Bolger hints at Parish Boy for Guineas
I’ve just been listening to Jim Bolger’s post-race quotes from yesterday at Leopardstown, where he won a Listed two-year-old race with Parish Boy. “I view him now as a Guineas horse,” the trainer said, though he left open the question of whether it might be the English or Irish Guineas or both.
“He’ll stay a mile and a half, too. Maybe he can emulate his dad.” The dad in question is New Approach, who finished second in both Guineas before winning the Derby for Bolger six years ago.
Parish Boy was able to confirm form from August with an Aidan O’Brien beast that had had two runs in the interim. It was Parish Boy’s first start for 10 weeks, leading Bolger to suggest he might not need a Guineas prep-run in the spring, and he won despite missing the kick and racing freely. The grey colt will be worth keeping in mind for next year, though I tend to think he’s going to need at least 10 furlongs to be at his best.
Trixie Malone (2.00) is the nap as we enter the last fortnight of the flat season. She won three handicaps on the bounce in the spring, relishing some cut in the ground, and will have benefited for her first run for more than four months at Ayr a fortnight ago.
Karl Burke sends her to Leicester for a claimer today and, from a strict handicapping perspective, she would not be the standout on these terms. But she has conditions to suit and seems the likeliest to give something like her best effort in the circumstances, so 11-4 appeals.
The most interesting runner at Redcar is the well-supported New Lease Of Life (4.10), now 11-2 for the apprentice handicap that closes the card. A five-year-old, he took ages to get his first success but has now won twice from his last four starts, seeming to appreciate some give underfoot. He’s partnered by Jack Garritty, who should be on excellent terms with himself after three winners from four rides at Doncaster on Saturday.
Tipping competition – a new week
Congratulations to Fixxxer, rocketed to the top of the standings on Friday by Polar Eyes (16-1). That meant frustration for goofs for the second straight week, as he had Kleo (11-2) to finish second on +26.50, while yasmin11 (+24.25) was a most honorable third.
This week’s prize is a copy of One Jump Ahead 2014, the annual preview book by Mark Howard which has built up such a good reputation over the years. In addition to the usual detail on unexposed horses worth following, this year’s edition includes an exclusive interview with Rich Ricci, who looks like becoming a dominant owner in jump racing. If you don’t win, you can buy a copy here.
To kick things off, we’d like your selections, please, for these races: 3.10 Redcar, 3.20 Ayr, 3.50 Ayr.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
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