Horseracing Betting Briefing: April 5 - 11

General / Andrew Hughes / 04 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

The highlights of the week to come in racing take us from The Curragh to Longchamp and on to Nottingham and Kempton. Andrew Hughes fills you in.

Sunday April 5

2:45 Loughbrown Stakes
A good Sunday card on the lush turf of the home of Irish Flat racing. This Listed event restricted to three-year-olds may lack the star names, but it is an interesting prospect with some decent animals from the top Irish stables.

3:45 Gladness Stakes
This is a good early season Group Three for older horses, run over the straight seven furlongs. As usual, there is likely to be a small field, but it is a race with a good history and was won by Giants Causeway back in 2000. Dermot Weld's filly Mad About You was the bridesmaid several times last year, but this is an excellent chance to break her Group level duck.

4:15 Alleged Stakes
A relatively new contest, this ten furlong Listed event has been won by some top quality horses, including Dylan Thomas and former Champion Hurdler, Sublimity. Ger Lyons' four-year-old, Fiery Lad is likely to be favourite, but the lightly raced Poet from the Ballydoyle stable is sure to attract plenty of support.


Limerick

4:35 Hugh McMahon Memorial Novices' Chase
The National Hunt season has a way to run and this Grade Two is a reminder that there is plenty more quality jumps action to come. This three mile test is likely to feature some promising sorts, including Jessica Harrington's Top Of The Rock who was back to something like his best at Navan last time.


Longchamp

2:25 Prix d'Harcourt
A Group Two with a fine tradition, first run in 1929. This is a ten furlong race confined to older horses and the field is headed by Vision d'Etat, the horse that was undefeated as a three-year-old, before finishing a creditable 5th in the Arc.

2:55 Prix Noailles
Once known as the Prix du Nabob, this race has an even longer history than the preceding event, dating back to 1878. Confined to three-year-olds, the ten-and-a-half furlongs make it an ideal test for potential Derby or Arc horses. Though there don't appear to be any superstars amongst the small field this year, it is worth watching.


Tuesday April 7

4:10 Paddock Package Handicap
A midweek meeting at this fine Yorkshire course and a valuable Class Two handicap to look at. Run over ten furlongs around this tight, undulating track, it should be a truly run event with a decent field, headed by one of last year's more consistent three-year-old handicappers, Allied Powers.


Wednesday April 8

2:30 Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Conditions Stakes
A real mixed bag of old hands and newcomers in this Class Three event over five furlongs. For the oldies, the admirable Strike Up The Band is entered for Dandy Nicholls, whilst Bryan Smart's Spin Cycle is a promising young sprinter who lost his way a little after his second in the Norfolk.

3:30 Further Flight Stakes
One of the traditional early season staying contests, this one mile six furlong Listed event may not attract the very best, but there is a decent prize on offer. Some interesting horses entered in this, particularly amongst the less exposed four-year-olds. Marco Botti's Fiulin improved steadily last year and could take this en route to the Yorkshire Cup next month.


Saturday April 11

Kempton

2:40 Snowdrop Fillies Stakes
Traditionalists can still be heard muttering that these events are not what they used to be, but they are not about to dig up the Polytrack at Kempton anytime soon and this Easter favourite has well and truly been transplanted from the turf. A Listed event run over a mile for the older horses, it is a good chance to look at some of the fillies kept in training and likely to be aimed at Group honours this summer.

3:10 Easter Stakes
Not one of the main Guineas trials by any stretch of the imagination; a mile round sandy Kempton being some way removed from the galloping straight at Newmarket. Nevertheless, this Listed event for three year old colts could offer some clues for the summer ahead and could be well worth watching with an eye to future investments.