The All-Weather Championships Finals Day will take place at
Lingfield on Good Friday, the 3rd of April. Qualifiers will race for
the £1.1m prize money over 7 disciplines. Dundalk host two fast track
qualifiers this Friday for the Mile and the Middle Distance finals. Win and
you’re guaranteed a spot at the table Good Friday, lose and it gets a little
more trying as you have to run in 2 more qualifying races to make the cut. One
horse who will have no such problem is Captain Joy; he has already booked
his ticket.
The 6yo of Tracey Collins is on a four timer. He is a
synthetic specialist and due to his win at Lingfield in a Conditions race back
in January he is already headed for the Final, crucially having gotten
experience at the track. The Dark Angel gelding is 7 wins from 13 runs on all
weather, 2 of those disappointing on the Tapeta in Meydan which makes his
record all the better. There are higher rated rivals in the mile contest Friday
but few are as straight forward and in such form as the Herb Stanley owned
grey. 116 rated Gordon Lord Byron is entered but looks likely to go to the Far
East instead which is a shame. 2000 Guineas second Glory Awaits is also entered
from the Yorkshire stable of Kevin Ryan. Last seen when winning a Group 2 in
Turkey, he won a 7f listed race in Chester back in July and is 108 rated. He
looks a tricky customer but retains plenty of ability. The worry would be lack
of a recent run and his one try on all weather in Meydan was a disaster.
The mile race received 16 entries and if the majority were
to turn up it would be a cracking heat. Ex-Richard Hannon trained Producer is
now with Dermot Weld. He is rated 110 and is a group 2 and 3 winner but much of
his best work looks at 7f. Weld also has a new recruit in Vedelago, he won a
Group 1 in Italy and is rated 104. His old jockey Esposito has been quoted as
saying ‘needs a first race to get him competitive again’.
The Halford pair of
Slipper Orchid and Castle Guest are in the line-up but have been running at
Meydan recently so I’m not confident of their participation, though Slipper
Orchid has been thriving and would run well. Paene Magnus for Jim Bolger has a
lofty rating of 106 but was in poor form when last racing here in October.
Seanie, Bold Thady Quill, Tennessee Wildcat, Rummaging and Bishan Bedi are all
high class handicappers in the 16. Two who may excel themselves are the in-form
Grey Danube if staying a mile and Togoville who will appreciate step back up to
a 8f here, though they have a bit to find on ratings. In summary a cracking race to savour; many
with questions using this as a prep, it pays to keep it simple with Captain
Joy.
The Middle Distance fast track qualifier in contrast has a
poor set of entries. Racing for the same €20,000 purse the 10f race has only
attracted 7 runners. Parish Hall for
Jim Bolger will take the world of beating if fit and well enough after 82 day
layoff. The 112 rated son of Teofilio is 1/1 at Dundalk winning the G3 Diamond
Stakes here in 2013, with Captain Joy back in 4th. With a sound
surface underneath this fella is a class act and only Dermot Weld stands in his
way. A French and Italian import could represent Weld here. Behesht is a Sea
the Stars colt who started favourite on 6 of his 7 starts for A De Royer-Dupre,
including when winning a listed race over 12f on soft at Saint Cloud in
September. His old trainer quoted after saying ground was ‘softer than he
wants’ and is a nice horse for ‘staying races at 4yo’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-yfLbB3_Mw&feature=youtu.be
He is interesting but may want further and his new stablemate Vedelago is also entered in the mile. In form handicappers like Moonmeister and Whippers Boy will be praying Parish Boy doesn’t declare as with racing off level weights, it would be a forlorn hope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-yfLbB3_Mw&feature=youtu.be
He is interesting but may want further and his new stablemate Vedelago is also entered in the mile. In form handicappers like Moonmeister and Whippers Boy will be praying Parish Boy doesn’t declare as with racing off level weights, it would be a forlorn hope.
Elsewhere on the card I fancy David Marnane to have a
double. Deemah looks well weighted and drop to 7f ideal in the 3yo
handicap. Oliveraie showed loads of promise here on debut behind Charlie
Bear and with improvement can win the mile maiden. Hilary can benefit from
a drop into the bottom grade, a big field and a pace to run at in the mile handicap. Maontri didn’t stay 10f last time
but showed some old sparkle and can be very competitive off 82. Cheltenham?
What’s that!
