Extra fixture at the Curragh

The 2012 season at the Curragh was due to finish on Sunday, but there is an extra fixture today to make up for all the meetings lost to the weather in Ireland this flat season. There is nothing special on the card, and the main interest will lie in the battle for the jockeys´championship between Joseph O´Brien and Pat Smullen. O`Brien, well supported by his father Aidan, has a slight lead, but Smullen is by no means out of it and can count on plenty of material from his boss Dermot Weld. We feel that Smullen has the better rides today, and can score on Muntasaf in the maiden at 15.15 CET and Hisaabaat in the handicap at 17.45; the latter, a very smart hurdler, has not run on the flat for a while but looks very well handicapped in this sphere. O´Brien´s best chance is probably on his father´s Kingdom in the opener.

In the U.K., there is flat racing at Leicester and jumping at Huntingdon, both with low level cards. The most interesting race is the beginners chase at 16.50 at the Huntingdon, which sees three smart hurdlers, Forgotten Gold (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan), Hildisvini (Charlie Longsdon/ Noel Fehily) and Tour d´Argent (Nicky Henderson/ Tony McCoy), making their debut over fences. It will all come down to how well they can cope with the bigger jumps, and possibly Vino Griego (Gary and Jamie Moore), who has plenty of experience and has run several good races without winning, can be preferred. Gary has booked his younger son Joshua for Gee Dee Nen in the handicap chase at 15.50 and this one has a definite each way chance.

At Leicester we would not be surprised to see Richard Hughes ride more winners. His best chances are probably Van Der Neer at 15.10, the Queen´s Sea Shanty at 16.10, and My Queenie at 16.40, all trained by father-in-law Richard Hannon, but he also has some good outside rides.

Curragh - betting forecast:
1. Race: Kingdom - Cool Metallic - Pay Day Kitten
2. Race: Muntasaf - Sidereus Nuncius - Ferrycarrig
3. Race: Fast On - Consonance - Ahimsa
4. Race: Whip Storm - Light Particle - Sakhib
5. Race: Joe Eile - Wave - Kanes Pass
6. Race: Starstruck - California Rose - Daigreen
7. Race: Hisaabaat - Beach Of Falesa - Eighteen Summers