Walk In The Park looks the value
Essentially, one has a choice between betting odds-on Hurricane Run or taking Walk In The Park each-way and, to my way of thinking, the value is in the latter option.
Andre Farbe’s Hurricane Run has a huge reputation and little went right for him in the French Derby at Chantilly last time.
Frankie Dettori set a pedestrian pace on Shamardal and the favourite took plenty of time to hit top gear when asked in the straight.
He wasn’t helped either by edging left and right in turn when the pressure was applied and was a neck adrift of Shamardal at the line.
It will be no great surprise, particularly with Kieren Fallon now taking over, if he completely swamps this lot for speed in the closing stages, but his price is simply too cramped for comfort.
John Hammond’s Walk In The Park followed a promising reappearance at Lingfield with an excellent effort in the Epsom Derby.
Of course he was no match for Motivator, going down by five lengths, but the son of Montjeu seemed all at sea on the track, didn’t come down the hill and seemed less than happy with the camber in the straight.
But once hitting top gear he finished with a real flourish and could well catapult Alan Munro back to the big time, his greatest day coming aboard Generous in the Epsom Derby in 1991.
It is a struggle to summon enthusiasm for the others and Walk In The Park to beat Hurricane Run is the hopeful prediction.
Aidan O’Brien’s George Washington is hard to oppose in the Group Two Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks Railway Stakes.
Third on his debut at Newmarket, the son of Danehill scored in a canter next time at the Curragh.
On an afternoon when punting possibilities are thin on the ground, Zeroberto, a creditable fourth behind Will He Rock here last month, might crop up at a decent price in the Waterford Crystal Handicap.
Jubilant Note is put forward as the star wager in the Road Bridge Maiden at the Curragh today.
A tough, resolute colt, he stayed on nicely when beaten half a length by Requested Pleasure at Leopardstown and the third and fourth, Tarkesar and Bonanza respectively, have won in the meantime.
Feature event is the Group One Audi Pretty Polly Stakes. This has the makings of a cracking race, but you simply could not be in any way dogmatic regarding the likely outcome.
Con Collins Chelsea Rose gets the vote, having made a winning return, when badly in need of the outing, at Leopardstown.
James Fanshawe’s Defining, a close fifth behind Fight Your Corner in a well-contested Group Two at Sandown, is the choice in the Attheraces Curragh Cup.
