Plenty racing today, perhaps too much, making it hard to know where to focus. The Racing League at Doncaster does not appeal to me. Like the Shergar Cup, I don't like the format of teams and all Handicap races. Today's affair starts at 5F and works up to the finale over 12F but I can't get interested in it at all.
The best horse on show today is Tarnawa, who contests the Group 3 Ballyroan at Leopardstown. Dermot Weld has warned that she is not as far forward as he would like for this time of year but she has 19 lbs in hand on official ratings and lines up at odds of 4/9 today. Not a betting race for me but interesting to see how she goes today. Joseph O'Brien's Queens Vase 4th Benaud is well supported and may be the forecast horse getting 7 lbs from the mare.
Over in France One Ruler tries to kick start a frustrating season. Second to Mac Swiney in last season's Futurity at Doncaster, the colt has been up and down in trip is a very confused looking campaign of 8F, 12F, 10F and 8F. He stays at a mile today in what must be a shocking piece of continuity for the son of Dubawi. He bumped into a cracking looking prospect in Baeed last time when finishing third and the Haggas colt went on to slaughter his field in a Group 3 next time, earning a rating of 121. One Ruler faces nothing of that calibre today and he should have a good chance of getting off the mark today. His nearest rival on ratings is Go Athletico but, like One Ruler, he has not got his head in front this season. Go Athletico has not matched his best run on RPRs this season and has looked a 7F horse up to now. I feel One Ruler will be hard to beat and 6/4 is probably a fair price.
Over at Leopardstown there has been money for Ger Lyons' Nero Tulip. I have been burnt going against money for the stable's runners before and decided to be with it this time. There are a few contenders but there are doubts about all of them, with Chicago Soldier arguably the best so far with a 4th in the Tyros behind Point Lonsdale. That followed a debut 4th in a race where half a length covered the first five home. Aidan's Changingoftheguard should improve for a debut 4th but the stable has been quieter than normal recently with just four winners from 37 runners. I took a chance on Nero Tulip at 11/2, with some firms going shorter. I have doubled him with One Ruler.
5.25 Deauville One Ruler 6/4
4.45 Leopardstown Nero Tulip 11/2
Win double