Great to see Flat racing back on the turf at The Curragh yersterday. The U.K. Flat Season gets underway at Doncaster a week on Saturday and it is getting to the point where you can almost smell the change in the air.
With the Flat season in sight and the middle ground between both Cheltenham and Aintree, this is always my quietest time on the betting front. The level of racing, across both codes, takes a considerable drop for a period and the betting is tough to beat, so posts and bets take a noticeable dip.
The fact today’s only bet comes in a Class 6 Classified Stakes on the All Weather says it all, really.
Phils Dream @ 4/1
Phils Dream @ 4/12pt Win | Wolverhampton 20:00
T: John C McConnell | J: Hollie Doyle
Result: Won – 1/8 +10pts | Took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway to lead over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong (SP 5/1)
One of John McConnell’s Irish raiders we chanced in January, when he brought over Phils Dream and Slowdownbarney. The latter ran a poor race as an 11/4 favourite, but Phils Dream went off a 12/1 shot and was only beaten a neck 2nd, in what turned out to be a competitive enough 0-60 handicap.
He was beaten by Rogue De Vega, who in winning completed a three-timer and made it four wins from seven runs on the All-Weather. In 3rd was Spendmore Lane, who has since gone up 9lbs in the weights having won twice from four runs.
McConnell now brings him back, but this time for a noteable drop in competitiveness with this Class 6 Classified Stakes, the first UK Classified Stakes he has entered since he won one here at Wolverhampton in 2020, when one called Cliara won by four lengths at 9/2.
Hollie Doyle retains the ride, who doesn’t have an overly strong record at this grade, but she at least knows what to expect having had a steer on him before.
Best of luck with your punting today,
