There’s no dodging it, after a feast of Cheltenham wins, it’s been a total famine since, but the arrival of turf flat racing in Ireland today gives us a chance to refresh…
The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: Shatharaat, (1610 Naas), 1pt win, 11/1 generally available
The Irish Lincoln is good practice before the real thing at Donny next weekend. Trainer Richard Fahey sends a few over but this looks one for the home team and we like Shatharaat. He finished last season on a low note, but his second to Insignia Of Rank on soft at Limerick suggests he could go well here. A useful pull at the weights and a substantially better draw can see that form reversed.
Baladiya, (1400 Naas), 11/4: trainer Aidan O’Brien rarely has his horses tuned up this early so favourite Empire State looks worth taking on. The well bred Baladiya looked good on both her 2yo runs, is fairly drawn and comes from the Weld stable that often targets some wins at this curtain raiser.
Jewel Maker, (1435 Naas), 11/2: lots of money for eye catching import Chessman, a horse we have been following for a while, but he’d surely want it drier. Instead we will trust that Dermot Weld can get off to his usual fast start. We haven’t seen Jewel Maker since a maiden win in his only 3yo start on soft at Cork, but his only defeat was to a 113 rated Group race rival, and a mark of 87 has plenty of scope for underestimation.
Zander, (1505 Naas), 4/1: trainer Ger Lyons will want a winner here on day 1, and Zander should have a top chance having looked very good at the end of last season. A rating of 98 is certainly high, but this well bred colt could well be contesting Group races by the Summer.
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