Sunday’s racing tips
14:32 Naas – Copacabana Sands
15:10 Ripon – Etretat
16:45 Newmarket – Waiting All Night (each-way)
17:03 Naas – Bucanero Fuerte
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
The Liffey is a very interesting runner here having come from Aiden to Joseph O’Brien and been gelded in the interim. Winner of a minor event at Listowel last June, the son of No Nay Never is sure to improve as he goes up in trip this season probably as far as a mile and a quarter plus in time. So I fancy that this starting point at seven furlongs is merely that and he could be worth passing up first time up. Dunum flattered to deceive on a number of occasions last year and won’t be getting better at the age of seven so the nod goes to the Michael O’Callaghan charge Copacabana Sands.
The daughter of Sands of Mali has yet to open her account in seven outings, but has been keeping some pretty good company and her fifth in the Priory Belle last time out was a career best and a fast run seven furlongs on good ground on a stiff track looks her optimum conditions. She has plenty of pace around her here to draw her into the contest and there is likely to be even more improvement in her locker on only her eighth career start.
15:10 Ripon – Etretat
Cosmic Raj and veteran Poet’s Dawn are both worth a second look at if merely because they are course and distance winners on this specialist track with the former just preferred following a last gasp win at Hamilton Park last time out. A small penalty is neither here nor there and the seven-year-old could well be the biggest danger to the ‘value’ tip Etretat.
Yet to race at the track in 31 career runs, the Charlie Johnston trained runner is down to a mark where he could do a lot of damage in a class five event if things go his way. Flexible as far as tactics are concerned, I actually think that the four-year-old is much better ridden from off the pace. That was the case two outings back when he came from some way back when coming home strongly behind Obsidian Knight.
That length defeat can be upgraded as the bay gelding came off a pretty slack pace and will be better served by what looks highly likely to be an end to end gallop. Furthermore this long home stretch should give him plenty of time to get organised.
This looks a cracking 0-80, class four handicap with several of these on attractive marks up against the revitalised top weight Lord Rapscallion. The Stuart Williams’ trained runner has turned over a new leaf on the all-weather with a hat-trick of sand victories taking his mark from 67 to 81, just for the record he was rated 83 two years ago. Still, the old man is probably worth opposing on his return to turf and several of these have solid each-way claims.
Yaaser was a smooth winner at Ayr last time out and off a 6lbs higher mark his chance is there for all to see. Lunario has fallen from 78 to 68 and I always got the feeling that a fast run one mile was a wee bit too far from him so a fast run seven looks perfect.
I may well have a saver on the Dace runner, but I marginally prefer the Richard Spencer-trained entry Waiting All Night. Two from 24 on turf and placed on a further six occasions, you could make a viable argument either way that seven furlongs or a mile suits best so a test over the shorter trip could well be the best option.
I suspect in hindsight that George Wood made too much use of him in a better race than this over the mile trip here, backing out from about 300 yards out. Dropped 4lbs for his two defeats this season, he won a fair race on the July Course in August and this is most definitely an easier assignment and he merits each-way support in a very competitive event for this level.
Some old friends, or foes, depending on your financial liaisons with them, take part in this Listed race over the minimum trip headed by the evergreen veteran Big Gossey who has been kept busy this year with six runs under his belt with arguably his best run over seven furlongs on yielding ground so a rapidly run race here would definitely play to his strengths.
Magnum Force is one of a trio of three-year-olds up against four older horses and finished off last season with a cracking win in the Breeders Cup Turf Juvenile Sprint. This is obviously a good starting point for him on his second season debut and he will also make the market as well.
Gutsy Girl is rated a long way below all of these on official ratings, but could be suited by the run of the race and I fancy she will outrun her double figure odds, but this could be the turn of Bucanero Fuerte, who has a tremendous record when fresh.
His last three outings were in the highest company last year when his best run was when a close up seventh of 18 in the Group One Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes when he was in the firing line through the majority of that contest. It is worth noting that this will be only his third start over the minimum trip which I feel will be his calling card this season.
Sunday’s racing tips
14:32 Naas – Copacabana Sands
15:10 Ripon – Etretat
16:45 Newmarket – Waiting All Night (each-way)
17:03 Naas – Bucanero Fuerte
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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