Misty can make it five in Matron
Aidan O'Brien's colt has looked every inch a star since his arrival from Australia but for a horse with top class form over a range of distances he hasn't really blown away the opposition in his outings at the very top level. Okay, victory over an Epsom Derby and Arc winner is meritorious regardless of the distance or manner of victory but it's also arguable that Workforce hasn't reached his peak in two runs this term.
So You Think had Michael Stoute's horse covered all the way up the straight in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown but he was more workmanlike than spectacular there and, coming back after a mid-season break and with many big end-of-season targets in his eye-line, he's unlikely to be tuned to the minute for this one.
Snow Fairy looks the most likely danger but she hasn't exactly set the world alight this term. She was almost 10 lengths behind So You Think on her seasonal debut at Sandown, and then travelled well before being readily out-pointed by Midday in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last time out.
Midday's narrow defeat at the hooves of Twice Over in the Juddmonte International didn't take from the form but it also didn't exactly inspire confidence that the current crop of older middle-distance mares could cope with their male counterparts. What it points to is Snow Fairy needing to step up considerably to get the better of So You Think.
I'm intrigued to see how the mercurial Recital will perform but he's almost certain to play just a minor role behind his esteemed stable companion.
In the Matron Stakes, Misty For Me can earn her fifth Group 1 success. The filly got the run of the race when accounting for the aforementioned Midday in the Pretty Polly Stakes on her most recent outing but she's a top class filly who should be suited to the drop back to a mile for today's race.
Beaten out of sight in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas, she made up for that heavy defeat by getting up late to deny stable companion and one of today's rivals, Together, in the Irish equivalent next time out.
She didn't stay the trip in the Epsom Oaks after that but bounced back in the Pretty Polly. A mile seems to be her best trip and the long run up the Leopardstown straight can see her home in front.
Together is a top class filly but an absolute nightmare for punters. She has finished runner-up in two Guineas but has now gone nine races and more than a year without recording a victory. Whether or not it’s a case that she doesn’t quite get home over a mile, I’m not entirely sure but, while she may be a danger, she’s burnt too many fingers to consider her a punting prospect.
The game Lolly For Dolly would have her chance enhanced were the rain to arrive but she has a little to find with Emulous on earlier form and may struggle to reverse that form on fast ground.
The Ballydoyle team looks set for a big day but if there’s one of their runners to oppose it’s Viscount Nelson in the Kilternan Stakes.
He did win a Listed race at the Curragh back in June but he’s another one who’s hard to put maximum faith in. He has plenty of ability and is the highest rated in today’s race but he wears blinkers for a good reason and is probably best left alone.
In the same race former Moyglare third Kissable has something to prove after showing little on her belated seasonal debut at Gowran Park last month. The ground may have gone against her there and she was entitled to need the run, but this is tougher and she may need more time. A market move for her would be significant.
Perhaps the most interesting runner of all is Tommy Stack’s Mutahadee.
He caught the eye when third behind Banimpire last time out and he’s entitled to come on for that outing. The fact that there are only seven runners tempers enthusiasm just a little but he looks more than capable of delivering at this level and is worth a small interest.
Over in Haydock, the Betfred Sprint Cup is a cracking looking race but the outcome will have a lot to do with the going.
On genuinely fast ground, I would be tempted to have an interest in Bated Breath.
Dream Ahead is likely to be sent off favourite and, while he accounted for Bated Breath in the July Cup, he showed nothing in France on his most recent outing and that leaves him with questions to answer. With that in mind, he’s hard to back.
Only the bookmakers were celebrating after the carnage of last weekend's quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park, and where punters will get the money to make the return trip to Ringsend, I'm not sure.
The result of last week's upsets is the most open Derby I can remember. There isn't a standout performer begging to be backed but that's not to say there isn't a brilliant champion waiting to be crowned.
What if Droopys Twirl were to win? Surely a bitch winning the Puppy Oaks, Sporting Press Irish Oaks and Irish Derby all in the same season would represent one of the most outstanding achievements of all time in greyhound racing.
I must admit, I really don't like her draw in tonight's semi-final and she'll need luck to avoid Rockview Head in the early stages but, Derby or no Derby, she's an established star and what she did in coming from some six or seven lengths behind Mozzletoff in the all-aged Oaks final almost defied belief.She's as low as 10-3 to win tonight's heat but I just couldn't entertain her at those odds. I'd just be delighted to see her qualify.
In the same heat, Razldazl George is 5-4 favourite to march triumphant to the final but there's another 10-3 shot who looks tempting. Rockchase Bullet is the dog in question and Victor Chandler's standout price is on the generous side.
Off a level break in last weekend's quarter-final, he had the early pace to sweep past Razldazl George and into a winning lead. With modest breakers inside, he can lead again and, unless George or Droopys Twirl can negotiate a clear path, he will prove hard to catch.
In the second semi-final, Krug Ninety Five is as low as 6-1. He's been a real credit to connections but there's also little doubt that he had more than his fair share of luck last weekend and the odds on offer are way short of the mark. Croom Star is also short at 7-2 but more realistic around the 6-1 mark.
Dream Walker, who has his draw along the inside, has attracted the support and perhaps deservedly so. He caught Razldazl Bugatti in last week's heat and re-opposes that rival here. The latter is 2-1 favourite to reverse that form and, with another easy lead looking likely, it seems about right.
Perhaps the bet on the card is Smooth Daddy in the second semi-final of the Derby Plate. Helen Cashin's prolific tracker only has to clear Tranquil Time to secure victory and should be backed to do so.
