Andrew Halligan 02/04/2022 – the weekend’s best horse racing bets and tips.
This weekend marks the first of Guineas Trials at Leopardstown and it is a weekend where you need to take out the notebooks as we will be in for some very interesting runners to follow going forward.
Leopardstown 14:35 – Ballylinch “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes – Andrew Halligan 02/04/2022
We start the new season with a lot of hope and dreams still intact and DR ZEMPF is a horse that I have very much been looking forward to seeing this season for Ger Lyons.
A winner first time up last season and although failing to win since, that only tells half the story.
Beat no more than 2 ¾L in a Group 2 and two Group 1s, the son of Dark Angle is in for a season where I think a Group win is only a matter of when, not if.
He has by far the best form in the race and the step up to 7f will be an addition to him and this will be the first step on his way to better things this season.
Leopardstown 15:10 – Ballylinch “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes – Andrew Halligan 02/04/2022
Unlike the 2000 Guines Trial version, I think this race is one where we could see a lot of further Group winners come from.
Sacred Bridge is 4/5 in her racing career, with her only defeat coming in the Group 1 Cheveley Park where she was sent off 13/8f.
She has a huge part to play here, but I am going to side with the Aiden O’Brien-trained CONTARELLI CHAPEL.
On debut she left a lasting impression on a lot of people by the way she put her rivals to shame by bolting up by 5 ½ lengths. Travelled so well throughout the race and within a matter of being ridden for a couple of strides, the race was over; massively impressive.
She was beat in a Group 3 at odds of 2/7 but was found to be in season. Completely write off that run and, with Aiden’s horses hitting the ground running this season, expect her to be forward enough to get the job done this Saturday.
Leopardstown 15:45 – Ballysax Stakes – Andrew Halligan 02/04/2022
Another race this weekend that you need to watch closely as there will be a lot of clues to take out of this for the forthcoming season.
Buckaroo, a good 4th in Group 1 company at Saint-Cloud behind the likes of El Bodegon, Stone Age and Goldspur.
Bluegrass, who has form behind Goldspur, and then we have Duke De Sessa who finished ahead of my selection in the back end of last season in the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes.
The defeat behind Duke De Sessa does not tell the full story of my selection PIZ BADILE getting beat. Arguably he should be coming in to this unbeaten as he was hampered inside the final furlong, but he should have still won. Whether it was down to the interference or jockeyship is open for debate.
But I think he make amends for that defeat by winning the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes.
Sunday’s Irish Bankers
The Irish Banker for Sunday runs at Fairyhouse.
My selection runs in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle, and the selection is the former smart flat performer and now Willie Mullins-trained BERKSHIRE ROYAL.
Last seen when 2nd to The Goffer in a Grade 3 at Thurles, Berkshire Royal can go one better today.
On his first run for new connections, he was given a mammoth task in the 2020 Supreme Novice Hurdle won by Shishkin. His sights were lowered considerably when tackling Novice Hurdle company in May of 2021 when bolting up by 10L from the 1/2F Homme D’un Soir.
He should come on a nice bit from his comeback run behind The Goffer which the 4th has come out and won since. All in all, he should take the world of beating.
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Andrew Halligan 02/04/2022
