It really is a big weekend of horseracing on both Saturday and Sunday in Great Britain and Ireland. Carl Harris looks at the action and gives you his best bets for the weekend. You’re free horseracing tips from racing diary.
Starspangledbanner runs at Haydock
SATURDAY…..The Rip Van Winkle and Music Show at Leopardstown!
2:40 Leopardstown, Music Show, win. Mick Channon sends his star filly over to Ireland following her second last time out to the mighty Goldikova. On paper this looks a competitive race but if we take the form of face value then Music Show should be ready winner. I think 2-1 represents value here and I advise a decent bet on the Channon horse.
Matron Stakes: 2-1 Music Show, 3-1 Lillie Langtry, 9-2 Bethrah, Spacious, 10-1 Jacqueline Quest, 16-1 Gile Na Greine, 20-1 Hen Night (EW 1/4 1,2)
3:35 Haydock, StarSpangledBanner, win. There were doubts about the participation of Aidan O’Brien’s sprinter but it is reported all is well and he takes his place in the group one Sprint cup on Saturday at Haydock. With Paco Boy an absentee here I do not think there is anything to trouble SSB. Regal parade won the race last year for Dandy Nicholls and has to be respected, as do most Nicholls runners in sprints these days, on his last three outings though SSB is easily the best horse in the race. Those last three races were all a group one level and two wins and a second is simply fantastic form. At the prices StarSpangledBanner is my best bet of the day.
Betfred Sprint Cup: 11-8 Starspangledbanner, 7-4 Regal Parade, 9-1 Borderlescott, Kingsgate Native, 12-1 Lady Of The Desert, Markab, 16-1 Rainfall, 22-1 Doncaster Rover, 25-1 Genki, 28-1 Prime Defender, 40-1 Our Jonathan, 50-1 Barney McGrew, Serious Attitude, 66-1 Sir Gerry, 100-1 Iver Bridge Lad, 200-1 Fullandby (EW ¼ 1,2,3)
4:45 Haydock, Measuring Time, win. Some say the Richard Hannon two-year-olds have gone off the boil of late, all I know is he wins a lot of races and has done all year! Measuring Time is another decent juvenile from the Hannon stable who has two wins and a second to his name in his career to date. that second came last time out at Sandown in a group 3 where he went down to Native Khan who holds a clutch of fancy entries. Down in grade and up a furlong in trip I take the mount of Ryan Moore to run out an easy winner here at Haydock.
Irish Champion Stakes….
3:45 Leopardstown, Rip Van Winkle, win. What a great race this is at Leopardstown. Sea the stars warned this in 2009 on his penultimate career starts with Aidan O’Brien filling the next 3 places. O’Brien runs three of the field of six but surely this boils down to an match between Twice Over and Rip Van Winkle, a rematch of the International Stakes at York last month. Rip Van Winkle officially won by half a length but in truth he won very cosily under an masterful ride by Johnny Murtagh. Rip Van Winkle is back to his best, of that there is little doubt and I think on home soil Rip Van Winkle will win and send favourite backers home happy.
Irish Champion Stakes: 4-6 Rip Van Winkle,10-3 Twice Over, 6-1 Cape Blanco, 11-1 Sea Lord, 22-1 Famous Name, 33-1 Beethoven (EW 1/4 1,2)
There is racing on Sunday, indeed there is a meeting at my beloved York. However, Saturday is absolutely fantastic in terms of quality and I am sad to say Sunday does not even come close and as such will be treated as a day of rest, at least for me.
Good luck!
