Irish Derby Weekend: Friday's card previewed.

005 Irish Racing / Johnny Ward / 27 June 2008 / Leave a Comment

Johnny Ward marks your card with the value bets at the Curragh tonight, ahead of a feast of Group race action over the weekend; culminating with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Sunday afternoon.

The Curragh's Friday appetizer generally is little more than that on the Derby weekend, it being comfortably subservient to the fare that follows on Saturday and on Sunday. It is on Derby day - and arguably no other in Ireland all year - that the attendance accords with the quality of the flat racing on offer. We remain a people more drawn by the farmers' class jumps game.

The feature Saoire Stakes is a decent event and the betting will be an invaluable guide given that the eight runners have only recorded 13 aggregate racecourse appearances. Kevin Prendergast's well-regarded Shimah, a beautifully-bred Storm Cat sister to Haatef, did justice to her pedigree with a facile maiden win over course and trip and she gets the nod to maintain her unbeaten record at odds of around [2.]1. Jim Bolger's pair are hard to fancy and Aidan O'Brien is unrepresented. David Wachman rates Chintz, but the drop back to six after a maiden win over seven could be a negative. What's Up Pussycat looks his second-string and Ger Lyons' Pasar Silbano is perhaps opposable after Silver Shoon's Royal Ascot run let down the Marble Hill form.

It could be a profitable evening for Prendergast and Declan McDonogh, with Alyazwa of obvious note in the Kildare Village EBF C&G Maiden. The Selkirk-bred's inexperience cost him when he was edged out of it by Jim Bolger's Agent Of Change in a Leopardstown maiden. I am circumspect about the merit of that form but he should win a maiden, and it will be interesting to analyse betting patterns with regard to Bolger's Tomas An Tsioda, a fine debut runner-up at Gowran. One hopes that he is heavily backed in the morning, merely to marvel at how the At The Races boys will fare in the pronunciation of his name.

Aidan O'Brien's Galileo newcomer, Rip Van Winkle, has an interesting name himself and this colt could be the pick of his unraced trio. Whatever John Murtagh rides is probably well above-average: Ballydoyle won this race thrice since 2002 with Brian Boru, Horatio Nelson and Duke Of Marmalade. Alyazwa is no more than a tentative call and - with John Oxx and Dermot Weld having two debutants each - it is probable that a newcomer will lead them home. If you are backing Alyazwa, do not be afraid about taking the Betfair SP as he could well drift in response to others being punted. Regardless, he is worth support at about [6.0] on the exchange.

The Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Derby is usually a fascinating puzzle for punters, and it is notable that Jim Bolger and Aidan O'Brien both have handicap debutants at the foot of the weights. Ballydoyle's Perihelion got a rating of [70.0] after generally modest maiden form, but she seemed to be tasked with pacemaking and nothing else behind Tiffany Diamond last time but finished a respectable fifth of 14. As a three-year-old filly, she - like Bolger's Slan Abhaile - gets all the allowances and is a noteworthy runner.

However, Danny Mullins' booking to ride Slan Abhaile takes the eye, with Malande also in the race. She disappointed on her seasonal bow in Dundalk but has not appeared since and certainly has the potential to be better than her rating. Half-brothers Flambo and Fight Club have performed at a much higher level than this and her rival's claim is another key factor in her favour.

Back her early in the morning on Betfair at about [18.0] or so and, if the money comes, you'll be able to trade out close to the off.

The Kildare Village Handicap is another competitive event and Numen may roll back the years at [7.6]. He plummeted down the ratings since his early days but was heavily-gambled last time and duly returned to form, finishing second in a race where the form has proved pretty bullet-proof.

The Silken Thomas Handicap is not the type of race that Irish punters traditionally salivate over, but something has to emerge best in this dash; Lone Plainsman - like Numen - reversed regressive form last time and is put forward at about [34.0] on the exchange.