Yesterday's shock breaking news saw the Derby winner Harzand shorten dramatically for the Irish Champions Stakes after getting the nod from Dermot Weld as being Leopardstown-bound next month. The colt hasn't been sighted since completing the Derby double at the Curragh and was believed to be aimed at an Arc Trial and then indeed the Arc, 5/1 joint-favourite with BetVictor, but he will take next month's Gp 1 contest in his native Ireland and is the 5/2 (from 9s) favourite for the feature on Irish Champions Weekend.
Irish Champions Stakes prices from BetVictor
Harzand 5/2 (from 9s)
Minding 5/1
US Army Ranger 5/1
Found 5/1
Postponed 7/1
Time Test 7/1
The Gurkha 8/1
Hawkbill 8/1
12/1 Bar
The start of Salisbury's feature two-day meeting kicks-off with a wonderful six-race card this afternoon, and local trainer Henry Candy fancied to land the opener with his well-bred filly Beck and Call (2.00) under Fergus Sweeney. The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor was a massive eye-catcher last month on debut at Newbury, staying on well under hands and heels to finish third in the closing stages, and with further improvement likely can shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking.
Just four runners go to post for the 3-y-o Handicap over a mile with Charlie Hills' unbeaten colt Takataul (3.20) a confident selection to complete the hat-trick under regular partner Paul Hanagan. The son of Smart Strike made a winning debut in a Thirsk maiden and followed-up on handicap debut last time out at Yarmouth. He should continue progressing and looks to have been under-estimated by the handicapper; raised just 3lb for that last time out success.
Terrific prize money for the feature Fillies' Listed Stakes over ten furlongs, with Roger Varian's Sharja Queen likely to take all the beating in the £45,000 contest after bolting-up over course and distance last time out. That was just a handicap however and, whilst she is respected under Andrea Atzeni preference lies instead with Very Dashing (3.50) under Freddie Tylicki. The well-bred filly was an impressive winner of a warm fillies' maiden last time out at Nottingham and makes an immediate step up in grade. Her trainer Luca Cuman doesn't often tilt at windmills and she should continue her progression accordingly.
Sir Michael Stoute's Master Gunner (4.20) was unfortunate to bump into a smart one for the Cumani yard last week at Yarmouth, is set to be raised 5lb for that performance when the weights are reassessed next week, and is a confident selection to go one better under Ted Durcan. The well-bred son of War Front should relish this afternoon's forecast good-to-firm ground and should have further improvement still.
Summer jumping returns from a ten-day break with racing from Newton Abbot and Invocation (2.40) a confident selection to shed the maiden tag over timber after placing in his two previous starts. The gelding ran to a fair standard on the level and is a winner in waiting for the in-form yard of Alan King.
Charlie Longsdon's Kilfinichen Bay sets a fair standard for the Novices' Chase having been rated as high as 138 over timber, however Fingeroftheswitch (3.40) was a point-to-point winner in his native Ireland and has always looked a terrific chaser-in-the-making for the Neil Mulholland yard. The selection receives 10lb from the Longsdon animal and gets the nod to make a winning chase debut under regular partner Noel Fehily.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com and follow @BetVictorRacing on Twitter
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