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| Next Years July Cup Runners on the Gallops |
At least the jumps jockeys must be happy with the rain - it makes hitting the turf a little less painful.
Yesterday was however brightened up by both Fork Handles and Handles For Forks running - but sadly not in the same race which would have been such fun for the racecaller (well, more fun for those watching!). This gives me a great reason to put this up on a Sunday morning.....Tinzapeas (another Channon horse) along with the late (and could have been) great Gottany O's get a mention in this sketch as well. Channon has another Fork out today - Spanish Fork over hurdles in the 16:20 Stratford.
On the other side of the Channel, Imperial Monarch won the Grand Prix de Paris with a fine front running ride under JoB. Despite trying as hard as possible for half and hour, les stewards could find no plausible reason to take the race away from Ireland and give it to the (French) runner up........
Belgrave Stakes - Fairyhouse 15:05
The big race of today will be the Belgrave at Fairyhouse at 15:05. The going is ....heavy! There is a hefty low draw bias over 6f at Fairyhouse and if this still holds true on today's going then Gordon Lord Byron is surely the best of the three with the low draw. He has form on heavy and Fran Berry booked, who has ridden for two of his four wins. He is beginning to look a tad exposed though. The others two with a low draw are Lady Pastrana who is out of her depth and Santo Padre 3rd who doesn't do heavy so they can be dismissed.
Away from the low draw, Slade Power 1st isn't likely to be keen on heavy ground whereas Arctic 2nd is proven on it and very closely matched with Gordon Lord Byron who has the draw advantage today. The other very interesting contender is the O'Brien runner After who has never won on heavy but then again, both of those instances were at 7f which appeared to be a furlong too far. She is quickly turned out again after a fairly hard race on Wednesday at Naas (7f heavy) so that would concern me and she's not the brightest star in the Ballydoyle firmament but then this isn't the best race in the Irish racing calendar!
Gordon Lord Byron is likely to race handily just off the pace and this ought to be the best tactics in these conditions. After is usually waited with and will get a tow into the race from Arctic and Simla Sunset who are drawn next to her. JoB does do 'pouncing' quite nicely but in these conditions, the filly would need to sprout wings in the last half furlong.
Difficult race to read but I'll go with Gordon Lord Byron and After to follow him home (reverse forecast ..just in case!)
* Going has been revised to soft, heavy in places since writing and Seamie Heffernan took over from JoB on After
