression on her sole start in 2010, winning a Curragh maiden, and did really well to finish as close as she did on her return, enduring a troubled passage and passing the post with running left in her.
The card was book-ended by maidens that are well worth a closer look. The opener went the way of the John Oxx newcomer Mesariya who beat another promising debutant Siren's Song by just over a length. Mesariya holds an entry in the Oaks and while that looks optimistic at this stage she should be up to holding her own at a higher level, taking time to hit top stride but going away at the finish in the manner of one who'll be at least as effective at a mile and a half. The short-priced favourite for the contest was Wonder of Wonders and she should be given another chance. She shaped with abundant promise on her only run last year but found things conspiring against her on this occasion, repeatedly denied a clear run in the straight and not knocked about as a result, eventually finishing seventh.
Best Hello sprang a surprise in the closing contest (Betfair SP of [162]) and there seemed no fluke about it, finding plenty for pressure to beat the short-priced favourite Apache by a length and a half. Apache did shape like the best horse in the race for a long way, though, and was probably just undone by a combination of greenness and a trip that will prove on the short side for him, travelling strongly for a long way but taking a while to hit full stride. It would come as no surprise to see him fast-tracked to pattern company for his next start, possibly one of the Derby trials.
As is always the case at this track, the handicaps that completed the card were competitive events and should throw up plenty of future winners. Gimli's Rock seems sure to pick up a race off his current mark in the coming weeks as he has a cracking attitude and went down only narrowly in the mile-and-a-quarter event, seeming to have fought off all comers until nailed right on the line by Celtic Dane. Two others further back in that race worth keeping on side are Park Ranger and Leah Claire, the former hasn't had much racing around this trip and is still on the up judged on how he travelled through the race, whilst Leah Claire made up a lot of ground in the straight having been poorly placed and will relish a return to a mile and a half.
In the penultimate race Haziyna completed a double for Oxx and Murtagh and was just about the easiest winner of the day. She shouldn't be underestimated next time, even though she'll get hit hard by the assessor, but the one further back who may fly under the radar is Reasons Unknown. He left behind the form he showed at inadequate trips as a two-year-old, finishing third despite being set more to do than the others to fill the frame, and looks a sure-fire winner off a mark in the 60's.
Two meetings from the Emerald Isle this Sunday, one on the Flat from Leopardstown and one over jumps from Downpatrick, and we've got three more win bets lined up......
Three selections for Saturday's jumps meeting at Navan....
Tonight sees the first meeting of the year under the lights at Dundalk and we've got three win bets for you......
No comments:
Post a Comment