A handful of recent eye-catching performances across the UK and Ireland have produced several horses to add to Liam Firkin's tracker.
Horse: Portcullis
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
What caught the eye: The Royal runner was an impressive winner in a race where The Gosden’s have a great record and improved on that with a very nice debut where Portcullis won by over 5L and will no doubt improve for the run.
When is he a bet: It’s difficult to ascertain when he is a bet given just the one start but one to keep onside going forward and all Premium+ subscribers will see as and when I feel he is a bet.
Horse: Just Ennemi
Trainer: Harry Derham
What caught the eye: A purchase that would’ve caught the eye of many when bought out of France for an eye-watering €320,000 but had failed to impress on all of his runs for the English trainer but the combination of very testing ground conditions and the recent wind operation saw him to much better effect at Ayr on Friday. He was a staying on fourth place finisher having been held up to ensure he got the trip and he clearly improved for the breathing procedure and step up in distance.
When is he a bet: I can see this lad landing a handicap when getting optimal conditions. Soft ground and a staying trip could see him get himself into the winners enclosure for the first time on this side of the channel.
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Horse: Apothic Red
Trainer: Tom McCourt
What caught the eye: This was his first run in a handicap and it was a promising start given that he wasn’t given an overly aggressive ride with the jockey predominantly all hands and heels and to my eye the Pro-Cush was not applied at anytime. Slightly outpaced just after the 2f pole but stayed on well which may see him return to the 7f trip next time out and I expect him to go off much shorter than the 150/1, 80/1, 125/1, and 50/1 than he has done on all of his starts so far.
When is he a bet: I would be interested next time out and potentially up in trip to the 7f although it given a more prominent ride at this distance, he can still get competitive with a strong pace to aim at
Horse: Sea Eagle
Trainer: Gerard O’Leary
What caught the eye: He unseated his rider at the last at Tramore on Sunday but made some good progress through the race from off the pace and may well have mounted a challenge from a win perspective had he not parted with his rider. He should now get an opening handicap mark and anything sub 110 would be very attractive and could see him in the winners enclosure on one of his next few starts when parachuting into handicap company.
When is he a bet: On one of his next couple of starts in handicaps. I wouldn’t necessarily wait for him second time up in a handicap as he has run on merit in his maiden starts having finished second previously and today’s performance was credible.
Horse: Lady Mary Heath
Trainer: Aidan Anthony Howard
What caught the eye: Jack Cleary was very unfortunate in running on Sunday when this horse finished third but found himself behind a wall of horses and had to take a pull on a couple of occasions before winding the filly back up and cutting through the field. Perhaps one that won’t go unnoticed given the circumstances of the race but certainly one to go straight into the tracker.
When is she a bet: I would be eagerly looking for the next entry for this filly with a view to backing next time out
