TRIALS DAY AT LEOPARDSTOWN: Away from Aintree, there is an excellent flat card at Leopardstown with Guineas trials and a Derby trial in the Ballysax.
Best of luck to the Irish challenge in the Grand National and don’t miss DAQMAN’s preview of the big race.
I’m taking the easier (in theory) option of the flat at Leopardstown on Saturday. The flat season very much steps up a gear with the two Guineas trials and the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes.
2:20 Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Listed) (3yo, Class 1, 1m, 7 runners)
Aidan O’Brien has started the season brightly and Orderofthegarter couldn’t have been more impressive on testing ground – winning by 11 lengths 13 days ago. It was only a maiden however and the ground is quicker today and I think he might be one to oppose as he simply looks too short in the market against some big potential improvers. They include the Jim Bolger trained Zorion who was mightily impressive when winning his sole start at Roscommon last season. Rather than find an alternative, I’ll stick with a BETDAQ lay of Orderofthegarter.
2:55 Ballylinch Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Group 3) (3yo, Class 1, 7f, 11 runners)
This looks really competitive and all of Aidan O’Brien’s four runners can be given a chance. Preference though is for Hydrangea who was a good Group 1 second to stable companion Rhododendron at Newmarket. She failed to sparkle in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita but back off a break since could be the sort to go best when fresh.
4:00 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3) (3yo, Class 1, 1m 2f, 9 runners)
A big early Derby trial and last year’s winner of this Harzand went on to win at Epsom last season. Dermot Weld doesn’t have a runner this year and the safest bet looks to be the Ryan Moore ridden Yucatan who was a narrow second to stable companion Capri in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh. Capri gets a penalty for that win and the faster ground should suit Yucatan better.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
NAP: Yucatan (4.00 Leopardstown)
LAY: Orderofthegarter (2.20 Leopardstown)
WIN: Hydrangea (2.55 Leopardstown)
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