Irish Oaks Day

Professional tipster Ben Merritt gives his thoughts on today's racing...

2.50 Curragh - SONDAD 12/1 (NAP)

SONDAD landed us some tidy bets at Epsom on Derby day, hacking up on desperate ground at 9/1. He was next seen at Royal Ascot, 2 weeks later and hid with a 5lb penalty, finishing 9th of 27 in the Wokingham. Looking at the bare result, it would be fair to assume that he's now hit a ceiling. However, the performance was a lot better than the bare result. He was dealt no chance of winning, long before the race was even run, from stall 2 and, not only did he beat everyone else on that far side, he was also the only horse drawn in single figures to finish in the top 10. The form of that race, as you would imagine has taken some instant boosts and the horse directly behind ours that day, Dubai Bling, won a big field sprint last weekend for us. He's been given a 28 break since, this stiff track will suit him perfectly and he's ideally drawn in between the two front runners LEVERAGING & DARK THIRTY. I hope another big run is on the cards.

3.25 Curragh - COVER UP 9/1 (Next Best)

I tipped COVER UP at Royal Ascot and feel that he was a seriously unlucky loser in that Group 1. Trained specifically for that race, he came into the meeting in rude health and that bore out with his run, flying home late off the pace until running into the back of horses at the half furlong pole. It's impossible to say he'd have won, but it's hard to argue that he wouldn't have done either, with only 2 horses having a faster finishing percentage, despite him being under no more than hands and heels riding. With a brilliant record fresh, I'd have probably preferred him having another few weeks off, but 4 of his last 5 wins have come after breaks of 42, 55, 35 and 36 days, so this 32 day layoff should be ok. I can report that he comes into the race having been impressing at home too.

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