Flat season is a mixed bag of results
 By David
Thorpe
It proved to be a memorable flat racing season for the Irish with trainers
from the Emerald Isle winning a host of top prizes at home and abroad.
Aidan O’Brien was once again the leader of the pack winning the
English 2,000 Guineas with George Washington and the Oaks with Alexandrova.
In addition the Master of Ballydoyle won the French Guineas with Aussie
Rules and the Irish Derby with Dylan Thomas.
Clare-born Brian Meehan won some nice prizes this year with David Junior
who is now to be retired following his disappointing run in the Breeders
Cup.
Irish-born jockeys in Britain had a below par year as for the first time
in a decade neither the Champion Apprentice title nor the Champion Jockey
title were won by an Irishman. Greater opportunities for Irish jockeys
back home means fewer are making the journey across the Irish Sea at the
start of their career.
The multiple suspensions incurred by Jamie Spencer throughout the season,
coupled with the controversies which dogged Robert Winston’s year
meant Ryan Moore was a runaway winner of the jockey’s title despite
his main employer Michael Stoute enduring what was by his standards a
poor year.
The top two-year-old race for colts in Britain was won by Jim Bolger’s
superstar-in-waiting Teofilo with O’Brien’s Holy Roman Emperor
a close second. Those horses have swiftly been installed at the head of
the market for next year’s Epsom Derby and the Guineas. They both
look to be far ahead of the British juvenile Colts while another Bolger-trained
horse Finsceal Beo is favourite for the English 1,000 Guineas and while
he is not the hot-pot that Teofilo is Finsceal Beo will win some serious
races when the flat season resumes in March.
In Ireland Declan McDonagh continued a family tradition by winning his
first Irish Jockeys title with former champions Pat Smullen and Johnny
Murtagh filling the minor places. The Champion Apprentice title went to
Rory Cleary who looks as accomplished in the saddle as any of his more
experienced rivals.
Aidan O’Brien was once again Champion Trainer with Dermot Weld in
second place and Kevin Prendergast occupying third.
Horses to watch in the coming weeks include Star De Mohasion and Ornais
trained by Paul Nicholls and both looking to follow up on impressive recent
performances.
This week’s horses to watch…
Thursday 1.10pm Taunton:
TIP: Westfield Dancer
This is a race featuring quite a few horses who are in the grip of the
handicapper. Westfield Dancer looks to be the least exposed among them
so is worth taking a chance on.
Thursday 2.10pm Taunton:
TIP: Matt The Thrasher
An ultra-consistent performer in a race full of horses who are unpredictable.
While he has plenty of weight on his back he is the best bet.
Thursday 2.40pm Taunton:
TIP: Island Light
An improving horse coming into this race on a low weight. If he doesn’t
win here then is one to be avoided at all costs but he should be just
the right side of the handicapper.
Thursday 1.55pm Cheltenham:
TIP: Kicks For Free
Paul NIcholls has the best string of novice hurdlers in the country and
this fellow looks promising. Could be a very short price but is bet of
the week.
Thursday 3.05pm Cheltenham:
TIP: Baulties and Fadas
Enda Bolger is an expert at training horses for this race and Baulties
and Fada could improve his record at Cheltenham. In an unpredictable contest
such as this it’s best to go for the established names.
Thursday 4.05pm Cheltenham:
TIP: Mike De Bauechne
This looks like a good novice chase and whatever horse wins it could be
worth following in the coming months. Robert Alner’s horse gets
the vote on the strength of his first win over fences which looked better
than anything the opposition could muster. |
