THERE’S lots of good racing on this weekend with Grade 1s at Sandown and Punchestown on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The Tingle Creek looks a cracking renewal and Moscow Flyer won it twice for us in 2003 and 2004.They go some gallop and it is wonderful spectacle – and there really is a huge emphasis on jumping at Sandown.
We also have the John Durkan Memorial on Sunday at Punchestown, a race that we won two year ago with Sizing John.
It looks a typically competitive renewal and it will be interesting to see how Presenting Percy gets on, but you’d have thought that Min could be hard to beat.
We run some nice horses over the weekend and my thoughts on them are below.
Navan – Saturday
12.35pm
Envious Editor (Rachael Blackmore)
He hasn’t run since January, but he has plenty done and he looks great. His work has been good, and I am looking forward to running him on a track that should suit him. The soft ground will be fine for him and he was second in a good maiden hurdle last season at Limerick and hopefully he’ll run a good race.
Wingin A Prayer (Paddy Kennedy)
He’s been third in two bumpers and he’s a horse that we like. He will appreciate the soft ground and two a half miles around Navan should be fine for him. This will be his first run over hurdles, but he has schooled well and I am hoping for a good run from him.
Heliers Bay (Sean O’Keefe)
She is a lovely big filly – she looks a chaser, but she jumps well and this will be her first run over hurdles. Two and a half miles will be fine for her and she has had just the one run last season, so she should improve a good bit for the experience.
2.45pm
Jetz (Sean O’Keefe)
He has plenty of experience and I was delighted with him when he was third to Footpad on his return to action at Thurles. He has come on for that and while he struggled somewhat in handicaps last season, he looks a stronger horse now and Sean will take a valuable 5lbs off his back and that will help him. He’s in very good form, but I don’t want to see much more rain for him as he likes nice ground.
Whisperinthebreeze (Paddy Kennedy)
I was delighted with him at Punchestown and his jumping is his forte. I think Navan will suit him and despite the fact that he does stay well, he is not slow and he won a very good race for us earlier in the year at Leopardstown over two miles and five. He is a solid handicapper and I think he’ll run very well.
Punchestown – Sunday
3.20pm
Jungle Junction (Finny Maguire)
He has been second on his last two starts in bumpers and he came home very well the last day at Navan. He has come on for that and he looks capable of getting involved in a race like this. His work at home since has been good and the ground at Punchestown on Sunday should be fine for him.
