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AS the jump season finale draws to end at Punchestown this weekend, flat racing enthusiasts will be turning their attention to Guineas weekend at Newmarket.
Once again it looks like Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien could hold the aces in both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas.
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Today’s 2000 Guineas sees City Of Troy dominate the betting at odds of 8/13 as he faces ten rivals.
O’Brien’s sole representative in the race comes here after an incredible juvenile campaign, notching up spectacular victories in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes and the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
The excitement for this horse is palpable, and the confidence in O’Brien winning this race for the first time since 2019 is huge.
However, Ladbrokes are looking to take him on. Coupled with O’Brien’s slow start to the season and the interesting rivals he takes on, it may not be as straightforward as everyone thinks.
Rosallion for Richard Hannon is his biggest threat at 9/2.
Staying closer to home, the curtain comes down on another incredible Punchestown Festival with more Grade 1 action.
Lossiemouth is the banker of the day in the Mares Champion Hurdle, while Kargese is 13/8 to take the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.
By Nicola McGeady
KERRY AND MAYO CAN CLINCH THE TITLES
THE first provincial final of the 2024 football Championship takes place at Cusack Park in Ennis on tomorrow afternoon at 1.45pm, where Kerry are the overwhelming favourites to beat Clare.
The Banner County had a comprehensive victory against Waterford in the Munster semi-final.
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It’s worth noting the great work new manager Mark Fitzgerald has done since he has taken over considering the players who left the panel at the end of last year.
Emmet McMahon, Mark McInerney, and AaronGriffin were all outstanding against Waterford last weekend.
That said Waterford are a weak opposition at the moment and with The Kingdom coming to town they will simply have far too much
for Clare and will win this at a canter.
The fact that it is on in Cusack Park will make it a more interesting and competitive spectacle, but I suspect Kerry will run out easy winners in the end.
The Connacht Senior Football Final between Galway and Mayo takes place tomorrow at Pearse Stadium at 4pm and it promises to have all the ingredients to be a great battle.
Galway have a poor record against Mayo when playing at home and likewise Mayo seem to be poor against Galway in Castlebar in the championship.
Galway have recalled Damien Comer to start which is a huge
opportunity for them to take a big scalp.
Comer saw game time against Sligo, proving instrumental
for an important turnover near the end of the match.
Mayo have their match-winner up front also in the form of Ryan O’Donoghue. He is in sensational form having scored seven points against Roscommon.
Midfield will be the key battle and whoever comes out on top here should shade it.
I have a sneaky feeling Mayo will just have enough to get over the line against the Tribesmen so it’s an away win for me at 10/11.
BY MARC O’SE
SUPER FORM!
MY big ride of the day at Punchestown is Lossiemouth (3.42).
She was obviously so impressive at Cheltenham where she beat Telmesomethinggirl.
Look we have seen Galopin Des Champs and Gaelic Warrior beaten this week so nothing is a sure thing but she looks the best of these.
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On ratings and what she has done on the track, she is well ahead of everyone.
Her form is super, so I am really looking forward to riding her. With average luck, she should win.
My first ride is on Klarc Kent (3.05), who ran a cracker in the Scottish National behind MacDermott.
He is an improving horse and loves the staying trip. If the excursions in Scotland haven’t left much of a mark, he has got a live chance.
Glengouly (4.15) ran well until unseating Mikey O’Sullivan in the Grand National, but he took to the fences really well.
Like Klarc Kent, I don’t know how much of a mark that has left on him but I think he can run a nice race.
I think Kargese (4.50) looks better than the rest on form, while my last ride Olympic Man (5.25) is improving all the time.
By Paul Townend
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