The best week in the racing calendar is here again and for all it’s a cracking day’s racing, these probably won’t be my strongest bets of the week. The 4-fold of Kopek Des Bordes , Majborough , Lossiemouth and Constitution Hill will be very popular with punters (pays 7/1+). But as usual most of my selections will be in the big handicaps on the card. Best of luck with your bets for day one. 13:20 - Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1/2f I was lucky enough to be at the Dublin Racing Festival last month to see Kopek Des Bordes absolutely demolish his opposition. I’m sitting on an ante-post position on him so it’s unlikely I’ll go in again (although the evens as I type is getting tempting). The worry for him would be if he handles the occasion, he was in and out of the parade ring very quickly at Leopardstown (presumably in an attempt to keep a lid on him) but he still won despite racing freely. Workahead ’s win at at Leopardstown over Christmas was franked when the seven leng...
17:20 Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase A lot of my week revolves around the running of MIDNIGHT OUR FRED in the Kim Muir. I’ve had him in mind for this for a while and was delighted to see the UK handicapper only nudge him up 1lb. He bolted up at Gowran Park in October then followed that up with a huge run at Leopardstown over Christmas when 2nd to Perceval Legallois (one I like for the Grand national). That Leopardstown run is worthy of an upgrade as he disputed the lead throughout with Three Card Brag and while that rival folded to be beaten over lengths in 7th, Fred kept on well to finish an excellent 2nd. Three Card Brag went on to win next time at Navan, while another prominent racer from Leopardstown, Nick Rockett (4th) won the Thyestes on his next start and followed up at Fairyhouse in a Grade 3 next time out. There’s also the fact he has form round Cheltenham, running an excellent 2nd of 19 in October 2023 and then running 2nd again over 3m4f h...
13:30 Lingfield One I like here is SIEMPRE ARTURO for the Kubler team, whose form has a solid look to it. He ran well trying to give 29lb to a horse called Alrazeen on his penultimate start and was only beaten a length, that rival has since run creditably off a mark of 78. So it was no surprise to see Siempre Arturo sent off a 2/1 favourite off a mark of 70 last time out, he justified those short odds with a cosy victory. That race has worked out well since with the 3rd and 4th both winning subsequently, so he could well prove ahead of this mark of 74. PARTY ISLAND caught the eye running on late over an inadequate trip last time out and I think he’s been aimed at this race for a while. He is a three-time course and distance winner, bolting up here in July 2022 by 5 lengths off 1lb lower than his mark today. George Bass gets on very well with this horse having been on board for 5 of his 7 career wins, which is always a positive in these apprentice races. SIEMPRE ARTURO 10/...
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