Brian Meehan's Weekend Runners

Trainer Talk / Brian Meehan / 30 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Brian Meehan is making his debut on betting.betfair this weekend

"There have been winners come out of that race and I think he is a well-handicapped horse for the year. I don’t think he will need this as much as some and I really fancy him (Zain Shamardal) to go well."

In his first-ever column on betting.betfair Brian talks us through the merits of his weekend runners at Newmarket and Salisbury.

Newmarket, Saturday

14.00 1m1f Handicap

Colour Scheme: He was very impressive when he won his maiden at Wolverhampton in November and it was disappointing that he didn't do better on his handicap debut later that month.

Something came to light after that though and we had some surgery done on his wind. It seems to have done the trick and he has been in excellent form in his homework. He was ready to run three weeks ago but I decided to keep him for this. Although it is a warm race, he's in very good order and I am expecting a big run from him.

15.10 1m Group 1

Happy Today: He ran a really good race when second in the Feilden Stakes on his reappearance and he will have come on for the run, as most of ours do. That was a solid effort and I think he would have won with a run behind him.

This is a step up in class and, to be honest, it looks a one-horse race, but something has to finish in the minor placings and I would be disappointed if he didn't finish in the first five.

17.25 1m Handicap

Zain Shamardal: He is a really nice horse who had excuses on his last two starts as a 2yo. The ground was too soft for him on his second run and William Buick thought he was unsuited by the track when he was second at Kempton in October. There have been winners come out of that race and I think he is a well-handicapped horse for the year. I don't think he will need this as much as some and I really fancy him to go well.

Newmarket, Sunday

14.35, 1m1f Group 3

Field Day: She will run in the Dahlia Stakes on Sunday. A very good filly who did well for us last year, winning twice and finishing fourth in the Prix De L'Opera on Arc day. She is a lovely horse - a proper Group 1 filly for this year - and although the Middleton Stakes at York is her big early-season target, she should be classy enough to go well here. Obviously she will come on for the run, but this is a nice starting point for the season.

Salisbury, Sunday

14.20 7f Handicap

Conducting: My other runner on Sunday will be Conducting who goes in the 7f handicap at Salisbury. He was a good fourth in a listed race at Lingfield last time and this should be a bit more realistic.

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