18.25 Newbury – Lunar Jet
Lunar Jet had a run out at Newcastle last week but his record on the all weather is very poor and I’m pretty sure that it was for no other reason than to get him spot on for his return to turf. He has only run twice at Newbury and both those runs resulted in wins, both over ten furlongs and off marks of 78 and 83 respectively.
He runs here off a mark of 87 but he did win last year at Newmarket off a mark of 91, so he is on a very competitive mark. The rain that is falling is probably in his favour, as he tends to run well when there is a cut in the ground. He makes plenty of appeal at a double figure price.
18.40 Curragh – Lope Y Fernandez
Siskin brings an unbeaten record into the Guineas but there is a question mark over his stamina now stepping up to a mile from six furlongs. I think Lope Y Fernandez is the one that can take advantage of any stamina limitations in Siskin. Lope Y Fernandez is unbeaten in two starts at the Curragh and ran well when second in the Chesham behind Pinatubo. He was again behind Pinatubo in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood before winning the Group 3 Round Tower here at the Curragh with little fuss.
I think we can forgive his poor run in the Group One Middle Park Stakes when he never really got into the race and shaped like he wanted a return to a longer trip. He is bred to improve for this step up to a mile and with Seamie Heffernan potentially having the pick of the Aidan O’Brien battalion, Lope Y Fernandez might add another classic to Aidan’s already full CV.
19.15 Curragh – Nebo
A really classy two year old when trained by Charlie Hills, Nebo was placed in four Group 2 races including the Superlative, Richmond and Mill Reef Stakes, as well as winning the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes. His three year old career was disappointing, after running poorly when favourite for the Free Hanidcap at Newmarket before finishing last in the 2000 Guineas. He switched to Tom Hogan at the end of his three year old season and his last two turf runs were much more promising.
He was giving plenty of weight the useful Black Magic Woman when second at Fairyhouse and followed that up with a close up fifth in a Listed race at the Curragh last June. He had one start on the all weather last December but goes into a handicap here off a mark of 97 with Ben Coen good value for taking off another three pounds. In a tough week for the yard with the passing of Gordon Lord Byron, it would be a great boost if Nebo could come good here and Paddy are offering a whopping six places for the each way side of the bet.
Find a full range of odds from Newbury and the Curragh over on paddypower.com
