3.30 Curragh Maarek 5/1 Quite like the look of David Peter Nagle's improving 5 year old who I think if not needing the run has a cracking chance. Maarek is twice a C+D winner and seems to relish racing at the Curragh and has been beaten less than 2.25L in 5 of his 6 runs at the track. A horse that relishes soft underfoot conditions, Maarek was last seen landing a very valuable course and distance handicap in September beating a horse I rate very, very highly in the shape of Murura by 1L. That day under his perfect ground conditions, he came late and fast to win going away and it was a very impressive effort with the front 2 drawing 4L clear of the third. Although the form of that race doesn't seem to be up to too much, I am absolutely convinced that Murura will be winning more races this year and on that basis I think his 8lb rise in the weights is definitely manageable. Two starts back Maarek ran a very, very good race only 8 days prior to his success on his last start when finishing a narrowly beaten 4th in the Ayr Silver Cup. Having raced near side, jockey Andrew Elliot believed he needed to bring Maarek into the middle of the racecourse late on and I think this manoeuvre cost him at least a length, and he may have actually won if kept to a true racing line. That said, it was still a really excellent effort and emphasised that he is still very much an improving horse. Todays race comes on the back of a 182 day absence from the track and on past form there is a possibility that he will need the run. The talented Seamie Heffernan takes over from Wayne Lordon in the saddle, who rides Tommy Stack's Great Huzzar in the same race. I don't think Lordon getting off Maarek voluntarily but rather he has commitments to the Stack yard and even if he has chosen to get off Maarek Stack has won the race the last two years so I understand why he could possibly want to. With a good draw in stall 8, I think Maarek will be winning races off this kind of mark in the near future and if fully wound up after his break I can see him going very close to winning this.
Keep an eye on Tommy Stack's runner tomorrow at the Curragh. Has done extremely well at this meeting the past 2 years and its clear he is very adept at getting his horses extremely fit for their seasonal debuts, as well as readying a newcomer. Last year he had 2 winners from 2 runners and two years ago he got up a 4 timer so I'd pay special attention to any of his horses that attract money. He has 5 runners out tomorrow 2.30 Dylanbaru 3.00 Atacx 3.30 Great Huzzar 5.00 Sikara + Parkers Mill
will be keeping an eye on these ROTO Thanks for Regal Tramp the other night, i owe you some drinks my man, thank you RIP Jockey Wilson
Two headline acts for this afternoon: TWIRL is a Galileo sister to MISTY FOR ME and is a warm 6/4 fav with Ryan Moore booked. And one of the most interesting things for the flat seaaon is we see the first horse sired by NEW APPROACH make the racetrack in the form of DAWN APPROACH in the 2.30. Hope he is a good sire.
Twirl looked a bit special last time after such a promising debut. Realky like her and think she could be an oaks filly.
Not a race I would normally look at and certainly not bet in but Revani caught my eye in the 3.55 at Wincanton this afternoon. He has been chasing home the likes of Molotof, Broadbackbob and Cotton Mill in his 3 hurdles starts and you get the feeling that Nick Williams has got this one handicapped to go to war with. A mark of 110 looks a fair one to start. He was available at 8/1 first up which was tempting me but he was very quickly shortened into 4/1 and is still no bigger than 9/2, and 7/2 in places. At those prices I will leave him alone but I thought he was definitely one to note for the future.
Sunday Lucky 31: 2.30 Curragh Dylanbaru 9/2 3.00 Curragh Possible 10/1 3.30 Curragh Croisultan 8/1 3.55 Wincanton Revani 4/1 4.00 Curragh Twirl 11/8
have sided with CROISULTAN on account of the ground in the 3.30 at the Curragh- might be able to kick clear as it is a speedy horse from the front, and that ground doesn't look as slow as I expected, meaning Maarek and Takeitothtemax may struggle to land a blow.
Sorry Toppy. Are you a Swindon fan? I always support the underdog, especially if they are in the same league as Wycombe.
I was referring to the AOB horse Ron I'm not gonna hear the end of it from RV- I'm a Baggies fan and Newcastle are tonking us 3-0 at half time!
Where's Danny 16/1 in the last at the Curragh looks very, very interesting. Extremely green on debut but got the hang of things late on to finish 3rd. Half brother to the twice listed winning sprinter Katla and step up in trip looks sure to suit. Actually finished ahead of one of the market leaders in Unanimous on both their debuts and Where's Danny ran with much more promise. Looks very overpriced.
Evening all. Toppy 3-1 WOOP!! Ben Arfa was awesome and so is our new no9. Poor second half of football. I thought that was a big run from Twirl today. She will come on for it as a few lads on here have told me since the 606 days LAY the short AOB horses start of seasonas they are never spot on 3 today around the 2/1 mark turned over
