Quality action from the Curragh this afternoon and our man in Ireland, Fran Berry, has a trio of selections on the card.
Recommended bets, Sunday August 9
1pt win Speak In Colours in 3.40 Curragh at 4/1
1pt e.w. Boundless Power in 4.15 Curragh at 6/1
1pt e.w. Zofar Zogood in 5.25 Curragh at 8/1
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It's a Group One day at the Curragh and a really good card as you'd expect.
The feature Phoenix Stakes for two-year-olds is a fascinating little race but I've been round and round and not come up with a bet so I'll be leaving it out of the staking plan for the day.
Steel Bull impressed me at Goodwood but I'm not sure if it was the superb ride he received that made it look even more impressive. He's came through the breeze-ups, has obviously been to England and has now been sold so there's a lot going on in a short space of time and it'll be interesting to see if he's up to it.
He and The Lir Jet both have to prove themselves over the stiff six furlongs here and I'm not totally convinced the latter will improve for it. He just got outstayed to me eye by Ventura Tormenta in France last time so, again, he's possibly another to watch on this occasion.
Lucky Vega was said to possibly be in need of the run when beaten by Laws Of Indices having had a short break after the debut win and I can see the form being reversed.
The one I do keep coming back to is Admiral Nelson as I'm just not sure we've seen the best of him at Ascot and Goodwood. He just couldn't get into the race last time and was looked after when it was clear he wasn't going to win.
There will be better days ahead for him but maybe that'll come over seven furlongs. I couldn't quite convince myself he was a good bet so won't try and convince anyone else.
There is a bet to be had in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes, however, where I think SPEAK IN COLOURS can enhance his brilliant course record.
I wouldn't rule Gulliver out at all back at the Curragh but Speak In Colours has run six times here and never been out of the first two - he's won a Group Two, two Group Threes and a Listed race on the track and, with loads of pace in today's race, he's got the perfect set-up to defy his weight penalty today.
There are a lot of horses who have had plenty of chances over various trips in the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and it's no surprise newcomer Adjust is quite high in the betting.
However, the one with experience I like the most is BOUNDLESS POWER, who drops to five furlongs and will be suited by it. He ran well on debut when third at Dundalk in a nice race and backed that up with another third in January.
Returning to action on July 26 at the Curragh, he was a bit fresh and then ran green in front before being beaten into second and later disqualified for the jockey weighing in light. It was a first run on grass and one I thought he'd improve a lot for as he was running on again after the line.
He's got lots of pace and makes lots of each-way appeal from what looks a perfect draw in stall 10.
Talking of horses who have had a number of chances, So Wonderful helps make the market in the Hashtag Fortheloveofkildare Fillies Maiden and she may well win.
But Aidan O'Brien's long-standing maiden has to be taken on at the prices and although Lady Anner could be an improve for Jessica Harrington, the one I'll be opposing her with is ZOFAR ZOGOOD.
She was tried in Listed company behind Fancy Blue last year and she ran well over 10 furlongs on seasonal debut when trapped wide. She didn't seem to get the mile and a half at Fairyhouse after that and then really caught the eye with how she ran back at the mile at Leopardstown last month.
That was a really solid run in handicap company off a rating of 80 and she basically got no run throughout. It looks good, solid form with the third Abeona running well in a handicap yesterday and she looks a good bet with Shane Crosse back in the saddle today.
Posted at 1022 BST on 09/08/20
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