It was a good Thursday with my pick First Touch winning. The 3/1 favourite was 2nd early but wasn't fluent after a slignt mistake at the 6th. He closed on the leader after the 9th and led at the next. He was joined entering the straight but led again 2 out,he asserted himself before the last keeping on well to beat Ciao Bella by 1 3/4 lengths.
We round off the week with 7 races at Down Royal and 8 at Dundalk, the highlight of the first of two excellent days at Down Royal is the 2.20 when just 5 begin the WKD Hurdle. Zanahiyr won his first three races over hurdles including a Grade 2 at Leopardstown before finishing 4th in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham after going off as favourite. He was a very good second in the Grade 1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown on his last outing and is my pick on this his season debut. Cask Mate is the main challenger and has fitness on his side after winning on his flat debut at Bellewstown 30 days ago. He is a useful hurdler as well with two wins and a creditable second in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse to his name last year so he is definitely a threat. Of the others the only one with a slight chance is Bonarc. She was 5th in a handicap hurdle when last seen at Punchestown 16 days ago but faces a stiffer task here.
At Dundalk their main event comes at 5.45 when 11 start the View Restaurant At Dundalk Handicap. Laugh A Minute was a very creditable 2nd in a stronger race at York 20 days ago,he kept on well despite being hampered in the final furlong and is the choice here to finally be rewarded for his recent form. Ramon Di Loria was a winner at Sligo in May and a respectable 4th on this course 3 weeks ago so he definitely deserves consideration. The other who could challenge is Big Baby Bull,he hasn't won since June last year but he was a good third in a handicap at Leopardstown 6 days ago so he can’t be discounted.
Big race predictions: Down Royal: 1: Zanahiyr Dundalk: 1: Laugh A Minute.
No comments:
Post a Comment