Positives: The form of the Punchestown won by Jewel Of The West had been given a healthy endorsement by the second winning easily since and he confirmed himself a smart summer novice with an easy success in the 2m1f novice hurdle. Paul Carberry gave the 4yo a confident ride and the winning margin doesn’t do his superiority justice. He could well live up to his name at Galway in a few weeks time. On her decent juvenile hurdle form last term, Eritrea [WON Wexford, 11/7/08 - 7/4] looked a blot in the 1m6f handicap for horses yet to win a flat race. So it proved as Danny Grant gave the mare a very positive ride, kicking her clear before the straight and winning by over 2 lengths. Provided the handicapper doesn’t take umbrage to this, she can win again but may want to get her toe in – there was certainly a cut in the ground here and she has a scratchy action. The second Compton Court can also win a handicap and he wasn’t suited by the way the race unfolded. He met some interference early on and had to come from off the pace in a race where everything was happening up front but he stayed on to good effect in the closing stages without ever looking like winning. He was well-backed at double-figure prices in the morning but the ground went against him (he won twice on fast ground over hurdles last summer) and he will get his turn off a mark that looks fair. Pistol Jack is from a family of real staying types including Rosslea and it was no real surprise to see plenty of money for him on his first try at three miles in the maiden hurdle. He travelled well throughout and should improve for it to win small race. Pat Martin’s Lucky At Last [WON 8/1 - Bellewstown, 28/8] [WON 5/1 - Ballinrobe, 22/8] [WON 9/2 - Fairyhouse, 12/11] had shown little in 8 previous starts before his run in the 2m4f handicap hurdle but the 6yo gelding showed a turn-of-foot that’s rarely seen in this class of race and looks a type that can win again. A step up in trip is unlikely to be a problem on this evidence.
Negatives: The weight of money that saw Galiyan backed from 3/1 early doors into 5/4 on course was hard to fathom and his sixth place finish in the 1m4f maiden was more in keeping with his previous form than the market support. According to jockey Fran Berry, he’d been gelded between his second and third run but there was no improvement forthcoming and this, his fourth outing in all, confirms that he’s moderate. He looks a likely type to go to the sales at the end of the year but I wouldn’t like to be the jumps trainer that buys him! The betting for the 3m maiden hurdle was dominated by Rocket Boy and Dr Swanini but neither are genuine and it was no surprise to see a boil-over with a 20/1 winner. Some will make excuses for the Meade runner as he met some trouble but he’s not one to trust at a short price. Luca Brasi had apparently worn ear-plugs in his previous win at Kilbeggan and his headstrong tendencies were again in evidence as he tore off into the lead in the bumper. Running off the bends and doing plenty in front, he was never going to get home and the 6yo will need to settle much better to register another win.
Pointers: John Oxx saw a couple of fancied horses (Galiyan and Be Smart) disappoint here and it continued a poor run for the Curraghbeg trainer. He’s managed just 1 winner in the last fortnight (and just 4 in the month of June) at a time when a top flat yard should really be hitting its stride and a 1 from 14 hit-rate in group races this season is hardly encouraging. Katiyra will hope to get the show back on the road in the Oaks next week but the talented juvenile Arazan seems to have gone to ground as he missed his intended target in the Golden Fleece at Leopardstown last Wednesday.
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