By Charlie McCann
Saturday’s Irish Derby proved a stroll in the park for Epsom winner Australia, the Ballydoyle colt that was bred for classic success completed the double with the minimal of fuss and heads the betting as the 3/1 favourite with BetVictor for the Prix De L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.
June has produced a month of excellent flat racing with Kingman, The Fugue and Olympic Glory all three star performers at Royal Ascot and despite Alutiq (4.00) disappointing at the Royal meeting in the Sandringham Handicap, she can return to winning ways over at Pontefract.
The filly takes a massive drop in class after spending last season in much stronger company, running excellent races in defeat and returned to winning ways in a conditions race at Kempton before spending the New Year tumbling down the handicap.
She should be suited to the drop back town to six furlongs and from a career low mark of 89 and she looks primed for a big run with Jamie Spencer back in the plate.
Elsewhere on the card the mile and a half handicap for 3-y-o’s looks a fascinating race on paper with a host of unexposed animals and plenty potentially ahead of the handicapper however the stand out runner looks to be Inevitable (4.30) for team of Mark Johnston and Franny Norton.
After two excellent winners at Royal Ascot in the form of Sandringham Handicap winner Muteela and Queen’s Vase winner Hartnell the Middleham based handler has trained a further nine wins over the last four days; it’s fair to say his string are in good nick.
Fresh off a break and stepped up in tripped he has to be player from a mark of 68 with the handicapper relenting due to poor efforts over a mile last term however the gelding has a pedigree that screams stamina and with a run under his belt and the stable in better form, a big run is fancied
Searchlight is an interesting runner for Kevin Ryan in the six furlongs race that follows it however Boy In the Bar (5.00) was impressive when shedding the maiden tag over course and distance last month and is given the nod for the David Barron yard.
He justified favouritism when hacking up here and was well backed to follow up on his handicap beau at Ripon before ultimately being found out on heavy ground. The Barron stable are another in excellent form and with the drying ground likely to suit, he is fancied ahead of the pair of Naggers and Jaeger Train in what could prove a tactical affair.
The feature conditions stakes pits together some smart juveniles with Mark Johnston’s Pallister respected after an impressive defeat of Winstanley at York however preference lay with Henry Candy‘s Son of Africa (3.00). The Equiano colt was an unfancied 25/1 on debut three weeks ago at Windsor but won and won well, indicating that he could have a very bright future.
Monday means racing at Windsor and the all-conquering Hannon team are once again in full force as Bon Voyage (8.30) seeks to shed the maiden tag at the belated seventh attempt. The colt has two standout efforts in Newmarket’s big sales races last term and although disappointing this season he has had his excuses and with cheek-pieces on for the first time he can make amends.
Paul Hanagan is Ffos Las bound with two rides for boss Sheikh Hamdan and whilst Kibaar (8.45) may be on the skinny side in the five furlongs maiden, Roger Varian’s Kafeel (8.15) can prove much better value in the mile handicap.
The gelding was a fast-finishing second on Derby day at Epsom when a well punted favourite and despite a 2lb rise for that run, he looks to be going the right way and can make amends at the expense of Harry Dunlop’s last time out winner Space Walker.
For all the latest odds and more head to BetVictor.com
