Sunday Irish Racing Tips and Preview by Dave Stevos
Sunday Irish Racing Tips: The Curragh and Limerick
It was a pretty torrid afternoon for us on Saturday, up until the Cesarewitch. Most of my selections finished nearer last than first and in the case of Nicholas T, he actually was last. Blackrod was very disappointing and it looked like he didn’t handle the ground. The same could be said for Babindi. William Bligh ran reasonably well but was out of his depth. Poetic Flare shaped okay too and he will be one to watch next season. At least Takarengo ran a big race for us at 50s. 2f out I thought he would win, however, he was gobbled up by Great White Shark late on. We have a couple of big races in Ireland on Sunday, including the Cesarewitch and Munster National. Check out Dave Stevos’ Sunday Irish racing tips below…
Curragh Sunday: 3.10pm – International Stakes (Group 3)
There are a couple of 2yo stakes races earlier in the card but I am swerving them. My record in juvenile races this season is awful so I won’t be getting involved. I do think there is one in this that could go well at a decent price though. Helvic Dream ran well over C&D on ground plenty quick enough for him in a Premier Handicap last time. That was on good, but he previously was beat a head on heavy in a Listed heat at Listowel (8f) so the return to softer ground ought to suit the son of Power.
At Listowel he was just behind So Wonderful and Up Helly Aa. So Wonderful was beat just under 6L by Champers Elysees in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown next time, while Up Helly Aa was a solid 3rd in a G3. Colin Keane was on board last time out and he keeps the faith. Noel Meade’s horses are flying and with trip, ground and track all to suit, Helvic Dream is worth backing each way at odds of 14/1.
Sunday Irish Racing Tips: Helvic Dream e/w @ 14/1 NB
Sunday Irish Racing Tips Curragh: 3.40pm – Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap)
Takarengo gave us something to shout about in the English Cesarewitch on Saturday and I am hoping that we can get another good run for our money at massive odds in the Irish edition. The one I like at a huge price off a mark of 87 is Questionare for Luke Comer and Billy Lee. This son of Galileo bombed out last time at Leopardstown, finishing 18th of 18. However, that came on good ground and his best recent form by far has been on soft/heavy.
The runs that make him of interest in this are his fine efforts at Killarney and Galway in August. He was held up at Galway in the second race won by Princess Zoe. He made up a fair amount of ground in the last couple of furlongs and he ended up 5th, just a length off Lynwood Gold in 3rd. That came over 12f and he ran even better upped to 14f at Killarney. He was doing all his best work at the finish again and I think this 16f trip is really going to suit.
King’s Vow was 2L ahead of him at Killarney, giving Questionare 2lb. However today, the Comer horse is 2lb better off. Now, it must be said that King’s Vow was finishing stronger but I got the impression that Shane Crosse wasn’t too vigorous on his mount once he saw the win was out of reach. King’s Vow is around 14/1 today while Questionare can be backed at 66s! I know which price I prefer and Questionare is the e/w NAP of the day.
Sunday Irish Racing Tips: Questionare e/w @ 66/1 NAP (6 Places)
Limerick Sunday: 4.00pm – Munster National Handicap (Grade A)
It is nice to be back looking at National Hunt races again and this one is a decent contest. 16 will go to post for this year’s Munster National and off a mark of 128 with talented claimer Conor Orr claiming another 5lb, Blast Of Koeman could go well. Trained by Robert Tyner, this talented but quirky horse should have more wins in the bag than the 2 he has achieved during his career (he actually won 3 but was subsequently disqualified for 1 of those). He has a habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, a fine example being his neck second at Punchestown when a final fence blunder cost him.
His two runs so far this season have not gone to plan. He was pulled up early at Galway after a mistake and he only finished 8th at Punchestown. However, those both came over timber and they were likely tune up runs for the return to chasing. Given that he is a course winner, this race has probably been the plan for some time. This fella is far from a certainty and his jumping is often sketchy. However, 25/1 is too big about a horse with his undeniable ability and he is the e/w selection in an open looking race.
