Key Points
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My runner-by-runner guide to the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes
- Best betting tips for Saturday Jumps at Kilbeggan
- Check out the great free bet offer from VBet
Group 1 action from the Curragh and my best betting tips for Kilbeggan
We’ve made it to the weekend which means it’s time for some more horse racing action. Today I’m bringing you a runner-by-runner guide for the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, plus some great Jumps action from Kilbeggan.
I am going to be dropping my first ante post betting tip of the season for you very soon, so stay tuned to make sure you don’t miss out on the gold. Last year saw us very much in profit off the back of my ante post selections and I’m aiming to achieve the same again for this season.
My latest free bet offer
This weekend
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16:40 Curragh - Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)
At the Curragh we have the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes with some really classy runners making the lineup. This 6-furlong Sprint is for two-year-old colts and fillies only (no geldings) so it’s always a good one to watch in terms of spotting next year’s superstars. Anyway, I have decided to put up a runner-by-runner guide for you and at the end, I will reveal my best betting tip for the race.
Bucanero Fuerte @ 5/2
Bucanero Fuerte
is one of two Wootton Bassett colts running in this race and he has been very progressive in his three starts to date. He won here at the Curragh on his debut over five furlongs (on heavy ground) and immediately went into my notebook. On his second start he went up to six furlongs to contest in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and pushed Ballydoyle’s River Tiber all the way to a length at the finish. That form looks to be very strong indeed.
What I really like about him is that he seems to have plenty of stamina, so he is highly likely to finish strongly over this trip and I’m certain he will be tough to beat at the finish. He proved that
finishing third in the Coventry was no fluke, by winning next time out here over course and distance, and I don’t think there is another here that will get past him.
Givemethebeatboys @ 6/1
Givemethebeatboys
finished just ¾ length behind Bucanero Fuerte in the Coventry, having raced a little too keenly throughout. If he settles a little bit better this time out, then he does hold a very good chance in this race. He comes here a little fresher than the top two in the market and has course and distance form as well, so he is another that ticks a lot of boxes.
He relishes slightly softer conditions and I think the softer it gets, the better his chances are, so he won’t mind seeing some more rain come Saturday. He definitely
needs to settle better, but he is almost certain to show some significant improvement
and is a very worthy contender here.
His Majesty @ 18/1
I think
His Majesty
will come in for some support if the ground continues to soften up. His debut run came on soft, where he finished ahead of stablemate Unquestionable, who is the preferred choice of Ryan Moore. His four starts since then have also been pretty good and he comes into this race off the back of finishing runner up in a Group 2 over in Chantilly.
If the ground gets softer, there is a distinct possibility he will improve again, but perhaps not as much as his stablemate, who has really stepped forward since they last met.
The ground getting softer would enhance his chances, but I don’t think he is our winner
here.
Unquestionable @ 5/2
Unquestionable
is the second Wootton Bassett colt in the field and there is very little to choose between him and Bucanero Ferte, who are currently fighting it out for favouritism. All three of his runs have come here at the Curragh and his last two have both been over the six-furlong distance.
On his penultimate start, he won a Maiden really impressively, before being done next time out by Bucanero Ferte, when they met at the beginning of July. They both ran really good races that day and it was pretty much decided on the head bob, but
we know how much improvement Aiden O’Brien manages to bring out in his two-year-olds, so it would be no surprise if he were to improve past his market rival here.
Gaenari @ 28/1
Gaenari
is a really nice type, but needs to improve significantly to compete here. He ran well at Chantilly last time out on heavy ground,
but on this better surface he has a lot to find with his rivals. If it softens up more, that might help but he is likely to fall short on class in this field.
Launch @ 80/1
Launch is a nicely-bred type, but none of his form suggests that he is anywhere close to this standard. I believe that
he has only been entered here to give stablemate Buacanero Fuerte a fast pace to run at
so that he can use his stamina, so Launch has no real winning aspirations in this race.
Porta Fortuna @ 3/1
Porta Fortuna
is a bit of a dark horse in this race, as we really don’t know how good he could turn out to be. He won stylishly over five furlongs on debut, then improved for the step up in trip before winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out.
He looked very smart indeed that day, he travelled supremely well and should be able to go just as well on this slightly softer surface too.
He may not yet have hit the ceiling of his ability and simply oozes class. I think he has a huge chance of making it four out of four here.
My best betting tip for the Phoenix Stakes
I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this race pans out and there are a few here that have very tightly knit form with one another. Joint favourites, Bucanero Fuerte and Unquestionable, are likely be very close come the finish line. Bucanero Fuerte looks seriously tough in a finish whilst Unquestionable looks like he could improve again for the experience so both have strong claims here.
However, my best betting tip for the Phoenix Stakes is
Porta Fortuna, who really impressed me in the Albany whilst looking like there was still more to come next time out. He did plenty wrong that day, but
proved just too good for his rivals and I think he is the one open to the most improvement here. There is so much to like about him visually and for me, he is most definitely the one to side with.
With the Jumps season getting close now, I’ve decided to bring you some action from Kilbeggan. I have gathered three selections from the meeting that are already in my notebook and I think they will all give us a really good run for our money.
17:25 Depeche Mo
I really like
Depeche Mo
and I think he’ll go well in this two-mile Handicap Hurdle. He has been tried over further, but they seemed a bit too much of a stretch for him. He is only a five-year-old, so dropping back to the shorter distance here should really help his chances and he’s sure to improve again for the experience.
He’s a very decent traveller when he’s in form
and a repeat effort of his runner-up finish at Wexford should see him there or thereabouts.
18:55 Stratum
Despite being 10-years-old,
Stratum
seems better than ever this season and I think he will be very difficult to beat back over Hurdles. Although he is very effective on the Flat, I much prefer him as a Hurdler and he has plenty of class. This step up to three miles only enhances his chances to me and I believe he will take some beating.
He is a very hardy type who has been a consistently good runner for the Mullins team
and it will take a huge performance to get in front of him here.
19:25 Walking The Walk
This is a very decent three-mile Chase and there are plenty of runners in here with chances. However,
Walking The Walk
is the one for me, despite him going up in the weights after his easy win last time out. He is now two out of three over fences and looks to be getting better for the experience.
This mark doesn’t look beyond him and he clearly stays very well indeed. There’s a lot to like about this improver who runs for Gordon Elliott.
Saturday’s betting tips summarised
16:40 Curragh - Porta Fortuna
17:25 Kilbeggan - Depeche Mo
18:55 Kilbeggan - Stratum
19:25 Kilbeggan - Walking The Walk
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Jumps racing from Kilbeggan | Free Horse Racing tips | Ginger Joe Racing | Betting.co.uk
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