Horse Racing Tips: Rory Delargy’s Saturday picks for ITV Racing

Rory reckons he's found some value in Saturday's tellybox races headlined by the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 11 months ago

Rory Delargy’s Horse Racing Tips

13:15 – Haydock – C’mon Kenny
13:30 – Goodwood – El Drama
13:50 – Haydock – Law Of The Sea
14:05 – Goodwood – Dark Thirty
14:25 – Haydock – Defence Of Fort
14:40 – York – Mondammej
15:00 – Haydock – Mill Stream (each way)
15:15 – York – Moon Daisy (each way)
15:30 – Haydock – Twilight Calls
15:40 – Curragh – Royal Scotsman

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

13:15 – Haydock – C’mon Kenny

A poor contest to kick off the day’s viewing, with the front two in the market representing yards in dubious form (David O’Meara 2-59 for the last fortnight and Mick Appleby 0-60 in the last six weeks) so a chance is taken on the lightly raced 7-y-o C’mon Kenny, who won off 1lb lower on fast ground at Sandown (1¼m) just three starts back.

C’mon Kenny raced just once last year, and was well held on his comeback at Newbury last month, but he only made his debut in April 2021, so has very few miles on the clock; this bumper winner ought to stay the extra distance here, so it can pay to ignore the form of his return in unsuitable conditions.

13:30 – Goodwood – El Drama

Francesco Clemente won by a wide margin at Newmarket last July, but hasn’t been seen since, and is opposable given his lengthy break and lack of experience in Pattern company. On the other hand, El Drama has been keeping much better company for most of his career, and his runs at Meydan in the spring were at the top level. An inveterate front runner, he may well be allowed to dictate here, and will be hard to pass given this marked drop in class.

13:50 – Haydock – Law Of The Sea

Carzola bolted up at Doncaster, but merely had to turn up to win a race that absolutely fell apart around her, and the fact that she did so on the bridle is almost meaningless in the circumstances. She’s up 10lb in the weights for that success, and may struggle to cope with Law Of The Sea, who is heading in the opposite direction.

A very useful stayer for John Gosden, Law Of The Sea failed to beat a rival in two starts at Meydan for Bhupat Seemar, and clearly failed to acclimatise. Quite why the handicapper saw fit to drop him 10lb for those meaningless efforts is a mystery, but Ian Williams won’t be complaining having inherited the gelding, and he very much caught the eye when a close fourth in the Chester Cup on his debut for present connections. Unlucky in the run there, he will find this a bit less demanding, and should be the one to beat for all quicker ground is a minor concern.

    14:05 – Goodwood – Dark Thirty

    Dark Thirty has plenty of experience, but still showed improved form when making all on quick ground at York last time, and has the early speed to overcome a wide draw here. A 3lb rise for beating Catch The Paddy is far from harsh, and although he was behind Tafreej at Newbury in April, that was on much softer ground.

    In fairness to Tafreej, he did catch the eye in that Newbury contest, where he raced in the unfavoured ground; it’s unlikely that he needs the mud given his overall profile, so he appeals as more of a danger than Yacowlef, whose standout effort came on a soft surface at the Guineas meeting.

    14:25 – Haydock – Defence Of Fort

    On softer ground, I would have been sweet on James McHenry, but firmish turf is a definite worry given his exaggerated action, and the horse who ought to thrive in the likely conditions is Defence Of Fort, who bolted up on his juvenile debut at Ascot on ground like a road. He failed to match that form in Group company on his next two starts, but definitely found heavy ground against him in the Horris Hill last time, and he’s given a chance to resume his progress back on a sound surface and after a break.

    Defence Of Fort clearly goes well fresh and although Peter Chapple-Hyam is not the force of old, he operating at a 36% strike-rate in 2023 from a smaller base, and this looks the time to chance the son of Starspangledbanner.

      14:40 – York – Mondammej

      Mondammej was back to form when a close fourth here earlier in the month, and he can reverse that form with Bedford Flyer and Korker on revised terms. My worry for him last time was that he was drawn on the wrong wing, but he looks to have the perfect pitch here, with Bedford Flyer and Fine Wine drawn immediately to his right among the low numbers. That pair are the most likely to blaze a trail, and Mondammej should get the perfect tow in their wake.

      Fine Wine progressed throughout last year, and can be forgiven his latest start over a 6f trip he doesn’t stay. He appeals as the main danger to the selection, and will be hard to peg back if getting a flyer as he did when winning over C&D a year ago.

      15:00 – Haydock – Mill Stream (each way)

      Little Big Bear and Bradsell take up a big chunk of the market in the Sandy Lane, and while I’m not keen to oppose either for the sake of it, the shape of the race makes the underrated Mill Stream appealing from an each-way perspective. Jane Chapple-Hyam is a trainer who gets excellent results from her better performers, and Mill Stream looked a really promising sort in a short juvenile campaign, pushing Noble Style hard in a hot Newmarket novice in July before taking on Chaldean and co in the Acomb Stakes at York.

      I thought the son of Gleneagles shaped really well despite failing to see out the 7f trip at York, and with the form working out exceptionally well, I see no reason why the Peter Harris-owned colt cannot develop into a high-class sprinter as a three-year-old. He will do better with a run behind him, I’m sure, but he appeals at around 16/1, and is also one to keep onside for the Commonwealth Cup, bearing in mind how well his trainer did at the Royal Meeting last year.

      15:15 – York – Moon Daisy (each way)

      Mimikyu could be a class apart here, but good or quicker ground an a decent test are what Moon Daisy needs to show her form, and she can reward each-way support at a decent price with conditions very much in her favour.

      Donnacha O’Brien’s mare is an infrequent winner, but her turf record at 1½m+ on a sound surface and after a recent run reads 423112244234. She can start slowly, as when a creditable fourth in the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown on her most recent start, but the long straight at York will help her, and she should be finishing her race better than anything. Proven at the level, she looks excellent value at 16/1.

      15:30 – Haydock – Twilight Calls

      The three-year-old fillies dominate the betting, but I prefer age over beauty with my 5f performers, and expect Twilight Calls to get the job done with everything looking in his favour for a change. He ran a cracker when runner-up in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot 12 months ago, and simply found the ground too soft when behind Vadream in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on his reappearance. He can turn the tables with Live To Dream on the quicker ground – for all that rival is feared most – and should need no excuses given the apparent race set-up.

      15:40 – Curragh – Royal Scotsman

      Royal Scotsman was unlucky when losing against Chaldean in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. He’s got solid form and there’s no reason to think that he won’t continue to show form. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Royal Scotsman win.

      Rory Delargy’s Horse Racing Tips

      13:15 – Haydock – C’mon Kenny
      13:30 – Goodwood – El Drama
      13:50 – Haydock – Law Of The Sea
      14:05 – Goodwood – Dark Thirty
      14:25 – Haydock – Defence Of Fort
      14:40 – York – Mondammej
      15:00 – Haydock – Mill Stream (each way)
      15:15 – York – Moon Daisy (each way)
      15:30 – Haydock – Twilight Calls
      15:40 – Curragh – Royal Scotsman

      *All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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