Wednesday 5th April 2023
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Welcome aboard to this Wednesday blog where we return to Leopardstown for what is a solid midweek card of action. Kicking things off will be the 1:55 which is a Fillies Maiden over a mile and two furlongs and I’ve got a strong fancy here in Azazat at 6/4 who’s my NAP of the day for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes. She made a very nice impression on her first outing of her career at the Curragh at the back end of last season, finishing second of fourteen and just half of a length behind the winner. That also came on heavy going so today’s ground won’t be a problem, I think she’s got a huge chance.
The 2:30 is the second race on the card which is another maiden contest, this time contested over a mile and two furlongs. I think that this can go to Harsh at 9/4 for the combination of Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh, and a somewhat rare runner on the level for Gigginstown House Stud. He arrives here having progressed with each run to date, with his most recent outing coming when finishing half of a length second at the Curragh back in October. If continuing his progression from that last run he’s a big player in a race where he’s got a clear experience edge.
Moving onto the 3:05 which is handicap action in the form of the SHEIN Cup over a mile and two furlongs. This is extremely competitive, with a sizeable field currently set to go to post. I’m taking a chance on Smooth Tom here at 8/1 for Andrew Slattery who I think comes into the race with a great chance, and he’s a decent price. He’s already posted some solid efforts within handicap company, as well as winning his maiden at the Curragh in August. The majority of his form also comes on soft ground, and I think he’s a great each-way bet.
It’s the 3:40 now which is the Heritage Stakes, a listed contest that’s ridden over a distance of a mile. Homeless Songs sets the standard here at the top of the betting and if she’s anywhere near her best, she’ll be tough to beat. That being said, I’ve tried to take her on, and I’ve done that with Buckaroo at 3/1 who sports the Qatar racing silks and represents Joseph O’Brien with Oisin Murphy coming over for the ride. He hasn’t been seen since not being totally disgraced in the Irish 2000 Guineas behind Native Trail, and prior to that, he was progressing nicely having bolted up in listed company by four lengths on his penultimate outing. He’s proved that he can go well fresh and I think that there could be a lot more to come from him.
The 4:15 is where my penultimate selection of the day comes from, and this is more maiden action this time over a mile. I think that this particular affair can go to Fleetfoot at 9/4 for the team of Jim Bolger and Rory Cleary. He comes into the contest having had three runs to date and in those three outings, he’s failed to finish out of the top three, showing a solid level of form without yet managing to put his head in front. This gives him a clear experience edge over most of his rivals here, and you could argue that he could be vulnerable to a potentially smart one, but this doesn’t look like a strong race at all.
My final punt of the afternoon comes in the 4:50 which is a handicap set to be ridden over seven furlongs. This is another extremely competitive-looking contest, with not much separating the field in the betting at all. I’ve however decided to side with Cavallo Pazzo at 7/2 for Eoin Doyle and Dylan Browne McMonagle. He was last seen when winning a maiden at Naas in smart style back in November, which came on heavy going which is another added bonus giving the surface that he’s likely to encounter here. He’s a handicap debut but he could well be on a lenient mark and have a lot more to offer.
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