With little appealing on Wednesday, I’m taking the opportunity to briefly look back at the weekend and there was plenty to note, both on and off the track on Sunday.
With little appealing from a punting point of view on Wednesday, I’m taking the opportunity to briefly look back at the weekend and there was plenty to note, both on and off the track on Sunday.
Over in Ireland, all eyes were on the ‘big two’ in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, but both Kiyoshi and Tapestry were put in their place by Clive Brittain’s Rizeena, who was winning for the fourth time from seven starts. She is now likely to head to either the Cheveley Park or the Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day.
Earlier on the card, I was really impressed with the debut success of Dazzling who is most certainly one to put in the notebook. A full-sister to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Roderic O’Connor, the Galileo filly looked an exciting prospect, powering away in the closing stages and the Fillies’ Mile could be next on her agenda next.
She was available at 25/1 for next year’s 1,000 Guineas immediately after her winning debut and has already been trimmed into 20’s, while she is generally 14/1 market leader for the Oaks. We ought to know a lot more after her second start, but she looked potential Classic material to me, even at this early stage.
Runner-up and stable-mate Shell House kept on really well in the closing stages and is entered at Leopardstown on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien has been running his maidens quickly after debut of late, so I wouldn’t be at all shocked if she (another Galileo filly) lined up and it is hoped she will give Dazzling’s form a boost.
On the same day, Paul Nicholls was showcasing no fewer than 82 horses at his Open Day ahead of the new National Hunt season and a couple I was really pleased to read positive updates on were Just A Par and Urubu D’Irlande.
The former ran twice for the stable last season without winning, but looked hugely promising when chasing home At Fishers Cross at Aintree and should develop in to a high-class novice chaser this winter.
The latter hasn’t been seen since winning a warm Taunton bumper last October, where he had subsequent two-time winner Oscar Rock back in second. The son of Sleeping Car then suffered from a serious bout of colic, but is back in A1 shape now and is one to look out for in novice hurdles in the coming months.
Both horses feature in my recently published Jumpers To Follow and details of how to purchase can be seen below. Talking of the jumps season, I will be attending the JP Festival ‘Tweetup’ before racing at Cheltenham in Friday 18th October. Please see jpfestival.com for further details.
Wednesday’s weekend eye-catcher:
Dazzling (Aidan O’Brien)
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 2013-14
Pre order now, published early September in good time for the new season:
Just £9:95 inc p&p
* order online www.cc-publishing.co.uk
* or, send a cheque payable to ‘The Racing Insider’ to PO Box 98, Liverpool L9 1WY (with address details)
Fellow Betrescue columnist and Bet Victor’s Charlie McCann says: “it really is a privilege to write the foreword for such an informative and well-researched publication, which continues to go from strength to strength.”
New for 2013-14:
Grade 1 winning jockeys Nick Scholfield and Jane Mangan provide readers with their horses to follow
Last years results included:
* Leading Prospects, Arvika Ligeonniere (x3), Boston Bob, Captain Conan (x3), Champagne Fever (x2 inc Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Glens Melody, Melodic Rendezvous, Simonsig (Arkle) & Un Atout won 13 Grade 1 novice contests between them
* My Tent Or Yours won 4 times including the Betfair Hurdle and the Top Novices’ at Aintree
* Stable Round-Up included Neptune winner The New One, Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Court Minstrel and David Pipe’s Dynaste of whom it read “could follow the Grands Crus path of last year, starting in the Steel Plate And Sections before he is readied for the Feltham” – he won both races and also scored at Aintree in April
* Across The Sea – Mount Benbulben 14/1 winner of the Grade 1 novice chase at the Punchestown Festival
* Under The Hammer – horses featured in this section included Champion Bumper winner Briar Hill (25/1) and The Liquidator, who won the equivalent Grade 1 at Punchestown – this section has been greatly increased for 2013-14
