Monday_Curragh +Beverley

Theonly way

Look there is a lot of stuff on today and most of it is rubbish.

Three events where one might have an advantage.
3:00 pm
Interesting event as Obrien runs 2 with U S S Michigan 7 being a huge flop for them as when it ran in CHELMSFORD it had to win that event to qualify to run in the Kentucy derby.It was backed as there was no doubt and the supposed pacemaker beat it.That one went off @ 76 on flutter and just failed to get the eventual winner.But one has to side with I Am Superman 3.He was drawn 15 in nass last start and although up in grade it was an impressive performance winning by a wound down 5 lenghts. There is no guarantee that it will be able to reproduce that effort especially with the extra weight of my money on him .(ha)
4:10 pm
Magical 3
The class of this one is ahead of the others.
4:50 pm
Mont Kinabalu 5
Against these holds a supreme chance with box 6 to suit its style of running and will be disappointed if it does not deliver.

GL

Mostly Harmless

Couple of impossible handicaps close the card at Curragh and I've bet two in each:
5.20: Korbous/Wilderness
5.50: Terzetto/Quizical

Theonly way

Korbous 2 not without its chance as turf record is 10%-34%-41 Also second up reads 1-1-6 
the other one more speculative but only the 5 runs so who Knows .Certainly not me.

gazza1

Have had a small ew on Beckwith Place 25s in the 5.20.
Back down to 7f having failed over further. Won fto last campaign
GL

Theonly way

Terzetto 18 =33%-67%-3  on the turf and ran well fresh before .
Quizical 10 =10%-50%-10 


GL

Theonly way

Beckwith Place 12 bottom of my list but dont let you put that off because its a really difficult event .

You are correct with it running wel fresh but it reads 1-0-3 .Better than most I suppose but failed to progress which is why its bottom .

Theonly way

Ah disappointing .

Mostly Harmless

Theonly way wrote: »

Terzetto 18 =33%-67%-3 on the turf and ran well fresh before .
Quizical 10 =10%-50%-10


GL

Thanks. I can calculate the win/place %s myself if needed but thanks.

Theonly way

Well done with Beckwith Place 12

gazza1

gazza1 wrote: »

Have had a small ew on Beckwith Place 25s in the 5.20.
Back down to 7f having failed over further. Won fto last campaign
GL

Placed

Theonly way

6.7 for a place on flutter.

The Tetrarch

I went to The Curragh today.
The new stand is excellent.
It is a bit dark in the hall under the stand, and about half the stand seats are reserved for box owners/ premium annual badge holders.
The stand seats are beautifully padded, and the view of the course is perfect.

I left after three races, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th.

Theonly way

Well done to gazza1 as picked a decent priced placed winning bet .
I lost a good few bob probably because playing the top of the market when the prices as so short .

Anyhow another day but sick giving it back after a brilliant Saturday and Sunday.

GL

tryfix

The Tetrarch wrote: »

I went to The Curragh today.
The new stand is excellent.
It is a bit dark in the hall under the stand, and about half the stand seats are reserved for box owners/ premium annual badge holders.
The stand seats are beautifully padded, and the view of the course is perfect.

I left after three races, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th.

Surprised that ye left before having a look at Magical, Flag Of Honour, etc.

Isn't it strange to see an Irish Leger winner being used as a pacemaker for a 4yo filly?

Imhof Tank

Went along today for a look at the new Curragh set up.

Nice experience, new stand very space age. Better than the old one anyway.

The big issue at the Curragh as always the view of the track but not much can be done about that. Minor gripe was that the runners werent being saddled in the pre-parade ring. They were coming in there already tacked up somewhere out of sight around the back.

Pat Smullen was interviewed and seemed to be doing pretty good.

On the racing front, dont see that Happen as an Irish guineas filly at all which i believe he's said is the target, she took an age to get going. It was a good run though to beat older fillies. That Michigan beast ran on well, trip wholly inadequate. Would be interested in him over further/better ground.

The 30 runner 6f handicap was a bit of a joke. 30 runners wtf! And 20 of them drawn 1-20 had absolutely no chance. I'd say there was relatively little on course turnover on races like that and i hope they don't become a regular thing.

The Tetrarch

tryfix wrote: »

Surprised that ye left before having a look at Magical, Flag Of Honour, etc.

Isn't it strange to see an Irish Leger winner being used as a pacemaker for a 4yo filly?

If I told the full story I would be accused of aftertiming.

Theonly way

Imhof Tank wrote: »

Went along today for a look at the new Curragh set up.

Nice experience, new stand very space age. Better than the old one anyway.

The big issue at the Curragh as always the view of the track but not much can be done about that. Minor gripe was that the runners werent being saddled in the pre-parade ring. They were coming in there already tacked up somewhere out of sight around the back.

Pat Smullen was interviewed and seemed to be doing pretty good.

On the racing front, dont see that Happen as an Irish guineas filly at all which i believe he's said is the target, she took an age to get going. It was a good run though to beat older fillies. That Michigan beast ran on well, trip wholly inadequate. Would be interested in him over further/better ground.

The 30 runner 6f handicap was a bit of a joke. 30 runners wtf! And 20 of them drawn 1-20 had absolutely no chance. I'd say there was relatively little on course turnover on races like that and i hope they don't become a regular thing.

30 runners is regular @ the curragh .They made a huge mistake when doing the rebuild that they could not fit that amount of horses into the parade ring .An absolute joke with todays teck and caused a major delay to the opening as they had to redesign it.That fat idiot kavanagh should be held accountable IMHO.

Imhof Tank

Just looked at the race conditions of that 30 runner joke again, it was for 45-70 rateds, 6k to the winner.

Unbelievable if the powers that be think punters want that.

NaiveMelodies

Imhof Tank wrote: »

Just looked at the race conditions of that 30 runner joke again, it was for 45-70 rateds, 6k to the winner.

Unbelievable if the powers that be think punters want that.

Handicaps like this are what keep these horses in training, the more that can run, the better.
The track means there are few hard luck stories- jockey and horse have plenty of space to run into, and if they don't find it, it's generally down to a jockey making the wrong move.
From a punting perspective, they are brilliant races offering plenty of value in my opinion.
What would you prefer, a 5 runner handicap?

elderberry

I also went along for a look at the new Curragh. Few thoughts below.

Parking
Parked as usual in the 'field' at the end closest to Ballymany roundabout (Newbridge/Curragh exit off motorway). Bit of a walk around to entrance and then realised it seems there is a new parking area just across the road from entrance. They were using the golf buggys to run people from this area to entrance but not from area I parked as they used do (at least when I arrived that was case)

Stand
New, shiny and impressive but for the ordinary racegoer not sure that there is that much extra on offer compared to previously. May improve with time I guess. Main hall has bar, coffee/snack concession which had lengthy queues anytime I passed, self-service restaurant with seating (didn't get food so can't comment) and Tote kiosks

No sign of a betting shop but I presume there will be one at some stage

The derby bar at next level is nice and opens out to terrace area overlooking track. Not that spacious though so if it's wet on any of the busier days could get packed pretty quickly

Doors at entrances to main hall are quite heavy and cumbersome. Presume they will leave open on busy days but could have put in something more user friendly with the €90million they were spending!

The front of the stand is where you see the biggest improvements for me. Viewing excellent (no stanchions or poles in way). Comfy seats but well over half of these are in the reserved area. Bit ridiculous at some stages as you had half a dozen security personnel in hi-viz at the entrance points to these seats with I'd say 10% max occupied while those in the non-reserved area were packed!

Some nice tiered grassy seating areas between parade ring and stand

Bookie/Parade ring
The bookie ring has moved up past the finishing post (roughly where the Vintage Crop statue used be) and very close to parade ring.

Parade ring is biggest letdown IMO. Had the well publicised problems with it last year but can't understand if putting in a brand new one why it is not sunken (ie steps down to rails) to maximise viewing capacity. Even on Monday it filled up quickly around it and difficult to see much if not at front. Combined with fact most of footfall will be on one side it's disappointing given the level of investment. Seems to me it was just designed by an architect who wanted something to fit in with the stand that would appease those looking down from the boxes, restaurants and suites with little consideration for typical racegoers.