11.30am Palmer has lots of love for Covert in Irish Oaks
Tony Paley: Newmarket trainer Hugo Palmer expects Covert Love to handle the step up in distance when she runs in the Irish Oaks at The Curragh on Saturday.
Covert Love, who will be ridden by Pat Smullen, has yet to compete beyond an extended mile and a quarter, but Palmer does not see the increased distance being an issue at The Curragh.
The handler told the Daily Mail: “She is trying a new distance of a mile and a half, but in three races at a mile and a quarter this season she has not looked like she has been stopping.
“She has been ridden by three different jockeys, all of whom have got off and said ‘step her up in trip as soon as you can’. The lovely thing about racing is that with patience horses develop, change and surprise you.
“I have always liked her. Even when she was a weak two-year-old, she had a real air of class about her. We have had to spend all the money she has won this year [to supplement her] but it has rather crept up on us. She is not exuberant at home and saves her best for the track. On ratings, she only has a couple of lengths to find.”
Meanwhile, Royal Ascot winner Curvy headed a field of 10 when declarations were made on Thursday morning.
Coolmore have four other strong contenders, all trained by Aidan O’Brien, including Investec Oaks surprise winner Qualify.
Together Forever, Kissed By Angels and the unbeaten Words all represent Ballydoyle.
Jessica Harrington’s Jack Naylor, sixth in the Oaks at Epsom, has also been declared alongside Jim Bolger’s Stellar Glow.
Bolger’s Irish Guineas winner Pleascach is, however, an absentee. There is a powerful contingent from the United Kingdom, with James Fanshawe’s Speedy Boarding and the aforementioned Covert Love stepping up in class. The John Gosden-trained Gretchen, fifth in the Ribblesdale on her just her second run, completes the field.
Thursday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
A “Best Hawaiian Shirt” competition and music from Fake Tan are among the attractions at Epsom later on, when the home of the Derby stages a “Beach Party” meeting with the aim of “bringing the beach to you”.
It may help to distract attention a little from the actual racing, which is distinctly disappointing given that Epsom is, as they also like to point out, “one of Britain’s most iconic sporting venues”. Just one of the six races has the eight runners required for three places each-way, with field sizes of 6, 7, 5, 5, 8 and 4 and several hours still go to for non-runners to emerge.
Swiss Cross (8.20) may be the best bet on the card in the seven-furlong handicap. He has been racing at sprint trips on his last eight starts, but has winning form at this distance and, more importantly, two wins at Epsom as well as a string of fine efforts in defeat. His strong third here last time out was his best run for some time and he can race off the same mark of 78 here having recorded his last victory - at Epsom last July - off 86.
Marmot (7.50) drops back to 10 furlongs after looking slightly stretched over 12 last time and that could be enough to see him return to winning form, while Dylan’s Storm (4.40) is going the other way in trip and could improve for a step up to a mile at Chepstow. King Torus (7.35) and Human Nature (8.10) should both go well at Doncaster later.
Tipping competition - day four
Our winners so far:
Monday
Handsome Dude 11-4
Zacynthus 7-2
Edge Of Heaven 8-11
Tuesday
Minty Jones 11-1
Rathaath 6-1
George Bailey 5-1
Wednesday
Baileys Pursuit 5-2
Minnie Milan 11-4
Signore Piccolo 8-1
And our leader is ...
William36 +9.23
... who found Baileys Pursuit yesterday. Copshaw (+6.75) still lies second after another profitable day.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.00 Chepstow, 3.00 Chepstow and 3.35 Chepstow.
This week’s prize, very generously offered by Salisbury racecourse, is a pair of top-enclosure tickets to their two-day Splendour meeting in mid-August, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th. The Thursday features Salisbury’s best race of the year, the Group Three Sovereign Stakes, won last year by Captain Cat. It’s two excellent days’ racing in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with free childrens’ entertainment laid on for those of you needing to keep little ones occupied. If you don’t win, you can buy tickets here.
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. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -9.
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!
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
