Todays Horse Racing

[mayo]

GOB picks afew from

Today’s late afternoon flat card at Down Royal may be a relatively low-key fixture in the great scheme of things but it affords another crucial opportunity for Pat Smullen to make inroads into the absent Joseph O’Brien’s three-winner advantage in the jockeys championship.

The former champion unsurprisingly has a full book of six rides to look forward to but there is no real stand-out amongst them and his best chance could lie with Mrs Bean, who is dropped into claiming company for the first time in the 7f event at 4.30. A reproduction of her second to the impressive Viztoria in a maiden at Naas in July that has worked out superbly would make the daughter of Captain Rio something of a certainty at this level, particularly as trainer John Geoghegan has pitched her in at a very competitive weight. The worry is that she has failed to match that effort in three subsequent outings but there was a little promise to be gleaned from her fifth in a Curragh nursery last time and it might just be worth affording her a final chance.

Red Clasp, one of two booked mounts for long-time ally Joanna Morgan, is another Smullen will have high hopes for in the opening juvenile maiden over the minimum trip after a desperate draw compromised her prospects at Dundalk last time but marginal preference here is for the once-raced Golden Flower. Trainer Ger Lyons is currently operating at a 25 per cent strike rate at the track in recent seasons and this Royal Applause filly is sure to know a lot more today following a satisfactory introduction on the polytrack a month ago. Well-bred newcomer General Direction, who has attracted support this morning despite a poor draw, could be the fly in the ointment.

With Fran Berry sidelined as a result of the nasty injuries sustained in a heavy fall at Clonmel last week, Jessica Harrington has enlisted the services of Declan McDonogh for her fillies maiden hope Empress Of Tara and the extended 1m2f event looks like it should be within the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor’s compass. She seemed to be in front a shade too early when ultimately having to settle for third behind Shifting at Gowran Park last month and a slightly more restrained ride should see her make a bold bid to go a couple of places better.

Aegean Sky, the sole three year-old in the line-up for the concluding Ulster Cesarewitch, has been shaping as though the step up to today’s marathon trip could really suit and is taken to get the better of her elders, while Hazariban can follow up his recent Gowran success (though that was a dead-heat) in a weak-looking 1m5f apprentice handicap at 6.35.

Selections
4.00 Golden Flower (13-8, Boylesports)
4.30 Mrs Bean (5-1, Boylesports, Coral)
5.05 Lirico (8-1, general)
5.35 Havelock Ellis (16-1, general)
6.05 Empress Of Tara (5-1, Boylesports, Betfred, totesport)
6.35 Hazariban (5-1, Ladbrokes, Boylesports)
7.05 Aegean Sky (8-1, general)

 

[Sprinter]

All eyes are on Camelot this afternoon as he bids to complete the triple crown in the St Leger at Doncaster but once the big action is completed on Town Moor attention will focus on the Group 1 double-header at Irish flat headquarters.

Fame And Glory is the proven class act in the Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger but Aidan O’Brien’s former Irish Derby and Ascot Gold Cup hero has a big question mark over him following a tame defeat at this year’s Royal fixture and preference is for Hartani, the mount of Christophe Lemaire, to notch a rare success for the classic generation in a race that hardly fits that description any more. On the face of things John Oxx’s charge was a disappointing odds-on favourite when turned over by Ursa Major in a trial for today’s contest last month but his conqueror there is one of the main rivals to the favourite at Doncaster and he could be worth another chance, especially as he was trying to concede 3lb on that occasion.

Dawn Approach has been the start performer amongst the Irish juveniles so far this season, and though it is a slight concern that Jim Bolger’s colt has been absent since making it four-in-a-row in the Coventry Stakes he is still expected to retain his unbeaten record in the Group 1 National Stakes which rounds off proceedings. Joseph O’Brien, who is dashing back by helicopter to partner his father’s Cristoforo Colombo, will be hopeful of completing a major double but there seems no reason why he should make up the deficit from their previous meeting.

Uleavemebreathless, who impressed when shedding her maiden tag at Roscommon, is taken to continue Andy Oliver’s great season by landing the Flame Of Tara Stakes, while Paddy The Celeb can leave a rare below-par effort at Galway behind him in the amateurs derby.

Selections
3.00 Wexford Opera (7-2, Boylesports)
3.30 Uleavemebreathless (5-2, general)
4.00 Taameer (12-1, BetVictor, Coral)
4.30 Fire Lily (3-1, Paddy Power, totesport, Betfred)
5.00 Paddy The Celeb (12-1, general)
5.30 Invincible Ridge (8-1, general)
6.00 Hartani (5-1, general)
6.30 Dawn Approach (5-4, William Hill)

Category: Horse racing

 

[Royal Tan]

Must be bottomless in Listowel. Seems to be a lot of NRs already...

 

[Statto]

It’s Ayr Gold Cup Day, while there’s also decent cards at Newbury and Newmarket – We’ve got all the C4 TV races covered from a trends angle……



AYR (C4/RUK)


2.20 – William Hill Ayr Silver Cup (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (3yo+) CH4 6f

9/10 – Aged 5 or younger
9/10 – Previous winners over 6f
9/10 – Carried 8-11 or more
8/10 – Finished 5th or better last time out
8/10 – Had either 2 or 3 career wins to their name
8/10 – Winning distance 1 length or less
8/10 – Had raced at Ayr before (5 won)
7/10 – Had 5 or more runs that season
7/10 – The first 4 home all returned a double-figure price
7/10 – Unplaced favourites
7/10 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
6/10 – Carried 9-0 or more
3/10 – Won last time out
2/10 – Winning Favourites
2/10 – Trained by Richard Fahey
2/10 – Trained by David Nicholls
1/10 – Drawn in stall 8 to 20 (inc) – i.e winners were either drawn high or low
0/10 – Filly or mare winners
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 19/1


2.50 – Laundry Cottage Stud Firth of Clyde Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (CLASS 1) (2yo) CH4 6f

9/10 – Finished 4th or better last time out
9/10 – Had never raced at Ayr before
9/10 – Winning distance 1 length or further
8/10 – Had 3 or more runs that season
8/10 – Drawn in stall 10 or lower
8/10 – Had won once or twice before
9/10 – Previous winners over 6f
7/10 – Won by a Jan, Feb or March foal
7/10 – Placed favourites
5/10 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
4/10 – Won last time out
3/10 – Ran at Doncaster last time out
2/10 – Winning favourites
2/10 – Trained by Bryan Smart
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 11/1


3.30 – William Hill Ayr Gold Cup (Heritage Handicap) (CLASS 2) (3yo+) CH4 6f

10/10 – Returned at double-figure odds
9/10 – Didn’t win their last race
8/10 – Won over 6f previously
8/10 – Favourites unplaced
8/10 – Rated between 90-100
8/10 – Raced 7 or more times that season
8/10 – Recorded 3 or more career wins
8/10 – Race at either Doncaster (4), Goodwood (2) or Haydock (2) last time
7/10 – Won from a double-figure draw
7/10 – Carried 9-2 or more in weight
7/10 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
6/10 – Winning distance – 1 length or less
6/10 – Came in the top 4 last time out
5/10 – Had run at Ayr previously
5/10 – The 1st and 2nd came from a double-figure stall
4/10 – Trained by David Nicholls (won the race 6 times)
2/10 – Trained by Kevin Ryan
2/10 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori
0/10 – Winning favourites (1 winning fav since 1980)
0/10 – Filly or mare winners
0/10 – Placed horses from draw 1
Since 1980 only four winners aged 6 or older
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 17/1


NEWBURY (C4/RUK)


2.05 –Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial (Group 3) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) CH4 1m3f5y

10/10 – Won over 1m2f previously
9/10 – Winning distance – 1 length or less
9/10 – Priced 9/1 or less
9/10 – Had 4 or more career wins
8/10 – Had won at Listed or better class previously
7/10 – Favourites placed
7/10 – Aged 5 or younger
6/10 – Raced 5 or more times that season
6/10 – Had won a Group race before
5/10 – Raced at Newbury before
4/10 – Won their last race
3/10 – Favourites that won
3/10 – Race at York last time
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 13/2



2.35 –Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) (CLASS 1) (2yo) CH4 6f8y

9/10 – Raced 3 or more times
9/10 – Won from draw 5 or lower
8/10 – Won over 6f previously
8/10 – Foaled in March or later
8/10 – Winning distance – 1 length or less
7/10 – Priced 5/1 or shorter
7/10 – Won exactly two races before
7/10 – Favourites placed
6/10 – Won by an April foal
4/10 – Raced at Doncaster last time out
4/10 – Favourites to win
3/10 – Ran in the Gimcrack last time out (York)
3/10 – Won their previous race
2/10 – Trained by Richard Hannon
0/10 – Filly winners
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 9/2



3.10 – Dubai Duty Free Handicap (CLASS 2) (3yo+ 0-105) CH4 1m2f6y

10/10 – Won from stall 7 or higher
9/10 – Officially rated between 89 and 94
9/10 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
7/10 – Won over 1m2f previously
7/10 – Won at least twice previously
7/10 – Carried 9-1 or less in weight
7/10 – Won by a 7 years-old
7/10 – Won from a double-figure draw
6/10 – Winning distance – 1 length or less
6/10 – Returned a double-figure price
6/10 – Raced 5 or more times that season
6/10 – Finished 1st or 2nd in their last race
4/10 – Had raced at Newbury before (2 won)
4/10 – Trained by Luca Cumani
2/10 – Won their last race
1/10 – Winning favourites (joint)
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 12/1


3.45 – Dubai International Airport World Trophy (Group 3) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) CH4 5f34y

10/10 – Winners from stall 5 or higher
10/10 – Raced four or more times that season
9/10 – Winning distance – 1 length or less
9/10 – Came in the top 3 in their last race
8/10 – Won a Listed or Group race before
8/10 – Aged 5 or younger
8/10 – Priced 9/1 or shorter
7/10 – Won over 5f previously
7/10 – Won 4 or more times
5/10 – Previous Group race winners
4/10 – Ran at the Curragh last time out (inc last two winners)
3/10 – Won their last race
3/10 – Mare winners
2/10 – Favourites
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 11/1



NEWMARKET (C4/RUK)


3.55 – Betfred Cesarewitch Trial (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (3yo+ 0-105) CH4 2m2f

3 previous runnings
3/3 – Aged 3 or 4 years-old
3/3 – Had 5 or more runs that season
3/3 – Carried 8-13 or less
3/3 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
2/3 – Had won 3 or more times before
2/3 – Drawn in stall 5 or lower
2/3 – Ran at York last time out
2/3 – Finished third or better last time out
2/3 – Had won over 2m or further before
0/3 – Winning favourites

 

[mayo]

Sligo OFF.....

 

[postmanpat]

Mullins on ATR pretty dismissive of chances of his pair. 1000 stars will need run ..getting ready for another french raid

 

[JohnC]

Mullins on ATR pretty dismissive of chances of his pair. 1000 stars will need run ..getting ready for another french raid

Not even near fit ...jockey bookings told tale. Couldn't have the captain either though

 

[mayo]

Great stuff from hughsiejockey today. Champion at last !