Horse racing betting tips: Prendergast is still Mad for it at 86 years old
WHEN less than a length covered the first five home in this year’s Investec Derby, plenty were quick to question the quality of the renewal.
However, that initial impression may need revising after Royal Ascot.
Circus Maximus (sixth) went on to land the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes, while Japan (third) and Bangkok (12th) were the first two home in the King Edward VII Stakes.
Anthony Van Dyck (winner), MADHMOON (second) and Broome (fourth) are all set to reappear in tomorrow’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (5.20pm) at the Curragh with the Epsom victor as short as 5/4 to land the prestigious prize.
The most likely scenario is that the son of Galileo will become the 19th horse to complete the English-Irish Derby double, but he is arguably too short considering a blanket covered the first five at Epsom.
In fact, there is a strong argument to suggest that back on a more conventional track, and with an untroubled journey, Madhmoon could reverse those placings, and he looks the bet at 5/2 with Coral.
I was one of those convinced he wouldn’t stay this 1m4f trip at Epsom, but he saw it out well and did remarkably well to finish as close as he did considering he clipped heels and nearly came down half a mile from home.
Broome finished fourth at Epsom and is another likely to be suited to the return to a flat track.
He just seemed to lack the gears of those finishing around him and again may be vulnerable to those with more speed.
The reality is he is likely to finish third and it would be no surprise if he were soon to emerge as his stable’s leading St Leger candidate.
If you cannot wait until tomorrow for the Group One action at the Curragh, then there is no need to fret as the Juddmonte Pretty Polly Stakes (5.25pm) is now run tonight instead.
Only the seven fillies have been declared for the 1m2f prize, but what the field lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality.
All eyes will be on Investec Oaks runner- up Pink Dogwood as she drops back a couple of furlongs after looking a blatant non-stayer at Epsom.
She will be hard to beat here, but this is the toughest assignment of her career to date and a best price of 5/4 makes limited appeal.
She meets a host of talented Group race winning older fillies headed by Godolphin’s Wild Illusion.
Admittedly she was well beaten on her reappearance, but a return to the form that saw her win a pair of Group Ones last season would make her the one to beat.
The three-year-olds get a handy 12lbs weight-for-age allowance at this time of year, though, and IRIDESSA looks a big price at 16/1.
Joseph O’Brien’s filly beat dual 1000 Guineas heroine Hermosa in the Group One Fillies Mile at Newmarket on her final start as a juvenile.
The fact that she could only finish eighth and fourth in both the English and Irish Guineas respectively doesn’t paint the full picture as she looked to be crying out for this trip.
Whether she is good enough to trouble the big guns is up for debate, but there is no disputing she is overpriced on her best form.
POINTERS
Madhmoon
5.20pm Curragh
SATURDAY
Iridessa e/w
5.25pm Curragh