All eyes will inevitably be drawn towards the Irish 1000 Guineas on Saturday evening and we’ll come to that elsewhere, but before we get to that race there is some decent racing in the UK and Ireland in the afternoon and going into the evening meetings.
They race at Sandown Park, Newbury and Doncaster on Saturday afternoon before the attention switches to the Curragh over in Ireland and Leicester in the UK in the evening. We’ve gone through the cards and are attacking two races.
2.15 Doncaster
Preview
Ground on the easy side of good is expected for this Class 4 handicap over 7 furlongs. The likely favourite in this 12 strong field is Edraak. He won last week at Newcastle on the all weather, coming clear in a novice race by 3 lengths. The extra furlong is no issue but the surface and opening mark might be.
Betting
Roger Fell runs two with Muntadab off top weight. A good horse in his prime, he’s been on the downgrade for some time so, instead, it might pay to side with his other runner, Presidential who looks the stable’s first string on jockey bookings.
He’s been winless since 2018 but races here off a dangerous mark. Back in 2018, he won off a mark of 81 in this grade & then won again off 84 (the same mark as today). He started off last term rated 91 but still managed to finish 3rd in a Class 2 handicap on reappearance. Subsequently, his 2 best runs came with cut in the ground off marks of 85 when 2nd both times, once in this grade & once in a Class 2.
He goes well after a break with his record after absences of 150+ days being 3 times placed from 3 runs at odds of 10/1, 14/1 and 16/1. His record fresh, mark, grade & ground all make him appeal at decent enough each way odds.
Tips
WON – Back Presidential (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Betway BOG (1/5 odds 1-4)
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5.45 Curragh
Preview
15 runners line up for this 5 furlong sprint handicap on the straight course for horses rated between 50 and 75. This looks an incredibly open race and isn’t one to be taking short prices about anything. Strong Johnson is consistent and holds claims but has a monster weight of 10st2lbs whilst Zippity continues to go up in the weights and switches from the all-weather.
Due to the openness, it’s best to take a couple of big prices. Both bets are speculative but on their best form, either is good enough to land this. Interestingly, they are both having their first runs for new yards which could bring about improvement too.
Betting
The first is Sundance Star who is having her first start for the in form Hogan yard who’s had 3 winners since racing resumed. She races off a mark of just 66 which appears lenient off the back of her 9 career starts which includes a win and 4 seconds. Her odds and mark are as a result of her last 3 runs which have been disappointing at best but a return to better ground may change that.
She was 2nd in a trio of maidens as a 2 year old and then won on reappearance as a 3 year old last year when winning on the all weather off 71. She then backed it up when 2nd at Navan on good to firm off a mark of 76 before those failures off marks in the 70s on softer ground.
A new yard combined with a low mark and a faster surface make her an appealing bet.
The second bet is arguably even more speculative with Annabelle Rock having her first run for Natalie Lupini. The small yard has secured the services of the in form Shane Foley (9 wins from 31 rides this week) and this is a combination worth looking out for. She’s had 9 winners in 5 years from just 151 runners and Foley had ridden 3 of those, despite riding less than 20% of the time. In fact, this jockey has been on top of this horse 4 times in a 20 race career recording a win, a 2nd and a 4th.
Whilst she’s never won on turf and looks more of an all weather, this is questionable when you delve further into the form. Last year, she had 3 runs on turf, finishing 6th of 23 over 7 furlongs (looked a massive danger until fading in the last furlong) off 68, 1 length 7th of 22 off 67 over this trip and unplaced when again tried over 7 furlong, a trip she clearly doesn’t stay, this time off 66. Her mark today is just 58 so 9lbs lower than when beaten 1 length at her only run over this trip on turf. Her current odds make her worth a bet especially if this top jockey can get a tune out of her on her reappearance.
Tips
PLACED – Back Sundance Star (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 21.00 Betfair BOG (1/5 odds 1-4)
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Back Annabelle Rock (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 34.00 William Hill BOG (1/5 odds 1-4)
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