We have five through to the third round of the St.Leger at Limerick. We had to withdraw Beaming Paradise from the second round after he picked up a slight hock injury on the gallop. It happened at the top of the gallop as he was stopping. Thankfully nothing serious and he should be back racing shortly.
I don’t follow the betting but have been told that we have four of the top five in the betting with Lenson Blinder the second favourite at 7-2. Everybody can see his form and it doesn’t take a genius to know that if he runs to form on Saturday he has a favourite’s chance. He isn’t ideally drawn, I three ‘three’ is his best box but he is a class dog and running well. I would expect him to go in a straight line to the bend. I was delighted with his win in the second round, not just the time, but how well he stayed on. I think he might even get 575 yards.
Nice Charmer didn’t break as well as he can on Saturday but he tends not to miss it twice in a row. For a dog who barely gets the 550, I thought he showed great battling qualities to get to the front and then just hold on. If he traps as I know he can, I would be very hopeful he can make it through to the semi finals.
Clonbrien Hero ran a stunning race to run second to Blinder. He was led up by Blinder but stayed on his case until the run in when he lost a couple of lengths. We were nursing him through a hip problem before the last round, but that has all cleared up. I am very happy with him and with his draw.
The last heat looks a tough one. We have Totos Park in one and Clonbrien Prince in three. Gurteen Heather, who beat Prince in the last round, is a very good hound but he may have to cope with Totos Park coming out and moving across him on the run to the bend. I would much prefer to have seen our dog in four. Clonbrien Prince (the ante post favourite) doesn’t have the early pace of the two inside him. I am hoping that he breaks slowly and can follow the other two around the bend. He has plenty of stamina in the middle and latter stages if he can avoid early trouble.
We won the 600 final at Shelbourne last week with Macaroon Cruz. Our other dog Drive On Tipp got involved in some crowding on the inside and once Cruz gets on the bunny, he isn’t going to get caught. He is a 28.50 type for 525 yards who I think will get 750.
This week we have Blueberry Diva in a quality bitch’s final at Cork. Looking at her form at home, I have expected a bit more of her in public than she has shown to date. But this is hardly the place to prove it. Vancouver is virtually unbeatable at Cork.
We also have Newinn Lester in the local leg of the Gain Select Stakes at Waterford. I will also be trialling Blue East and Clona Blaze.
Slippy Cian has completed his treatment after a chest injury and should be fit and able to go for the Night Of Stars at Shelbourne. The problem we now face is getting a race into him.
Racing managers don’t want to put these top dogs into races if they think they are going to start at short prices. But if they don’t give them races, how can they expect to have the top dogs available on their prestige nights?
I have a slightly different problem with Macaroon Cruz and Drive On Tipp. Ideally I would like to try them in 750s on the Night Of Stars. But they don’t have 750 yard form and might miss out against seasoned stayers. But how do you get that form if racing managers can’t find races for them?
It doesn’t help when there are dogs coming from England. Now don’t get me wrong, I love to see the dogs come over and wish more UK dogs were entered in the Irish Derby every year. I also understand that if people are coming over with runners, they would prefer to come with three or four dogs.
But it is a prestige night for Irish racing and you have to be careful that the UK runners are worth their places in races on merit. The stayers tend to be, but not always the middle distance dogs – and I fully understand that it is a difficult balancing act for the Shelbourne management to pull off.
