Fran Berry has two bets at Down Royal today including a John Oxx-trained sprinter who has been on his radar for a little while.
The feature race at Down Royal is the BoyleSports Ulster Derby at 3.45 – it’s always a cracking race and this year’s renewal is no different.
It’s a watching brief for me though with a host of improving three-year-olds in there like last-time-out winners Red Kelly and Aesop.
So my first bet is at 1.30 and SEBS STAR in the Metcollect Handicap. I’ve been waiting quite a while for John Oxx to drop him back to the minimum trip and he gets a go at it here.
He’s a lightly-raced three-year-old and he really took my eye when beaten at Dundalk last season over six. He streaked clear and was three lengths ahead going to the furlong pole only to fold inside the distance.
If he’s going to win races it’s at this trip, the sharp track will play to his strengths and while Jamie Powell has only had a limited number of rides, I’ve liked what I’ve seen of him so far. His 10lb claim is another plus and Sebs Star looks an each-way bet.
I’m taking on favourite Toora Loora in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden. She’s been second on her last three starts and while she hasn’t done anything wrong, looks opposable.
At Killarney she showed a tendency to hang left under pressure inside the last two-and-a-half furlongs. Down Royal is a right-handed, dog-leg, track and if you get on the wrong leg at that part of the track it will markedly count against you.
I think SHE’S OUR QUEEN rates the value for the in-form Johnny Murtagh.
She really caught the eye on debt over a mile at Leopardstown, staying on really nicely into fifth. I thought you could upgrade her run at the Curragh next time too when she was third from a high draw, doing well to overcome that only to be run out it close home.
She’s by Toronado but three of her four four siblings have won at or around a mile-and-a-half. The step up to ten furlongs coupled with stable form makes her of interest.
Preview posted 1040 BST on 24/07/20
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