IRISH GUINEAS GUIDE: Daqman presents his horse-by-horse guide to the Irish 2,000 Guineas at The Curragh on Saturday, with ratings, form and potential. The countdown continues tomorrow.
HEAVY RAIN SEES TWO CARDS CALLED OFF: Today’s Gowran Park card has been called off whilst Warwick failed an inspection – despite watering yesterday.
PROPER TEST FOR ROSALLION
⭕ 3.40 The Curragh, Saturday (Irish 2,000 Guineas) With a 50% strike rate in the Irish Guineas, the hoodoo over Classic favourites this year may finally be broken. Or will it?
Rosallion is likely to head the market but here are the ratings, which suggest that it’s a finely balanced stable match between Aidan O’Brien (six left in) and Richard Hannon (two).
And the O’Brien numbers mean that he can make this a proper test for Rosallion, who ran out of steam in the closing stages at Newmarket.
Sean Levey continues his association with Rosallion; Jamie Spencer rides Haatem. O’Brien, who has saddled the winner 12 times, has yet to announce his riding plans.
118 HENRY LONGFELLOW (Aidan O’Brien) Son of Dubawi and Minding, landed the Futurity and National Stakes double at the Curragh in 3-3 as a 2yo but beaten favourite, eighth, in the French 2,000 Guineas (soft) when not clear run.
117 ROSALLION (Richard Hannon) Headed a furlong out, second, in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas won by Notable Speech, with Haatem, kept on, third and 4-6 favourite, City of Troy, ninth. See Unquestionable.
114 UNQUESTIONABLE (Aidan O’Brien) Too keen when runner-up to Rosallion in the Lagardere and, given his head, soon clear, driven out to beat Mountain Bear in the Breeders Cup Juvenile turf.
113 HAATEM (Richard Hannon) Twice well beaten by City Of Troy as a 2yo and 5th to River Tiber in the Coventry. Craven Stakes winner in April. See Rosallion.
112 RIVER TIBER (Aidan O‘Brien) Three in a row before 3rd in the Morny, 3rd in the Middle Park. Not bred for a mile. See Haatem
110 MOUNTAIN BEAR (Aidan O‘Brien) Third to Haatem in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood in August. Listed winner at Dundalk, prepping for the Breeders Cup. See Unquestionable
102 ATLANTIC COAST (Joseph O’Brien) Third in the Champions Juvenile at Leopardstown in September and back there in October to win a Group-3 (7f) by a nose from Bright Stripes.
Favourite to score there at that level (heavy) on his return in April but 20 lengths 7th of eight, finishing behind front-running Take Me To Church (4th) and The Liffey (5th), who played up at the start. Bright Stripes was last.
102 BRIGHT STRIPES (Andy Oliver) Won a Listed at the Curragh the last day. See Atlantic Coast
101 THE LIFFEY (Aidan O’Brien) ‘The Big Horse’ but won sole race as a juvenile. See Atlantic Coast.
100 TAKE ME TO CHURCH (Jack Davison) Won back to back at Naas and Dundalk in the early Spring. See Atlantic Coast.
099 IGOR STRAVINSKY (Aidan O‘Brien) Dam won Newmarket and Curragh 1,000 Guineas, sister to Group-1 star, Hydrangea.
IT’S A HEARTACHE
⭕ 3.20 Ayr (Rothesay Stakes Listed) The West coast of Scotland seems to have escaped the overnight deluge and today’s card is set to take place on good ground.
This Listed event for fillies and mares over 1m 2f looked wide open judged by the morning Betdaq Betting Exchange market.
It does look a southern raiders benefit though and it might be best to trust the official figures which make the David Menuisier trained Heartache Tonight comfortably the best horse in the race. The stable are also in great form currently with four winners from their last 12 runners.
Heartache Tonight was mixing it at the top table on her seasonal reappearance at Newmarket when fourth of six to Stay Alert in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes. She was also far from disgraced when sixth in the Oaks last season too.
This represents a drop in class and she can record her first win since her debut success at Longchamp.
The William Haggas trained Red Danielle looks the biggest danger on her first start for the yard since joining from Roger Varian. She proved herself in Listed company when second at Saint-Cloud last time out and whilst that came on heavy she seems versatile ground wise.
SIR MARK A BORN RULER
⭕ 4.55 Ayr This could be one for Sir Mark Prescott who runs Born Ruler who is reunited with Luke Morris having been apprentice ridden when runner-up at Lingfield last time out.
The drop back in trip also looks to be in his favour and he remains unexposed on just his second start on turf.
Pol Roger won nicely over course and distance last time out and the 4lb hike doesn’t look overly harsh, however the Michael Dods trained runner is now up two levels on the class ladder.
Jean Baptiste is running well, including over course and distance when second two starts ago, but is on a long losing run and the trainers (Roger Fell and Sean Murray) are not in top form at present either.
DELIGHTFUL NAP
⭕ 5.25 Kempton I’m stick with David Menuisier for a sporting Wednesday nap. As mentioned earlier the stable are in good form and have a good chance of landing the opener at Kempton too with City Of Delight.
He’s looked to have trained on positively as a three-year-old, judged by his comeback run at Goodwood, and his mark of 63 might be quite lenient.
The danger is Baroque Buoy who ran well over course and distance last time out and has chances of going one better off just a 1lb higher mark
DAQMAN’S BETS
3.20 Ayr (win 10)
BET 1.8pts win HEARTACHE TONIGHT
4.55 Ayr (win 10)
BET 5.0pts win BORN RULER
5.25 Kempton (win 10, nap)
BET 2.5pts win CITY OF DELIGHT
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