Eyecatchers

FRANCILLON CAN CONTINUE FORM OF HISTORICALLY STRONG KILLARNEY MAIDEN

FRANCILLON

Killarney, 13 July

This Killarney maiden tends to produce nice horses with Anthony Van Dyck and Piz Badile both previous winners of the race. Last year’s renewal was a particularly strong one as Benvenuto Cellini led home Endorsement and Limestone.

It will be difficult for this year’s contest to beat that, but I do think Francillon is the one to take out of the race. Ger Lyons’s son of Frankel looks sure to enjoy a step up in trip next season, and he was doing all his best work in the final furlong here over this sharp mile.

Held up in the early stages, he was still last but one at the furlong marker before a powerful late surge saw him close the gap significantly to just a half a length at the line. In the short-term, he is an obvious one for Galway, but I think he is a nice long-term prospect.

POINT CARTWRIGHT

Killarney, 13 July

On the same card, Point Cartwright looked like he is a handicap winner in waiting. I don’t think this sharp test suited, but I am convinced this horse is much better than his current mark and I hope he can prove that to be true in the near future.

Point Cartwright came from miles back, his jockey not helped by his inability to travel early on. He was still virtually last at the top of the home straight, but what he did from that point home was hugely eye-catching. This was despite having to weave through beaten horses.

I doubt he will have been missed by many that watched Monday’s racing at Killarney, but he could be one of those that just wins next time as he appears to have any amount in hand.

CREDIT FORGEDD IT

Epsom, 16 July

Credit Forgedd It was quite a notable one from Epsom on Thursday, both visually and when looking at the figures under deeper inspection. Restrained after leaving the stalls, he found himself a long way back off horses that certainly weren’t slowing down in the closing stages.

He made ground at the quickest part of this race, and the sectionals show he deserves to have his effort marked up. He was fastest in the field for each of the final four furlongs and to follow 10.55 and 10.43 second furlongs with a final sectional that was still quicker than the rest suggests he was the best horse in the race at the weights.

He only got up for second on the line and while the temptation may be to step him up in trip, I don’t think this horse lacks the speed for this distance. If he gets a more suitable set up he should be winning soon.

GET UP EVERYBODY

Ripon, 18 July

Get Up Everybody remains a maiden after 14 starts, but I feel like his turn is inching closer. He wouldn’t have beaten the impressive winner here regardless, but he would certainly have finished second with a clear run.

He was travelling well approaching the final two furlongs here but was caught behind a wall of horses. He eventually switched out to the centre of the track and made some late headway, but the winner dictated throughout and had gone clear by then.

Get Up Everybody has started to come down in the weights for his last couple of starts and any further help from the handicapper after this defeat would be a surprise bonus. This current mark looks manageable though and he should finally break his maiden soon.

COCO NOVA

Doncaster, 18 July

Coco Nova caught the eye in this novice at Doncaster on Saturday evening. He was slowly away initially which meant he was at the back of the field in a race that was steadily run, with the first three home never far away.

Hugo Palmer’s colt showed signs of inexperience when asked to close towards the centre of the track, and he was very much learning on the job. However, he did seem to get the hang of things in the closing stages and he finished well to grab fourth.

Coco Nova was only marginally slower than the first two for the final sectional and I think he can be marked up to third at least. He has enough ability to win a similar contest on this evidence, even allowing for just normal improvement. He may well find more than that though.

SOLNESS

Curragh, 19 July

I thought it was rather interesting, to say the least, that Joseph O’Brien mentioned a maiden at Galway prior to his flat debut at the Curragh on Sunday. He clearly wasn’t expecting him to win this contest, even though he was as short as 7/2 in the market.

As it turned out, he was right, but I thought it was a lovely return to action and if connections do decide the take the “easier” option at Galway next week then he might just prove difficult to beat. He was never really put into this contest, but I liked how he stayed on late to finish a never nearer fourth.

This should have blown away the cobwebs and while he has multiple options available to him at Galway across all disciplines, the option of staying on the flat might appeal.