11 DECLARED FOR THE IRISH DERBY: The Epsom Derby one, three, four stood their ground at the final declaration stage of the Irish version on Sunday. Here’s Daqman’s ABC guide to the runners.
BIG TWO WEEKEND MEETINGS: The Curragh meeting opens tomorrow, alongside Newcastle, where the big betting race of the weekend, the Northumberland Plate, will be staged on Saturday. Look out for Daqman’s verdicts.
O’BRIEN ALL SET FOR CLASSIC TON
⭕ 3.40 The Curragh, Sunday (Irish Derby ABC guide)
A: Winning official-ratings 112-124
B: Has won a Group race
C: Won 1m 2f plus
D: Running within 36 days
F: Favourite: 17 out of 22 favourites placed
T: Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 14, Dermot Weld 3
X: Stalls: 1 to 5 win 83% (not yet drawn)
ABCDFT AUGUSTE RODIN Brother to Magical but mystery surrounds his flop in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas (12th of 14). The juvenile king of Doncaster and Leopardstown took back his throne when he ran down subsequent Royal Ascot winner King Of Steel in the Epsom Derby.
White Birch (3rd) dwelt at the start and had plenty to do two out; Sprewell (4th) was the talking horse until he sweated up badly before the ‘off’, then failed to act on the course (not clear run; unbalanced).
Fifth-home The Foxes goes for the Belmont Derby and the sixth, Waipuro, was another Royal Ascot winner dropped back to 1m 2f. Adelaide River eighth.
Victory for Auguste Rodin at the Curragh would bring Aidan O’Brien his 100th European Classic.
ABCD WHITE BIRCH The Ballysax winner (heavy), beaten a neck by The Foxes in the Dante (firm), was a good five lengths behind the winner in the Epsom Derby. See Auguste Rodin.
ABCD SPREWELL Soft-heavy performer, including when winner of the Leopardstown Derby Trial, but acts well enough on top of the ground.
Sweating up, not suited by Epsom, and not get a smooth run, a mix of genuine excuses in the English Derby. See Auguste Rodin.
Says trainer Jessica Harrington: ’He’s usually a laid-back character and met interference at a significant stage at Epsom. We are not running to finish second but Auguste Rodin will be hard to beat.’
BD PROUD AND REGAL Won the Saint-Cloud Criterium last October (soft); Salt Bay third, kept on. Third (bumped when headed over a furlong out) in the Leopardstown Derby Trial (soft-heavy) to Sprewell and Up And Under.
CDT KNIGHT TO KING Kingman half-brother to superstars Ghaiyyath and Zhukova; made all in his maiden (sole start) and ‘could be anything.’
CDT PEKING OPERA Did well over the winter and showed stamina to score over 1m 5f at Navan (soft), with Covent Garden third. But sweated up before the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and made no show.
CDT SAN ANTONIO Big-field maiden winner at Dundalk, backed up by taking the Dee Stakes trial at Chester (soft), 10th success in the race for Aidan O’Brien.
DT ADELAIDE RIVER Four top-class places, including Chester Vase, before eighth in the Epsom Derby and looks exposed. See Auguste Rodin.
– T COVENT GARDEN Flopped in Criterium de Saint-Cloud last October (heavy) after winning his maiden at Tipperary (soft). See Peking Opera.
– – SALT BAY Third in a French two-year-old futurity test (soft); see Proud And Regal.
– – UP AND UNDER Dual runner-up at Leopardstown on soft-heavy to White Birch in the Ballysax and Sprewell in the Derby trial (both races 1m 2f).
A CHEEKY NAP TO START DAY
⭕ 2.00 Newmarket A fairly modest card on the July Course which starts with a novice event over six furlongs.
There’s little to go on amongst the two-year-olds but on what we’ve seen so far Cheeky Blimey offers by far the best form on offer and with normal progress should account for his rivals here.
The Marco Botto trained runner was beaten two and a half lengths on debut at Leicester by Bits And Bobs who went on to run a close second at Chester under a penalty in a significantly better class 2 event.
He needs to prove himself as effective on the rain softened ground but the same comments apply to both Betdaq Betting Exchange main rivals Empire Of Light and Skilled Master who were fairly well beaten on their debuts at Bath and Chelmsford respectively.
LEAVING THE WILD SIDE
⭕ 4.55 Newmarket Wild Side arrives chasing the four-timer but a further 6lb might be more than enough to stop the George Boughey trained runner who has been winning low grade races at Yarmouth, Catterick and Redcar.
I’m struggling to split Man Of Eden and Shigar (as is the market) so will suggest both as win 10 alternatives to the likely favourite.
Both have shown some kind of form on softer conditions underneath. Man Of Eden has been running well in his last three starts – all at Goodwood – including a runner-up on good to soft ground.
Shigar won really nicely at Kempton last night with a first time hood and if reappearing (still a runner at 11am) will take some beating less than 24 hours later.
LIKING FOR VIKING
⭕ 5.05 Newcastle 10 minutes later Highfield Viking looks of interest in the closing race at Newcastle.
He justified favouritism at Doncaster in April before going on to finish a solid sixth at Ripon beaten less than three lengths.
The extra furlong here should suit and he can continue the good recent form of trainer John Quinn (4 winners from his last 21 runners).
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.00 Newmarket (win 10, nap)
BET 7.7pts win CHEEKY BLIMEY
4.55 Newmarket (win 10)
BET 1.9pts win MAN OF EDEN
BET 1.9pts win SHIGAR
5.05 Newcastle (win 10
BET 3.3pts win HIGHFIELD VIKING
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