Three bankers and a hopeful for Sunday

Any comments on today's racing. Please don't just put in selections ... please add some reason why you think a runner will win
martinkil
Posts: 3417
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:55 am

Three bankers and a hopeful for Sunday

Postby martinkil » Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:32 am

Hubris often comes before the fall, and we've all had days when the winners appear to leap off the pages only for reality to intervene in such unpleasant ways, and really we should learn from such experiences …......... but the beauty of this game is that one day we know that everything will fall into place and we'll have a nice pickup and today could be that day …. or maybe not!!

Curragh - Good, Good to Firm in places with the possibility of some light showers (approx 2-4mm), so the going should remain about the same.

Curragh – 2.25 – Soffia – 2/1
She won the “Bold Lad” on this day last year off a rating of 87 over 6f, but has shown this year that a strongly run 5f is her forte. After her “Bold Lad” win she had a couple of listed races over Navan's five and a half furlong course which has a very stiff finish and she was found out in the final furlong in both races (Oct and Mar). She was beaten a neck in her next race, another 5f listed affair this time at Naas and returned to that track in May for another 5f Listed race and was made co-fav and this time won comfortably by one and a half lengths. Up in grade to a G3 on her next start here on easy going she took it up at half way, went a couple of lengths clear and held on by the skin of her teeth. After that near miss she went off as a 6-1 when raised in grade again to a G2, again here at the Curragh, but this time on GF going. Caspian Prince did his usual impression of a scalded cat and set a suicidal pace followed in the middle of the track by El Astronaute and Soldiers Call with Soffia settled in 4th. It was all hands to the pump approaching the final furlong with Caspian still a couple of lengths to the good, with Soffia getting into top gear joining Caspian by the half furlong mark pulling away for an impressive three and a half length win. She was undoubtedly flattered by the way the race was run with the speed collapsing as it did, but with Caspian Prince and Soldiers Call drawn next to her today she has exactly the same pace profile to chase down again today.

Curragh – 3.00 – Albigna – 7/4
Daahyeh's win in the G3 Albany entitled her to be fav for the G2 she next contested, but she out pointed by Johnson's Queen Mary winner Raffle Prize. Albigna on the other hand has yet to meet defeat. Contesting a hot maiden on debut she was under pressure with 2 furlongs to go, and seemed to take an age to engage top gear and it was only as the line loomed that she could be called the winner. Made fav for a G2 here over 6f she was again under pressure from over 2f out, with the whip being applied thoughout the final furlong in what looked a bit of a lost cause until a turbo charge kicked in the final 100 yards which saw her sweep into the lead near the line. This step up to 7f will be in her favour, but don't expect her to come there on the bridle and expect Shane Foley to be earning his riding fee again today.

Curragh – 5.25 – Last Opportunity – 13/8
A mega field for a mega prize with a lot of dead wood looking for 6th placed prize money. One win from one run doesn't tell the story of the speed this fellow showed in the final furlong. Have a look here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNaxQGsmqyk - from 0.19 seconds - at the impressive way Last Opportunity flies past most of this field in the final furlong and opens up a five length gap on the second. He's had a month to get over that run so hopefully won't bounce.

Ffos Las – 5.35 – Just Once 5/1
Hugh Taylor has ensured that this is much shorter now than it was earlier. The step up in distance has helped this fellow get placed on it's last two starts. The winner of the first race went on to win next time out, and the winner of the second is a hot favourite for the 4.20 which is a class 4 race, in this Just once is back down to a class 6 race.

A £1 yankee should return at least £365 fir a n £11 outlay .......

martinkil
Posts: 3417
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:55 am

Re: Three bankers and a hopeful for Sunday

Postby martinkil » Wed Oct 09, 2019 7:25 pm

Albigna flopped in 5th at the Curragh, but was apparently found to be in season. She did though come good in last Sunday's PRIX MARCEL BOUSSAC at Longchamp.

As expected she was under pressure when turning for home, but under a strong ride came home stoutly just as I had expected her to at the Curragh.

Last Opportunity isn't down to run, so we may have to wait for next year for him to redeem himself!!


Return to “Race Discussion”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests