
Paul Jacobs’ Racing Tips
Saturday
14:05 – Newcastle – Nathanael Greene
17.40 – Curragh – Firstman
Sunday
15:40 – Curragh – Up And Under
16:45 – Windsor – Naasma
*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.

Saturday
14:05 – Newcastle – Nathanael Greene
The ante-post favourite, Post Impressionist, has been the big gamble this week from 10/1 to half those odds, but it was clear at the back end of last year that a test of stamina was exactly what this son of Teofilo wanted. He was upped from an extended 10 furlongs to 14 in one go and that resulted in a desperately unlucky run at Haydock when behind Double Cherry, but he more than made up for that when beating the same horse at York in a very competitive three-year-old handicap off a mark of 82.
Of course a 13lbs higher mark asks plenty more here, but it would be natural to assume that the step up to two miles on only his second all-weather start could glean even more improvement. Adjutant cruised home in a class three handicap at Newmarket and both his runs this season have been well and truly cemented since by those horses around him. That duo have solid claims if the handicapper hasn’t got hold of them, but are consequently at the top of the betting and I think NATHANAEL GREENE, a stablemate of the market leader, offers much better value.
His run behind Courage Mon Ami has obviously been given a huge boost, but the biggest pointer to him taking a massive step forward is the stamina sapping two miles here and a likely much quicker pace. On several occasions he has been badly outpaced as the pace has quickened only to stay on too late in the day. Dropped to a mark of 88, he was only four lengths off Post Impressionist in that aforementioned York race, but that was a relatively slowly run affair and he was basically outpaced. Now fully 20lbs better off here it is worth remembering he went off at 4/1 favourite that afternoon and the winner 6/1.
17.40 – Curragh – Firstman
There is plenty of chaff amongst little wheat here and although the likes of the top weight Magella Strait and the lightly-raced Ted Hastings (good booking of Billy Lee by Gordon Elliott) are both interesting I shall be hugely surprised and indeed disappointed if Tony Martin’s FIRSTMAN is not in at the sharp end.
Three from 24 on the turf (has an even better record on sand) he has close form lines to the likes of Royal Ascot Okita Sushi (2nd off 88 at Dundalk) and an eye-catching run behind Nusret over the course and distance last time out. His young rider that day was happy to stick to the inside for much of the home straight and didn’t really see that the field were coming back onto him and by the time he pulled the six-year-old gelding out it was too late and he was merely pushed out hands and heels to finish a two and a half lengths sixth of 10. Set to run off a 2lbs lower mark here, I fancy that the bay gelding can mow this lot down as they hit the rising ground if 7lbs claimer James Ryan doesn’t make the same mistake as his predecessor in the saddle.
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Sunday
15:40 – Curragh – Up And Under
If you take the favourite out of the equation in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby there are still two places up for grabs and many of you will probably, and quite rightly, pick Epsom Derby third and fourth, White Birch and Sprewell, to hit the frame, even more so now with the form having been well and truly cemented at Royal Ascot.
But there is every chance that one of that trio, if not two, could under perform and although I regard him as more of a St Leger hope, I think that Joseph O’Brien’s UP AND UNDER could be the value call here.
It is worth remembering that he was only three lengths off Sprewell in the Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown giving that rival first run and before that only half a length behind White Birch in the Ballysax over the same course and distance. If this turns into a proper test at the trip and it seems Aidan is keen to do that with four other runners in the race, I expect the son of Lope De Vega to pick up quite a few pieces.
16:45 – Windsor – Naasma
And from the premier Irish Classic to a Class 5, mile and a half handicap, but one which we can possibly break down to our advantage. To my eyes, bottom weight Mr Zee won two egg and spoon races and both wins came on soft ground. Carp Kid is not the horse he used to be and he would also want some pretty heavy showers at the Berkshire track to aid his cause.
Snag It is surely better than his recent starts suggest and a move to Alastair Ralph could be beneficial. Oriental Art is arguably better over a fast run 10 furlongs, while a mark of 72 is probably as high as English Spirit wants to be.
So that leaves NAASMA, who remains unexposed, one from five on the all-weather and zero for three on turf. However, she has been crying out for this step up trip and even winning over 10 furlongs on the sand at Lingfield Park last time out was barely a sufficient test of stamina for her.
Paul Jacobs’ Racing Tips
Saturday
14:05 – Newcastle – Nathanael Greene
17.40 – Curragh – Firstman
Sunday
15:40 – Curragh – Up And Under
16:45 – Windsor – Naasma
*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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