Bar the Bull
At the Start
This is shaping up to be an absolute belter of a race.
The top three horses in the Oaks at Epsom reoppose. Wonder of Wonders is a short priced favourite, with backers and layers obviously feeling that she was beaten more by Johnnie Murtagh than she was by Dancing Rain.
Dancing Rain, for her part took a massive step up at Epsom, but it was only her fourth run, so she may be value for the form. I am not sure if she will have the stamina for a truly run 12f, in spite of her win at Epsom.
Blue Bunting should have been third in the Oaks, but had no chance with the other two horses. She is a great price if you take the view that she was never ridden to have a chance of winning at Epsom. She is not a good price if you take the view that she was flattered in a weird race at Newmarket in the Guineas, and that a lot of her opponents were compromised by having to race into the teeth of a strong wind.
Misty for Me has already won two G1 races at the Curragh. Over 8f and 10f, the last time when she slammed Midday by 6L. The main reason one would want to oppose her is on stamina grounds. She weakened rapidly at Epsom. But she didn't look to be stopping in the Pretty Polly. I think it is 50/50 she is the best horse in the race and 50/50 she stays, so I make her 3/1 rather than the current 9/2.
Banimpire runs for the 7th time this season, and she has improved to show a level of form that may see her placed for Bolger. It was a weak Ribblesdale, though. So I will be eating my hat if she wins this race.
Laughing Lashes runs for Jessie. She was one of many horses on Guineas weekend at Newmarket who ran no sort of race, but she showed a good level of form behind Misty for Me in the Irish Guineas. She must be a doubtful stayer, though, being a Mr. Greeley filly from a miling family. Even if she was a lock to stay, her form this year would entitle her to be around her current price.
An Irish classic wouldn't be an Irish classic without John Oxx having a lightly-raced contender who is ludicrously short in the betting. Kirinda is the horse in this race, and it is hard to see how she can be 14s in a race of this calibre.
Those that fancy giving horses third chances, may side with Havant. She had good juvenile form, but she has disappointed in both fillies' classics over in England. There are excuses for both runs, but you'd want to be a very open-minded punter to go for them. I am very open-minded.
Those that fancy backing no-hopes may back Zain Al Boldan.
WoW 5/4
MfM 9/2
BB 5/1
Banimpire 9/1
Kirinda 14/1
LL 14/1
Havant 16/1
Zain al Boldan 33/1
On my lunchbreak I put on a few bob on Misty for Me. I will be backing Havant if I can get confirmation that she is running, as I think Stoute may feel he has a good one here.
The top three horses in the Oaks at Epsom reoppose. Wonder of Wonders is a short priced favourite, with backers and layers obviously feeling that she was beaten more by Johnnie Murtagh than she was by Dancing Rain.
Dancing Rain, for her part took a massive step up at Epsom, but it was only her fourth run, so she may be value for the form. I am not sure if she will have the stamina for a truly run 12f, in spite of her win at Epsom.
Blue Bunting should have been third in the Oaks, but had no chance with the other two horses. She is a great price if you take the view that she was never ridden to have a chance of winning at Epsom. She is not a good price if you take the view that she was flattered in a weird race at Newmarket in the Guineas, and that a lot of her opponents were compromised by having to race into the teeth of a strong wind.
Misty for Me has already won two G1 races at the Curragh. Over 8f and 10f, the last time when she slammed Midday by 6L. The main reason one would want to oppose her is on stamina grounds. She weakened rapidly at Epsom. But she didn't look to be stopping in the Pretty Polly. I think it is 50/50 she is the best horse in the race and 50/50 she stays, so I make her 3/1 rather than the current 9/2.
Banimpire runs for the 7th time this season, and she has improved to show a level of form that may see her placed for Bolger. It was a weak Ribblesdale, though. So I will be eating my hat if she wins this race.
Laughing Lashes runs for Jessie. She was one of many horses on Guineas weekend at Newmarket who ran no sort of race, but she showed a good level of form behind Misty for Me in the Irish Guineas. She must be a doubtful stayer, though, being a Mr. Greeley filly from a miling family. Even if she was a lock to stay, her form this year would entitle her to be around her current price.
An Irish classic wouldn't be an Irish classic without John Oxx having a lightly-raced contender who is ludicrously short in the betting. Kirinda is the horse in this race, and it is hard to see how she can be 14s in a race of this calibre.
Those that fancy giving horses third chances, may side with Havant. She had good juvenile form, but she has disappointed in both fillies' classics over in England. There are excuses for both runs, but you'd want to be a very open-minded punter to go for them. I am very open-minded.
Those that fancy backing no-hopes may back Zain Al Boldan.
WoW 5/4
MfM 9/2
BB 5/1
Banimpire 9/1
Kirinda 14/1
LL 14/1
Havant 16/1
Zain al Boldan 33/1
On my lunchbreak I put on a few bob on Misty for Me. I will be backing Havant if I can get confirmation that she is running, as I think Stoute may feel he has a good one here.
