A case of ‘if only’ for Siren’s Song in Oaks
It was a messy race with no pace at all which didn’t suit her. She got a bit unbalanced down the hill but if they’d have gone a good gallop she would have been more competitive. I’m not saying she’d have won but after not coming down the hill the best, she flew home once she got herself sorted out. So there’s a bit of an ‘if only’ there.
Three winners out of three National Hunt runners is as good as you can do, so I can have no complaints about the past week. I was delighted with Magical Memoir in Ballinrobe on Monday and while I had put her up as one of my likeliest winners, it was nice to see her pulling away so readily from Scottish Boogie. She will go next for a four-year-olds only winners-of-two at Gowran Park.
Alpine Eagle built on the promise of his first chase the following day by taking the beginners’ chase. He is a real summer horse and we will go for a winners-of-one next.
No One Tells Me has given us a lot of options after beating a small but decent field in a three mile conditions’ hurdle at Tipperary on Thursday.
As for the weekend, Picture of Lily runs in the fillies’ handicap at Tramore today. Her second last run was in a race won by Wonder of Wonders, who was second in the Oaks yesterday but we are just hoping that she improves.
Native Palm is in the ladies’ flat race and Kate takes the mount. Native Palm is wearing cheek pieces for the first time and he will be hoping the ground is nice and firm.
We have two runners in Listowel tomorrow with Royal Blue Star probably my best opportunity of a winner over the coming days. Her first run for me was on the all-weather back in April but she didn’t seem to like the surface.
We saw a much truer reflection the following month though when she won a mile maiden by 3½ lengths and so she steps up to handicap company. Shane rides because Fran can’t do the weight and with his claim, she’s got a very good chance.
Alamanda has been mixing it up between the flat and over hurdles and has been running well. She was sixth last time out in the hurdle race at Punchestown won by Street Entertainer in which Magical Memoir finished second. She is in the amateur riders’ race and can give a good account of herself again with Kate in the saddle.
