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Declan’s Eye-Catchers – By Declan O’Donoghue

May 12, 2018 By admin Leave a Comment

BANDUA (Dermot Weld) It was at Cork that dual Derby winner Harzand started out and while nobody was making comparisons, this stablemate has gone into many notebooks after scoring twice with real aplomb at the same track. The Gallinule Stakes at The Curragh is next stop and a prominent showing there would book him a spot in the Irish Derby.

CROCODILE DUNDEE (Tom Cooper) Looked sure to win at Tipperary on Thursday night but had to settle for second. As it was his first run since October it’s possible that match fitness was an issue – he was very disappointing first time out last year – so should be sharper next time.

FERGIETHELEGEND (John Carr) People have short memories and hard to believe that the man who trained Sublimity to win the Champion Hurdle was having his first win in two years when this lad won at Wexford. It’s ironic, given the trainer’s surname and the fact that the race was sponsored by Bolands Mercedez Benz,  that they barely made it to the track on time having been held up in Dublin traffic!

FLATTERING (Aidan O’Brien) Mixed fare for Ballydoyle last Saturday with Saxon Warrior and Mendelssohn enjoying contrasting fortunes for the famed Tipperary yard. At the relative backwater of Cork this filly turned in a stunning performance though seemingly the outsider of O’Brien’s three runners. Don’t miss her in the opener at Lingfield today. Still some 25/1 for the Oaks available.

MRS GALLAGHER (William Jarvis) Excelled under Josephine Gordon at Naas where her superior toe gave her a decisive advantage over the five and a half furlongs trip. Fully entitled to take on the colts at Royal Ascot.

IDAHO (Aidan O’Brien) Almost guaranteed to beat inferior rivals in the Ormonde Stake at Chester, it was the manner of victory that impressed, with Ryan Moore particularly pleased. Forget the King George, which always looked a pipedream anyway, staying is very much the name of the game for this steady improver. He could make them all – including stablemate Order Of St. George – hop in the Ascot Gold Cup.

WOULD BE KING (Ger Lyons) Ran a cracker at Naas in his first race since July when just touched off by the race fit Imaging. Should get his turn soon and certainly liked the faster ground.

* Another great moneyspinning week for Declan’s Irish Racing Service with Claregate Street 6/1 (won 5/2); Causey Arch 5/1; Famous Saying 5/2; Like An Open Book 9/4 (w 7/4); Aiseolas 9/4 (w 13/8); Bloomfield 6/4; Bandua 11/8 (w 4/5); Screaming Rose 11/8; Idaho 10/11 (w 8/11) and Van Beethoven 4/5 (w 1/2). Each way – Texas Radio 12/1 (2nd 6/1); Forever Together 12/1 (2nd 11/2). 

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Filed Under: Betfan, Horse Racing Tagged With: Ascot Gold Cup, Josephine Gordon, Royal Ascot, Ryan Moore

Growl Is Weighted To Win At Haydock On Saturday – Rick Elliott

June 10, 2017 By admin Leave a Comment

It’s a case of before the Lord Mayor’s Show with the racing this weekend because Royal Ascot takes places the week after next. There are some competitive handicaps at Newmarket but the John Of Gaunt Stakes is the main race on the card at Haydock where Growl has the form to deliver in this Group 3 contest. It must be said the racing does not get the pulse going so any betting should be kept to a minimum.

Royal Ascot is the most prestigious Flat meeting in the world as it brings together the best horses from Europe and other racing nations. Over five days there are eight Group 1 races and 18 Group races in total. In terms of prize money it is the richest meeting in Britain. Royal Ascot is as much a social occasion as sporting event but the racing is world class. It’s also a favourite week for the Queen and she goes every day. She won the Gold Cup with Estimate in 2013 and has won 71 races at the track.

One theme this year is the potential for entries from Irish jumps trainers. Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Jessica Harrington could be represented. No trainer has ever trained the winner of the Cheltenham God Cup and Ascot Gold Cup in the same season but Harington has an outside chance of doing just that. She is a dual purpose trainer who has just had her best season ever in major National Hunt races. Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have plans for runners at Ascot.

Racing should potentially get more column inches in the mainstream Press in odd years when there is no football World Cup or European Championship Finals. However, there are always other major events going on which means racing misses out on a great deal of coverage. The day’s cards used to be sacrosanct but now some newspapers only cover the main races of the day. Most print publications don’t employ full time racing correspondents as all the info can be found online.

Tomorrow’s fare is very ordinary and is competing with the French Open, Lions Tour and Champions Trophy. The coverage is being shunted onto ITV4 and the broadcast could attract the smallest viewing figures for live racing since ITV became the sole terrestrial broadcaster. The John Of Gaunt Stakes is a Group 3 race over seven furlongs for colts, geldings and fillies aged four and older. Female horses receive a three pound weight allowance and the male horses carry nine stone to nine stone and five pounds.

Growl has the highest Racing Post Rating and on past form has a few pounds in hand over the opposition. Graham Lee takes the ride which is an interesting storyline ahead of Royal Ascot. He is the only jockey to have ridden the winner of the Grand National and Ascot Gold Cup. Lee was a successful jumps jockey and is now producing the goods in terms of winners on the level. He has built up a great relationship with Richard Fahey who trains Growl.

Growl won a handicap race at Windsor last June carrying nine stones five pounds. At the time the horse looked like a Group horse running in a handicap. Growl then won at Listed level and has earned a race in Group company. The horse has run to the same rating on the last three starts and is in theory the best horse in the race at Haydock. The distance and going should not be a problem. Grown carries five pounds less than the ante post favourite Breton Rock and that concession could be crucial.

Breton Rock has run to a career best level of one pound behind Growl and but over a longer period of time. The highlight was finishing third in the Lockinge Stakes, behind Ribchester and Lightning Spear. That is outstanding form and the drop back in class is a positive. A more accurate measure of the horse’s ability is the down the field run in the Champion Stakes. On that evidence Growl can use the five pounds weight advantage well and win the John of Gaunt Stakes.

Filed Under: Betfan, Horse Racing, Sports Tagged With: Ascot Gold Cup, Breton Rock, Royal Ascot, World Cup

HOT HANDICAPPERS

September 14, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

What an amazing weekend it was with Harbour Law winning The St Leger our final classic of the year for Laura Mongan. The Epsom based trainer was overjoyed as her stayer galloped on resolutely in the final furlong to land the spoils.

It was a pity that favourite Idaho fell but it’s highly possible the winner would have outstayed him anyway. I think Laura could well have an Ascot Gold Cup candidate on her hands for next season.

To me it is wonderful to see the smaller yards without the finance behind them putting one over the big boys very much in the same way as Leicester winning last seasons Premier League and proving sometimes it’s not just money that buys success.

You must admit it’s a David and Goliath type story and don’t you just love it when the little guy or woman in this case comes out on top. It’s the first Epsom trained classic winner since 1969 and it was nicely summed up by Laura’s husband Ian who rode for Sir Henry Cecil when he said that Henry once told him you are only as good a trainer as the horses in your yard.

The other cracking race was the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown which was won impressively by Almanzour coming from last to first. However Harzand finished lame and in my opinion Minding although finishing 3rd ran way below her best. So the form may not be quite so good as some people think.

There is plenty of racing on offer today and for Howies Hottie I’m going back over the Irish sea to Listowel for the 3.35. Regular readers will not be surprised I’m tipping Romantic again who won for this column last time out.

The gelding goes on any ground and although going up in the ratings he does seem to be on an upward curve at present.

HOT HANDICAPPERS

FLAT

Windshear trainer R.Hannon – Seems to be running with more enthusiasm and could be on a competitive mark.

Monumental Man trainer M.Attwater – Another good Epsom trainer worth following and I’m sure he will find a suitable entry for this front runner.

Alberta trainer Jim Best – Won at Epsom last week and there could be more improvement to come.

First Mohican trainer A.King – Getting on in years but retains lots of ability. Many won’t remember but this was the only horse that could keep up with Frankel when with Sir Henry Cecil.

Minding Trainer A.O’Brien – 3RD in the Irish Champion stakes the filly ran below expectations and on her best form I still believe nothing would live with her.

JUMPS

Sgt Reckless trainer S.Hodson – The big gelding has changed hands and I’m sure the new connections can win nice races with him this jump season.

Back next Wednesday be lucky.

Howard Davis-Shaw.

CLICK HERE For Howard’s Eye-Catchers!

Filed Under: Betfan, Horse Racing, Sports Tagged With: Ascot Gold Cup, Harbour Law, Monumental Man, Sir Henry Cecil

Toormore Can Win Celebration Mile at Goodwood – By Ian Hudson

August 26, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

Postponed is being mentioned in discussions about the best horse in the world but it is the champion European juvenile from 2013 who could take centre stage at Goodwood on Saturday. The Celebration Mile is the main feature of a fairly ordinary day of racing but Toormore has the past form to beat horses that have run to a higher level this season based on official ratings. Ryan Moore returns at Newmarket after an injury absence that was shorter than expected and his odds have been cut for the jockey’s championship.

The Juddmonte International at York is one of the best races in the world based on the ratings of its participants. Postponed was impressive in winning this year’s renewal last week and is now the clear favourite for the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in October. It is impossible to compare the merits of horses running in different conditions around the world and there will never be a definitive answer but Postponed could claim to be the leading thoroughbred in the global sport. California Chrome is still in training and that horse could also claim to be the best on the planet. The Breeder’s Cup in November could help to decide the outcome of this issue.

The Arc is the championship Flat race in Europe and brings together the best horses of any age group except two-year-olds at Longchamp near Paris. This year the race will take place at Chantilly as work is being undertaken at the French capital track. The race will be run over one mile four furlongs as usual but there is no false straight at Chantilly but on ratings Postponed should win regardless of the track. The winners of the Derby, Oaks and Ascot Gold Cup are prominent in the betting but beatable. Harzaand, Minding and Order Of St George could be running for second place.

Arc weekend at the beginning of October begins a three week spell of championship races at Newmarket and British Champion’s Day at Ascot. The clash between Caravaggio and the other best younger horses will define the champion two-year-old of the season, a title given to Toormore three years ago. That potential has not been fully realised but an impressive win at Goodwood could see the horse get an unfulfilled career back on track. Maybe the horse is at a level somewhere between Group 1 and Group 2 and Saturday’s effort should reveal a great deal in this context.

In January 2014 official ratings made Toormore the champion two-year-old in Europe. The horse was rated two pounds ahead of Kingston Hill who was placed in the Derby and then won the St Leger during his Classic season. Toormore did not run in the Dewhurst Stakes but he had beaten War Command who won the race earlier in the season. Toormore was sixth in the 2,000 Guineas and then ran poorly at Royal Ascot during his three-year-old season. He has run in the highest class this year without success but there have been promising signs of a revival.

Toormore won the Bet365 Mile in April but has struggled in Group 1 contests over the rest of the season. He was fourth in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood showing a standard of ability which suggests competiveness at the level of Saturday’s race. The horse is trained by Richard Hannon who left it to his assistant to make this comment in Friday’s Racing Post:

“Toormore has been on the edge in Group 1s for a long time and ran a great race behind some top three-year-olds in the Sussex. He’s in good form and he’s always been well suited to Goodwood, so we’re going with a live chance” Toormore could well be a Group 2 horse who was flattered by his rating as a juvenile but if he struggles at this level the horse may be retired rather than face the indignity of running in Group 3 and Listed contests.

With only five runners at most place terms are one quarter the odds for two places but it will be win only if one horse is withdrawn. Thikriyaat has been supplemented and is the ante post favourite for the Celebration Mile. The course and distance winner is unproven at Group 2 level and Wonderland could be the horse for the forecast in a race won by Toormore.

 

Filed Under: Betfan, Horse Racing, Sports Tagged With: Ascot Gold Cup, California Chrome, Dewhurst Stakes, Europe

Declan O’Donoghue

August 29, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

While just about everyone who loves racing would wish it weren’t so, it looks like the great Coolmore/Aidan O’Brien love affair is on the rocks.

So often racecourse rumours prove well wide of the mark, but this one seems to hit the bullseye.

That David O’Meara had to come out publicly and deny that he received any approach from Coolmore shows just how far the speculation of imminent change had gone.

And the wishy washy response from the Tipperary bigwigs – no comment basically – only added further petrol to the flames.

This “not commenting on speculation” type of stuff probably goes back to the Kieren Fallon days but is no longer fit for purpose.

Either way it was not exactly a ringing endorsement of the status quo, and the feeling grows that we are fast approaching end game.

True, we’re not quite at the Divorce Courts and the “we’ll remain close friends” stage just yet.

But it’s hard to escape the feeling that the most magnificent racing gravy train of all time is about to hit the buffers.

There are seemingly complaints and issues on both sides.

When John Magnier and friends installed Aidan O’Brien in this latter day Camelot, they knew Istabraq came as part of the deal.

No problems there, but they then expected the quietly spoken gifted genius to bid farewell to the jumping scene.

And this he did too, quickly and cleanly, and with scarce a backward glance it seemed.

Yet here we are now, almost 20 years later, and O’Brien is sending out – admittedly from a different yard – a platoon of bumper horses, maiden hurdlers and average handicap chasers.

And four of his children are on the jockeys roster.

Plus some of the better flat horses have been racing at unlikely and unfashionable venues – Bantry Bay was due to run at Bellewstown this week for example.

All of this is hardly what the Coolmore chiefs had in mind back in those early heady days when love was in the air and neither side could really believe that they had found the other.

The whole Joseph O’Brien role as a key jockey has caused bad feelings and friction on both sides for some considerable time.

It certainly led to the swift departure of Johnny Murtagh who saw his role as number one jockey being eroded.

Coolmore – and O’Brien – were shocked by that development, but are finally happy now with Ryan Moore installed as the main act.

Whether the O’Brien family are quite as enthusiastic about that arrangement is debatable.

Yet, as with everything else to do with this saga, nothing is ever quite what it seems and there are many, many shades of grey.

For while Moore often has an abrupt and even abrasive style with both press and public, the O’Brien crew are charmed by him.

Right from the first time he started riding for them he warmed to Aidan and the Ballydoyle staff, and the affection was mutual.

And the fact that he gets on so well with Joseph in particular helps smooth out many potential difficulties.

Joseph is an excellent rider and horseman, yet as that thoroughly likable young man himself says “Ryan Moore is the best jockey in the world.”

Much – too much perhaps – has been made of Joseph’s ride on Australia in the Irish Champion Stakes almost a year ago.

Perhaps his own refreshing honesty actually told against him.

For, when you think of it, even if he did take the scenic route, he still had the dual Derby winner in front half a furlong out.

It was the horse and not the rider who buckled at the business end in a race that curiously both his sire and dam got beaten in too back in the day.

And while he came wide on the stands side so too did Ryan Moore on the winner The Grey Gatsby.

Leopardstown is my local course and like many regulars I much prefer horses coming late on the stands side rather than trying to charge up the inner.

Anyway, it’s swings and roundabouts.

Moore gave Kingfisher a truly awful ride in the Ascot Gold Cup this year during a Royal week where he otherwise excelled. It happens.

Returning to the broader picture the Coolmore chiefs were not exactly doing cartwheels of joy when Aidan sent out Qualify for outside owners to beat their Legatissimo in the Oaks at Epsom last June.

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

But O’Brien too has his frustrations, big time, and indeed it would now appear that the split, should it happen, has been mainly engineered on his side.

He could do with a little less pressure in his life now – though wading into the jumps scene again, even at the lower end of the scale, might seem to contradict that.

How he must envy at times his former boss Jim Bolger who runs a formidable rival yard.

Bolger trains for Godolphin and quite a few other high profile outfits yet he is always very much the boss.

It’s a remarkable breeding and training operation at Coolcullen and of course so many top flat and jump jockeys learnt their trade there.

Never for one moment though is anyone in the slightest doubt about who the ringmaster is.

One of the more interesting whispers doing the rounds is that Arab interests might buy out Coolcullen and that 73 year old Bolger will step aside to let his former assistant O’Brien take over.

Bolger and O’Brien have remained very close friends down the years and even Bolger – never one to doubt his own ability – must realise that even he can’t go on forever.

There is further speculation that jockey Kevin Manning – who is Bolger’s son in law – will become Aidan’s number two when he finally hangs up his saddle. Stranger things…

Yet for all the turmoil and speculation, O’Brien’s famous professionalism and attention to detail shines through as brightly as ever this season.

But he made some startling revelations after Gleneagles won the St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot:

With his wife Anne Marie close at hand he said “We have done this for 20 years, hard graft day in and day out.”

“Maybe next year at Ascot we might be able to stay here an odd night.”

“That’s the reality, we’re over and back every day, we never stay anywhere.”

“Maybe shortly we might be able to start doing stuff like that, living normal lives.”

“I’ve never seen any of the cities that we go to, I go racing and go back home” he added.

He was smiling as he said it – and hopefully he is well aware that most trainers in the world would give their eye teeth to be in his situation – but it was an astonishing statement in ways.

All the more so of course as it came in the immediate afterglow of one of his greatest triumphs of the season.

It is expected that Joseph will train the jumpers from their old Pilltown base if his weight shoots up to an extent where realistically he could no longer ride on the flat on a regular basis.

That would certainly ease many of the current tensions.

Next year Aidan could focus totally on the flat once more with Ryan Moore back in action and Seamie Heffernan and Colm O’Donoghue as ever leading a strong supporting cast.

But suppose Joseph somehow keeps winning his battle with the scales?

And for inspiration there he need look no further than the remarkable and evergreen Manning.

One way or another it’s hard to escape the feeling that something has to give.

Could O’Brien keep training for Coolmore while his jumping team continues to expand?

Possibly, but for someone supposedly looking for a quieter life and a little less pressure it’s hardly ideal.

Would Aidan switch full time back to the jumps? J P McManus would certainly be interested in bank rolling that.

Unlikely, but possible. And imagine the O’Brien team arriving at Cheltenham locked and loaded and ready to take on the formidable forces of Willie Mullins?

Wow, there’s a thought! As if that spell binding Festival on the Cotswolds isn’t exciting enough as it is!

But that would all mean Aidan giving up a hell of a lot – no more superstars like Galileo or Gleneagles, or glory days at Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood or The Curragh.

And where would Joseph keep getting rides on the flat of the kind of quality that he now enjoys?

There is much more to ponder too. The O’Brien children have all grown up at Ballydoyle, it is very much their home.

It would surely be a major wrench if they had to vacate it.

Much then for both the O’Briens and Coolmore to think about as the lengthening shadows of Autumn close in.

O’Brien would seem a near impossible act to follow, but if he goes someone’s got to do it.

The names Wesley Ward, David O’Meara and David Wachman have all been in the mix in social media speculation about a likely successor.

Little doubt that Wachman – who is Magnier’s son in law and trains quite close by in Goolds Cross – will certainly have a bigger role to play one way or another.

Nor will it have gone unnoticed by Magnier & co. that John Oxx, the quiet genius who trained Sea The Stars, has plenty of vacant boxes now after his parting of the ways with the Aga Khan.

There could be a temptation to send a few of their high profile horses up to Oxx to Curraghbeg should O’Brien quit the scene.

Oxx has mixed it superbly at the highest level of the game for many decades, and will certainly not lack motivation.

Ward already has an expanding role in their American operation so it would make little sense to uproot him even if he were willing to cross the Atlantic on a permanent basis which seems unlikely.

O’Meara has ruled out any return to his native Tipperary, though of course he hasn’t been formally asked yet.

Money would be no object to the Coolmore boys and O’Meara would have to give it serious consideration.

Some opportunities only come once in a lifetime.

My information though is that it is not O’Meara but another UK based Irish trainer they have their eyes on and that is Brian Meehan.

Could the popular 48 year old Cork man switch from Manton to Ballydoyle? It would certainly be a hard gig to refuse.

Meehan has apparently been on their radar for quite some time and there is even talk that some tentative sounding out has already taken place – though the same kind of racecourse gossip about O’Meara being approached proved to be unfounded.

After a relatively quiet spell Meehan is back in the big time now with Blue Bayou – who ironically is due to appear next in the Moyglare at The Curragh – leading the charge.

And could a permanent return to his native country be on the cards for Meehan?

Perhaps as he arrives at The Curragh he’ll be humming a few lines from the song Blue Bayou.

“I’m going back one day, come what may, to Blue Bayou, “where the folks are fine, and the world is mine..”

Make no mistake, the hope still around Coolmore and Ballydoyle is that O’Brien will stay and despite all the tensions and loosening of bonds. they will make every effort to keep him.

Should he hit the road though then Meehan is very much in the frame to replace him.

From a settled life in Manton it is indeed a Long Way to Tipperary – but realistically, how could any ambitious trainer turn down an opportunity like it?

Hope you took the 14/1 Order Of St George advised for the St Leger here last week, though I must say the current 3/1 looks mighty skinny.

The Curragh resembled a Brazilian Rain Forest last Sunday and all form from that meeting should be treated with considerable caution.

Back next Saturday.

Declan O’Donoghue

Irish Racing Club – CLICK HERE For Details!  

 

Filed Under: Betfan, Horse Racing, Sports Tagged With: Ascot Gold Cup, Blue Bayou, Ryan Moore, Wesley Ward

Declan O’Donoghue

August 22, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

The persistent rainfall at York on Tuesday made it highly unlikely that Gleneagles would line up in the Juddmonte, and so it proved.

That seemed to leave the race a penalty kick for Golden Horn but the Epsom and Eclipse hero fluffed his lines when chinned by Arabian Queen.

It was like a light of other days to see David Elsworth back in the big time – well, we didn’t actually see him, for he did a vanishing act!

Of course we can all get carried away when sentiment and nostalgia combine to give a warm glow.

For even the normally brilliant racing writer Alastair Down might, for once, have lost the plot a wee bit.

He claimed in the Racing Post that Elsworth is “without a shadow of doubt the greatest dual purpose trainer since Vincent O’Brien.”

Mmm…  Istabraq’s handler hasn’t done too badly since he switched his attentions to the summer game.

Ballydoyle plans for the Ladbrokes St Leger are still up in the air a bit, and it must be a slight concern that Bondi Beach was seeing stars after meeting Storm The Stars.

Whatever the relative merits of that bruising encounter – and the all too predictable if debatable outcome in the Stewards Room – both horses were in the wars.

While the layers immediately chalked them up at the head of the Leger betting there is a fear that last Wednesday’s Punch And Judy Show might take the edge off them for what looks a potentially tough renewal at Doncaster.

Should Fields Of Athenry land the Ebor today then clearly he’s in the mix, but Aloft would need to sprout wings at this stage.

Order Of St George (14/1 William Hill, Boylesports, Betfair) is the Tipperary dark horse.

In the Curragh Cup, over a mile and six furlongs, he was Ryan Moore’s pick while Seamie Heffernan was on Bondi Beach (both were carrying 8-10 so Joseph had to sit it out).

Seamie lost his whip just over a furlong out but still got Bondi Beach home by a short head, the pair well clear of the rest.

Fogotten Rules, making a quick reappearance after the Ascot Gold Cup was a disappointing fourth having tried to make all.

That run should be ignored completely, and in no way used to boost the achievements of the O’Brien pair.

Ironically in hindsight,  Aidan O’Brien suggested after that Curragh race that while Bondi Beach mightn’t need another run before the Leger, Order Of St George certainly did “and might go for something like the Voltigeur at York.”
It didn’t quite pan out that way.

Instead Order Of St George went to Down Royal for a race that – despite it’s imposing title Her Majesty’s Plate – was a relative egg and spooner where he dotted in.

In contrast Bondi Beach headed to York for what proved an absolute grueller.
However Order Of St George can forget the quiet life tomorrow when he takes on smart stablemate Kingfisher in an Irish St Leger Trial at The Curragh.

As a four year old the Irish Leger is the obvious target for Kingfisher though there are whispers that the Melbourne Cup (40/1 Bet365 and Betfair) could be on the agenda.

Ryan Moore had a glorious Royal Ascot but made no bones about it that he totally messed up on Kingfisher in the Gold Cup.

Anyway, lets not overreact to the defeat of Golden Horn.

Hindsight as ever gives us great (retrospective!) wisdom, and perhaps the pacemaker tactics didn’t work out, and the ground seemed particularly sticky near the finish.

Take nothing from the excellent winner though.
Many of us suspected that the three year old fillies might be superior to the males this season, all of which makes the anchored-out-the-back tactics used on Oaks heroine Qualify in the Irish Derby all the more frustrating.

For sure she has a finishing kick to die for, but mightn’t that be better unleashed from just off the pace rather than from a different postal zone?

Back to the present though and Golden Horn remains a superb racehorse.

Now it’s on to the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month where he is likely to finally meet Gleneagles, not to mention Cirrus Des Aigles and Free Eagle.

Plenty to look forward to there!

Strange that the thing that always springs to mind first when I think of Andrew McNamara is a Cheltenham Festival that he wasn’t at!

David Walsh of The Sunday Times, an old sparring partner of mine from our Irish Press days together and now a regular UK Sports Journalist of the Year, asked “Where’s Andrew McNamara, why is he not over?”

Which proves that not only does Mr Walsh know the time of day but how easily for those of us on the regular racing beat someone can just drift off centre stage without us noticing too much.

Outgoing and friendly, McNamara was a class act in every way, and in the early years everything was progressing smoothly.

Top jobs with Michael Hourigan and Edward O’Grady and of course his brilliant Cheltenham Queen Mother Champion Chase win on Newmill.

That was a superb front running performance where they went off at an electric pace and put gifted rivals like Kauto Star and Moscow Flyer to the sword.

In total contrast one day he staged an unbelievable Tortoise and Rabbit type job on Beef Or Salmon at Leopardstown when somehow reeling in The Listener in the Hennessy when Bob Alner’s fine chaser at one stage seemed half the track in front.

Ironically Andrew later became The Listener’s regular partner, and booted him home to win the J W Nicholson Wine Grade One at Down Royal.

While Andrew cherishes that Hennessy day at Leopardstown and rates “the Beef” as one of the best he ever rode, Hourigan’s great chaser was already in the twilight of his career.

McNamara has often been unlucky like that.

For example the once all powerful O’Grady yard – 18 Cheltenham Festival winners lets not forget – was in decline and as often happens in that kind of scenario – just ask Adrian Maguire – the jockey is often unfairly in the firing line.

And he’s been attached to the Shark Hanlon yard in recent years where – with the obvious exception of Hidden Cyclone – things have not been exactly thriving.

Of course that’s only part of it.

For, and speaking of Sharks, the Irish jump jockeys weigh room – where he was, as everywhere else – a highly popular figure, is mighty competitive.
And, duck when you say this, would even the great AP have won his 20 titles in a row had he stayed in his native country, or indeed come anywhere near it?

For it’s no easy task taking on Ruby Walsh, Paul Carberry, Davy Russell, Barry Geraghty, Paul Townend and company – not to mention Willie Mullins – every time you go out.

Not that for one moment anyone should reflect on Andrew McNamara as any kind of underachiever.

A CV that includes big race success on the likes of Sizing Europe, The Listener, Hi Cloy, Beef Or Salmon, Hidden Cyclone, Tranquil Sea, Catch Me and an Irish Grand National victory on the mare Bluesea Cracker speaks for itself.

Constant back problems have forced him to retire perhaps earlier than he planned at 32.

Yet as a first cousin of J T McNamara and a brother of currently wheelchair bound Robbie, he’ll appreciate better than most what it means to get out while still in the prime of your health.

He’s already shown an aptitude – as has Robbie – for media work which will continue.

But his main focus is elsewhere as he’s ready to launch a training career, and, typically, he has been planning and preparing for this for a long time.

He has followed top agents around the Sales and of course listened and learned in all the leading yards he worked in as a jockey down the years.

He should be well equipped too on the oft neglected but oh so vital  business side of things.

For while most jockeys leave school at a very early age Andrew got an A1 in Maths in his Leaving Cert and indeed was doing a Maths Degree in the University of Limerick before walking out to become a full time jockey.

Most of all though he’s a brilliant horseman, and of course his dad, also Andrew, is a successful trainer and little doubt that Robbie too will join the training ranks before too long.

With one thing and another it’s been a nightmare few years for the McNamara clan.

So as Andrew hangs up his saddle to launch his new career from a new base near Mullingar, everyone in racing will wish him well.

We’ll miss him as a jockey, but no doubt in his new role he’ll be returning to the Winners Enclosure many times over.

Who knows, David Walsh might finally get to see him back at Cheltenham.

Back next Saturday.

Declan O’Donoghue

Irish Racing Club

http://hop.betkudos.com/1000/view/59

Filed Under: Betfan, Horse Racing, Sports Tagged With: Ascot Gold Cup, Bondi Beach, Down Royal, Golden Horn

Goodwood Preview – Day Three

July 30, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

Firstly, we can’t comment on any racing without paying tribute to Sir Peter O’Sullevan. A voice – indeed the voice – that will never be forgotten by anybody who watched or listened to this great sport. Secondly, he loved his racing so let’s get on to today’s action.

Due to time restrictions today’s preview is rather limited, and we’ve only got time for a fuller analysis of the two Group 2 races on the card. As ever, we’ll start with a quick recap of yesterday’s results, which included a couple of nice 1-2s:

2:00 – William Of Orange 3rd @ 5/1;          Wordiness 7th
2:35 – Highland Reel 1st @ 7/4;                   Scottish 2nd @ 7/1
3:10 – Solow 1st @ 2/5;                                   Arod 2nd @ 6/1
3:45 – King Of Rooks 2nd @ Evs;                 Muhadathat 4th
4:20 – Silent Dreamer 7th;                             Alamode 1st @ 7/1
4:55 – Imshivalla 7th;                                      Hala Madrid 6th
5:25 – Mutawathea 2nd;                                 Assault On Rome IF SEEN PLEASE CONTACT DEREK POTTER

2:35 – Group 2, 6f, 2yo. Another big group race, and another high-profile non-runner for Ballydoyle. Given how few hard-luck stories there have been so far at Goodwood, and no complaints about the ground, and given the fact Highland Reel dug in so well yesterday to win his race, it is a shame not to see Air Force Blue but it does open the door for others.

Shalaa, for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori in the colours of Al Shaqab racing, showed virtually no promise whatsoever on his debut, when he trailed in last of 8, but two wins (including a Group race last time out) since then have seen him propelled to short-price favouritism here. Steady Pace for Godolphin and The Doyler will certainly pose a threat, as will the runner for the other stable jockey William Buick in the form of Log Out Island. It is fair to say Log Out Island’s form wasn’t boosted by King Of Rooks yesterday, regardless of whether you believe Frankie gave him a good ride or not.

Kachy was a deserved winner and so my eyes are turned elsewhere, and on to Tasleet. Hamdan Al Maktoum owns two in this race, the other being Elronaq, and it is Tasleet whom Paul Hanagan has chosen to ride. Winner of his last two races, and for a fine trainer in William Haggas, Tasleet looks open to improvement and one I am happy to side with.

Adventurous and Riflescope are the Mark Johnston entries, and in spite of Joe Fanning riding Adventurous, it is Riflescope who catches the eye if he handles the step back up to 6f. He previously flopped at the trip but to me has the class to overcome that, and particularly as the race was over 2 months ago – a long time in the career of a Mark Johnston horse.

To summarise, Shalaa is a hot favourite and I can certainly see him winning – but my selections will hopefully provide some value and a run for the money.
Selection: TASLEET
Alternative: RIFLESCOPE

3:10 – Group 2, 2m, 3yo+. The obvious place to start here is with the top weight Trip To Paris. This is a horse who started out the season in handicap company and progressed to win an Ascot Gold Cup whilst seemingly going unnoticed by the punters and bookmakers alike, with his last three victories coming at 8/1, 10/1 and 12/1.

That is not the case today, however, and whilst I am a huge admirer of this gelding, he may find carrying top weight in another gruelling test of stamina just one step too far. I would love to see him win, but I won’t be selecting him for today’s pick. Next up is a horse I put in a strong word for in the Northumberland Plate, and Quest For More certainly delivered there.

He is the first runner of the week for the Beckhampton stable under Roger Charlton’s always excellent stewardship, and if he continues to improve like he suggests he will then he will surely come close. Big Orange for Michael Bell and Jamie Spencer has a great chance based on his winning form, but hasn’t tried this trip since an unsuccessful attempt on heavy ground in October 2014. If he stays then his price will look small, but he’s also one I’m willing to pass over. When Blue Wave won on the first day of Goodwood for the Mark Johnston team, his wife said that Oriental Fox would be the best result of the week for them – and with his marathon victory at Ascot in the bag you know this horse will stay all day, and probably sleep on the couch just to make sure.

Another runner for the Johnston team that catches the eye at a ridiculously low weight is Vive Ma Fille, who runs as a 3yo with 18lbs in hand on most of the field. Silvestre De Sousa could well give her a smart run to outrun her price. Whilst Scotland and Pallasator both pose threats, the final word goes to Simenon for Willie Mullins and Frankie Dettori. 4th to Trip To Paris in the Ascot Gold Cup, I fancy him to turn the tables here and take the honours. He has been lightly raced this past calendar year and that could be the key advantage for him here.
Selection: SIMENON
Alternative: QUEST FOR MORE

Filed Under: Back, Betting Knowledge, Betting News, Betting Systems, Horse Racing, Lay, Make Money Online, Sports, Trading, WIN Tagged With: Ascot Gold Cup, Frankie Dettori, Highland Reel, Mark Johnston

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