Yesterday’s Review
1pt e/way Sunway (112) – This horse has only ever won one Group race and his opening comments in running were “with leader”. The next closest he has come to winning one was in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint Cloud this year when beaten a neck by Wootton Verni. His opening comments in running for that race were “led”. I can understand the horse being held up when he is drawn in stall eight in the Irish Derby. I can’t understand connections “held up” tactics when you are drawn in stall two at Doncaster. We know this horse hasn’t got the sharpest turn of foot in Group races now. His final three furlong time was 36.03secs yesterday according to TPD. The favourite Illinois’ (112) who was beaten a neck in second place by the winner Jan Brueghel (113) was 36.04secs. Connections need to ride the horse more forward if they want to have a chance of winning a Group 1.
Today’s Advice
Cowardofthecounty (7f Gp1) – Henri Matisse is a short priced favourite for today’s (4.10) Curragh National Stakes for two-year olds having completed an unbeaten run of three career victories in last month’s Group Two Futurity Stakes over today’s course and distance. It was an impressive enough performance considering he only needed to be nudged along at the finish to win by a comfortable length. The selection has also won a Group Two race last month, although less comfortably at Deauville, by one and a half lengths from the previously unbeaten Houquetot. The Joseph O’Brien trained colt recorded a career best (112) speed figure that day, and rates as the top performance on the clock by winning time analysis. On that occasion jockey Ryan Moore had to roust him along early doors, and keep him up to his work throughout the race. He does look the type that needs a vigorous ride. The obvious question with this colt is whether he can build on it considering he couldn’t reproduce his debut winning performance over Whistlejacket in two subsequent starts. Fortunately, the market has not put great value in that Francois Boutin victory which leaves Declan McDonogh’s mount a little bit overpriced this morning. He looks worth a sporting interest at the prices to see if he can build on his recent victory.
0.75pt e/way Cowardofthecounty (10/1 William Hill, 9/1 Bet365, 17/2 General) 4.10 Curragh