Kevin Blake: Three each-way plays for a high-class card at the Curragh

Kevin Blake
23 August 2015

Today's going will be all-important for Kevin's bets

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A high-class card at the Curragh takes centre stage this afternoon and while overnight rain has softened the ground, Kevin has been on the case and believes he has found a couple of value propositions the will relish the prevailing conditions.

"O'Callaghan made a very ballsy call to skip yesterday's Debutante Stakes in preference to taking on the colts in this contest in the hope that rain would arrive last night and that particular roll of the dice has worked out."

Back Now Or Never 1pt each-way @ 5.59/2 or better in the 15:40 at the Curragh

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The main event of the day is the Group 2 Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes (15:40) and I suspect the Michael O'Callaghan-trained Now Or Never is being underestimated by the market.

The daughter of Bushranger was deeply impressive when winning what is traditionally a strong seven-furlong fillies' maiden at the Galway Festival, showing a serious turn of foot early in the straight and prevailing by 5½ lengths despite having a good look around in the closing stages. Since then, the runner-up was just touched off in a maiden at Tipperary and the fifth home won a maiden at Killarney.

O'Callaghan made a very ballsy call to skip yesterday's Debutante Stakes in preference to taking on the colts in this contest in the hope that rain would arrive last night and that particular roll of the dice has worked out for him.

As much as the rain will suit Now Or Never, it will not help Air Vice Marshall or Herald The Dawn. The favourite Shogun is not bred to handle it (full-brother to Qualify), but he does lift his knee more than she does and has a better chance of getting through it than some will expect.

All told, Now Or Never looks to have a very solid chance and the race has a decent shape to it for each-way players.

What would this column be without a bet in a sprint handicap? Today's race of interest is the Mongey Communications Handicap (16:40) and the one that appeals is the Mick Mulvany-trained Battleroftheboyne. He has often been accused of having an ironic name, as his battling qualities have been questioned in the past. However, while he has his quirks, namely that he needs to hit the front as late as possible, he is quite consistent when he has conditions in his favour and today is one of those days.

While he has plenty of form on all sorts of trips and ground, six furlongs with an ease in the ground has always appealed to me as being ideal for him. The rain that has arrived will very much help his cause while hindering others. As was shown at yesterday's meeting, when the running rail is in the middle of the sprint track and they race on the far side of it, a low draw is not a hindrance at all and that is even more pronounced when the ground is on the easy side of good, so his stall four is no harm.

While Battleroftheboyne's strike rate isn't the best, he is often underestimated by the market as a result and today appeals as being a good day to side with him.

The card is rounded off by the Mongey Communications Maiden (17:40) and the Ger Lyons-trained Van Schaick fits an angle that regular readers will know I often look out for. I am always prepared to forgive a disappointing run if I can find an excuse for it, as the betting market often over reacts to a poor run, and this looks to be the case with this horse.

The son of Rip Van Winkle ran very well in extended 10 furlong maidens at Down Royal and Roscommon and on the strength of those runs, he was sent off at 3/1 for a mile-and-a-half maiden at the Galway Festival. However, with the ground having turned soft, the consequent test of stamina just seemed to be beyond him, with him weakening in the final furlong.

The return to this shorter trip will very much suit and given he does lift his knee quite noticeably, I don't think the ease in the ground will be detrimental to his chances. He is well drawn and is likely to be given a no-nonsense ride, making him an appealing each-way option in an open maiden.