Saturday 22nd May

We bucked a recent trend yesterday with none of our selections managing a win!

We've had one of our best weeks ever, and hopefully the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner will be the icing on the cake. There is a small chance of a bet tomorrow, but if you don't hear anything by 11am presume no bets.


3.45 Curragh - The Irish 2,000 Guineas - Fencing Master 3pts each-way @ 5/1 (Bet 365, Stan James, Ladbrokes, guaranteed and 1/4 odds per place paid)

A solid renewal of the Irish 2,000. I have to say Canford Cliffs surprised me in the English 2,000 but if you look at the last 100 yards he was not making any inroads on the winner and there is no reason why he should improve on that performance today, having already had a pipe opener in the Greenham. I can't have Steinbeck, who makes his seasonal reappearance. I really don't know why he is such a short price, during the week he was only a probable runner and Aidan has stated that he will come on for the run. Clearly he is a very talented animal if he wins this first time out. My money here is on Fencing Master, who almost certainly needed the run in the English Guineas, both from a physical and mental point of view. I actually think he ran a fine race, sitting in third until around two furlongs out when race fitness seemed to become an issue, and staying on for seventh place in the end. He also done a lot more donkey work than, say, St. Nicholas Abbey who finished 6th and was allowed to creep into the race. I would like to see Colm O'Donoghue give him a midfield sit today, and let him gallop his way into contention before giving him the office around the two furlong pole. With a host of Ballydoyle pacemakers, there should be enough speed on that he does not get done for toe. Xtension is a danger, but the stable are out of form and he has had to travel over from England. Oasis Dancer would be a good each-way outsider and the course will suit him well, but I'm not sure he is a Group 1 horse. Fencing Master is, I maintain it takes a very good horse to finish second in the Dewhurst on his second start, and he has everything in his favour today to round of a seasonal best week for us.