Only one place that we can start once more this week and that is with the exceptional stayer, Tuono Charlie. His winning run of 16 straight races has lit up tracks across the country all spring and summer. It is remarkable that he simply has not put a foot wrong in that time. Once more on Saturday, he was out and gone in the final of the Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire.
Second favourite for the Boylesports Irish Derby at present is Bockos Diamond. The litter brother to March On Freddie has won eight of his nine career starts for Graham Holland. A 28.01 in his first race at Shelbourne was spectacular given it was his first start without the striped jacket on his back.
Speaking of the Irish Derby, last year’s victor The Other Kobe was a smart winner of his Bar One Laurels second round heat. He has been in fine fettle and while a veteran winning the Derby against the young legs of Callaway Knegare and Bockos Diamond might look tough, he should put up a solid defence.
It took until Waterford this week to find one of Droopys Sydney’s offspring for the list which is an unusually long time. It was only career start number five for Ashwood Mono but the step up in trip to six bends suited her to perfection. A litter sister to Tom Heilbron’s Toddys Thunder from a repeat mating that produced Coolavanny Aunty the first time, that shouldn’t have been a surprise.
It is now three in a row for Julies Gem after her win in the final of the KGOBA Derby. She has now won her last four starts over the 525y at Kilkenny from traps two, three, four and six. She is 0/8 away from St James Park though.
