Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes

Paddys

So You Think 1/3

Snow Fairy 5/1

Famous Name 10/1

Roderic O'Connor 16/1

Recital 16/1

Dunboyne Express 33/1

About as exciting as watching a 8th re-reun of songs of praise.

What a god awful line-up this is. Snow Fairy wont even run if there is cut in the ground.

The Irish Group 1s are becoming a joke.

Irish horseracing needs to start attempting to attract some horses across the water because too many of these races are becoming Coolmore benefits.

It doesn't help that all the best irish trained horses are coming from the same stable. Cape blanco and treasure beach are obvious omissions due to this problem.

Aside from Ballydoyle top end Irish Flat Racing seems to be getting weaker all the time. I get the impression Ballydoyle
get the best and the others have to make do with second raters and that owners don't want to know at the top
end anymore. English trainers seem to be losing interest in sending horses over to.
This race is a shining example.
It's enivitable that one day one of these races Group 1 will be contested by Ballydoyle horses only.
A sad day that will be for racing fans.

^
possibly even this one

Frankie rides Snow Fairy

Shea Heff rides So You Think

Rcingpost.com

SEAMIE HEFFERNAN is set to keep the ride on hot favourite So You Think in the Group 1 Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Heffernan partnered the ex-Australian star in his first start after switching to Ireland earlier in the year before being replaced by Ryan Moore for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

With Moore claimed to ride Workforce, Heffernan was handed the ride on So You Think on his latest start when the Ballydoyle runner was successful in a titanic Coral-Eclipse and is set to take the reins again with Moore sidelined by injury.

Duncan Ramage, racing manager to part-owner Dato Tam Nim Chan, said on Tuesday: "The information I have from Coolmore is that Seamie Heffernan takes the mount again and we're very pleased to have him.

"The decision is made by Coolmore for us as we're pretty much the silent partner now. They know what they're doing.

"We're delighted Seamie is riding the horse as he's unbeaten on him and hopefully he can keep that run going on Saturday."

So You Think was priced up at 1-3 favourite for the Irish Champion on Saturday when he will face a maximum of five opponents.

Second in the betting is Snow Fairy and Ramage feelsshe will be no pushover in the 1m2f Group 1.

"I saw Snow Fairy when she won in Hong Kong last year and I was impressed. I thought she would pose a significant threat to So You Think when he transferred to Europe," Ramage said.

"Her last start was her best this campaign if she continues to improve and come back to form she'll be tough to beat."

Possible plans for So You Think after the Irish Champion Stakes include the Tatts Cox Plate in Australia, for which he would need to go into quarantine straight after the race, where he would be attempting to emulate Kingston Town by winning the race three times.

However, Ramage suggested that So You Think was unlikely to travel to Australia with more options for him where he is.

"Put it this way, if he's to come to Australia he's coming for only one race which involves travelling across the Equator to the southern hemisphere, while if he remains in Europe there's multiple options," Ramage said.

"Coolmore said they wouldn't talk about it until after Saturday and you don't need to teach them to suck eggs."

He contiuned: "My opinion isthat it would be fantastic for Australia if he were to go and win the Arc and make history. He's the favourite and it would be silly not to consider the race but we'll leave the decision to Aidan O'Brien. A lot will depend on Saturday."

I don't really think this is as terrible renewal as people say, the horse have won 14 Gr. 1s between them. Any race with a short priced favourite can look like a formality, but it's not SYT's fault that he's a 1/3 shot. I'm really looking forward to it, and hoping SF bounces back to form. Also am intrigued by Recital, he looks like a good type for the Champion Stakes at Ascot, if they can sort out his hanging.

Thursday Lunchtime: The going at Leopardstown is now good on the outer track which will be used for the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes as well as the other Group 1 on Saturday's card, the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes.

The inner course is currently described as good (good to firm in places) and will be watered for a short period today.

The weather forecast is fine for today but widespread rain is forecast countrywide for tomorrow night and Saturday

While I will be following SYT's performance closely and supporting him with a possible Arc run in mind, Recital is the intriguing contender in this.  We have certainly not got to the bottom of him yet and he was clearly a well-fancied horse by the Ballydoyle team earlier in the season.  It would not be a complete shock if he could put in a very good performance at some point.  If he is ready for this and his 'troublesome' aspects (hanging) can be resolved it might even be this race.  Also worth bearing in mind the Ballydoyle 'second-string' won this last year, although it is true Cape Blanco had shown more at that stage than Recital has so far.

Recital is the 2nd (3rd at worst) horse in the race imo. Should be half his odds.

2nd best*

issue is not whether hes good enough, its whether Coolmore want him to win. any further discussion is pointless

issue is not whether hes good enough, its whether Coolmore want him to win. any further discussion is pointless

That's definitely not the case, otherwise how come Cape Blanco won last year when Rip Van Winkle was a far more valuable stallion prospect, and was definitely their first string. Ballydoyle's second or even third string often win races, and in fact there's probably some value to be had in backing horses which aren't the obvious first string as sometimes I think that they don't even know who there strongest horse is.

Going at present

Inner Course - 'Good'

Outer Course- 'Good'

Weather Forecast 

Rain expected to reach the Dublin area during tonight, clearing away tomorrow morning. Prediction is for 5mm of rain. Dry through tomorrow afternoon and evening.

Courses In Use

There will be two courses in operation for Saturday's meeting. The Kilternan Stakes, The Coolmore Matron Stakes, the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes and the EBF Autumn Fillies Handicap will be on the outer course with all other races on the inner course.

http://bit.ly/qKDjOq   Betfair write up

By: This user is offline. dtamutants
Date Joined: 15 Jan 08 Add contact | Send message
When: 01 Sep 11 12:44 Joined: Date Joined: 15 Jan 08 | Topic/replies: 42 | Blogger: dtamutants's blog
I don't really think this is as terrible renewal as people say, the horse have won 14 Gr. 1s between them. Any race with a short priced favourite can look like a formality, but it's not SYT's fault that he's a 1/3 shot. I'm really looking forward to it, and hoping SF bounces back to form. Also am intrigued by Recital, he looks like a good type for the Champion Stakes at Ascot, if they can sort out his hanging.


^^^^^ Snow Fairy ran to her ability last time out,thats as good as she is and it was a good performance,getting tired of people assuming that the 2 group 1's she won in the middle east last year made her some sort of super horse

gotta win....if he's going for a third cox plate they can chance having him undercooked...tomorrow will be his last race till Moonee Valley. they'll lynch Aidan if the horse loses because he's not fit.

cant chance.

I'm about 40 mile from Lepoardstown and it's absolutely belting down.

That's Snow Fairy out then

Honestly, i'm not sure why they bother to enter SYT in these rubbish races that are a complete embarrassment to racing with half the field by the same people.

All i can offer is "try and not bump into each other this time" whilst i shake my head.

Its no wonder they don't want to come to Australia, it would be quite embarrassing lets face it.

Obviously SYT is the most likely winner but I cannot possibly see how he's a 3/10 chance here. His form over here has been good but not that good. Also, to my eyes he had quite a hard race last time. He's had a decent break so he may have recovered but as has already been mentioned, Recital is a 3yo still open to improvement and wouldn't have to progress loads to bridge the gap in receipt of the wfa allowance. There are many better odds on shots out there.

Recital. wins. imo.

Two things are clear from Force Majeure's latest post:

1. He does not understand how the entry process works in Ireland.
2. He does not appreciate the prestige of the Irish Champion Stakes.

He also appears to think that Ballydoyle and Coolmore 'don't want' to go to Australia implying that they are afraid of something? Strange sort of comment.

"About as exciting as watching a 8th re-reun of songs of praise."

"What a god awful line-up this is"

"The Irish Group 1s are becoming a joke."

"It doesn't help that all the best irish trained horses are coming from the same stable"

"Aside from Ballydoyle top end Irish Flat Racing seems to be getting weaker all the time"


These are all comments from other posters in the thread, but you single me out for special mention, says a lot IMHO.

And I agree with 3rd, 4th and 5th statements above.

None of the above comments are blaming Ballydoyle or Aidan O'Brien for today's race. You are !! That's my issue - you are on every SYT / Ballydoyle horse thread posting nonsense about the greatest trainer in the world*.

Please indicate what race(s) you would have went for?
What races would have been stronger?

Also the way the entry process works means that O'Brien was to know who else would run here until last Sunday's six day declaration stage.

*Greatest in my opinion!

wasn't

OK, i see why you have a problem with me because I dont agree with you that O'Brien is "the greatest trainer in the world".

Well, im very sorry, but i with out doubt do not agree with you, far from it infact, heres a picture for you BTW, i can do that for you though.

He won the cox plate last year at 1/2. It would be just as uncompetitive if SYT was to turn up again. Workforce and rewilding are rated much higher then the likes of zipping and Descarado. Who is  O'brien actually running scared of?

"Who is  O'brien actually running scared of?"

The Greatest trainer in the world for starters.

but what horse?

No that is not why I disagree. Although O'Brien is one of the best out there, and I don't see why you have such a problem. I accept you think that one or two might be better and would not have a problem with that - no debate there as far as I am concerned.

But you are incredibly stubborn and uncopperative (that is why I am pulling you up) - constantly criticising the fact that SYT is running in such small fields....it's hardly the horse or trainer's fault. Maybe this time, you will answer me and say where the horse should be running in your opinion.

SYT - i would ignore FM if I were you. He has shown his ignorance on many threads. Don't respond and he eventually goes away.

I got to feel a bit for Snow Fairy. Been campaigned very poorly  this season.

can only imagine Dunlop is targetting the Far East again.

This is after all the ANTE POST thread, and could there be a worse trainer in the world than O'Brien to follow in an ANTE POST thread?

I think not.

At least he won yesterday, well done for that.

Again more nonsense from you. Have you any facts to back up the statement: could there be a worse trainer in the world than O'Brien to follow in an ANTE POST thread

Thank god there's only two more races max before they retire SYT.

Im alraedy bet up on those ones so i dont care what their daily flip floppering change of plans are anymore.[:x]