Another Massive rick from Paddy

Radanpour has been impressive in his two victories on soft ground but what has he beat?

The Tipperary maiden form is weak with Novis Adventus in second and the dodgepot Jacobean in third,very little strength in depth to that maiden but still a decent debut run to win over 9 furlongs in soft ground.

I think the 3 runner Gowran race wasn't worth a carrot in bottomless ground,again beating one of the most regressive horses in training in Jacobean and King Christopher whose trainer reported to the stewards afterwards that he didn't act on the ground. That gives some inclination to how bad the ground was at Gowran considering he was a previous winner on soft ground at Limerick.

DK said that he didn't have any concerns about the ground for Radanpour which doesn't by any stretch mean he won't act on more lively ground but it does post a slight question mark to how effective he might be on it. Some of the best ones are versatile on any ground though.


Heavy ground and Sea The Stars mightn't be words you'd readily put together, but after a win for his daughter in the first at Gowran, Sr Cartage, a son of the Gilltown Stud-resident, Radanpour, impressed in contest two, the Goresbridge Rated Race.
This mile and a half contest was a three runner affair, but it wasn't lacking on quality with the participants bringing in ratings of 90, 91, and 94.

King Christophe (the 90 performer), tried to draw it out of his opponents from the front, but Leigh Roche (Pat Smullen suspended) got 4/5 chance, Radanpour, to the front over two furlongs out.

From there he went on to beat the wandering Jacobean, and the aforementioned King Christophe, by seven lengths and six lengths.

"He did it nicely, he is a progressive colt. We will probably look at running him in the King George Cup at Leopardstown, the race that was formerly called the Nijinsky, on June 5th," revealed winning trainer Dermot Weld.

"He coped very well with the ground but I wasn't worried about it coming here. I didn't think they'd race yesterday evening.

"He needed this, he is a big immature horse still, and rated races like that are vital for horses like him. He is a big, immature horse still, and his next race will tell us a lot more about him."

P.J.Prendergast, trainer of King Christophe, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his charge did not act on the ground.


I must admit that I initially had mixed feelings about the C+D maiden that Bondi Beach won as Bantry Bay had a very easy time of in front and there didn't look to be much strength in depth. Despite the considerate ride Bondi did look very babyish and could have had a more orthodox head carriage but perhaps there was a reason for that.

Bantry Bay has since won a relatively weak maiden in an easy manner but I have been surprised at how much strength in depth there turned out to be in Bondi Beach's winning debut.The third Baranacle bill was an emphatic winner tonight,the fourth sense of victory ran a creditable second at Mallow, the fifth Knockagree ( 8 lengths adrift) was subsequently an easy winner of a weak Listowel maiden,the seventh creative talent was also placed tonight.

I believe the Gowran form is massively overrated (third didn't act at all on the ground and the second ran all over the shop) and BB's C+D maiden win has been somewhat underrated. The sun is set to shine for most of tomorrow afternoon in Dublin so quickish ground looks probable (despite the watering)

I can't have as it as an 11/10 and 9/4 race as priced up by a couple of the books initially and would have Bondi Beach as favourite.

Emmet McNamara riding for AOB?Will this be his first ride for the stable?

No he has ridden quite a few CR but couldn't give you the stats at the moment. The vast majority of them have been lesser lights and a mostly in Ann Marie's colours. I think his last ride for AOB was OCT 14

9/4 all gone.2/1 available but laddies and boils wudnt lay 50 between them so best to wait til morn /afternoon id be thinking.id fancy it a lot actually.it ran green for 3/4 of that race and seamie wud have been happy to let it glide home in its own time..but it took off..if its straight tomoro it looks a good thing

I think it's 0/3 but open to correction is winners/rides ratio.

Cheers dj,Must say ive never noticed his name next to an AOB runner before,probably his first big test tomorrow riding a couple of fancied ones for the stable,These kinda opportunities can make or break these kids.

Tend to agree with u re said race,They done their best to get BB beat on debut but still won head in chest crossing the line.
Will only improve from that run as all O'Briens tend to,One thing i'd be fairly confident of is BB will go off Fav.
Best of luck.

He's been riding work in Ballydoyle since the start of last season at least, could even be longer. Wouldn't think it's much of a big test in reality. They've often given the lower rung riders one or two rides a season when the main guys are away.

Noticed that Colm O' Donohue has only his second ride of the season for AOB in the Oaks. His only previous ride was War Envoy in Chantilly. Shows how the O' Brien children are taking all the second and third string spins.

Agree this will win, Seamie is a crafty **** and pretty strong. He still couldn't do the job. Bondi Beach could easily wind up be their Leger horse as they know now how he likes t be ridden and that he is much better than home work.

he is 0/5 for O'Brien last 2 years

and 1/43 at Leopardstown last 5 years

Thinking on actually, if Bondi Beach can get attain a nice high rating tonight or in his next run, he might be a nice ante-post proposition for the Ebor. The Ebor/Leger is a path they have trodden in the past with very good 3yo stayers like Changingoftheguard and Honolulu.

That probably sounds ridiculous talk for a maiden winner that doesn't work well but a Ballydoyle horse winning a maiden that unwanted usually turns out to be very very good. I think Astrology did similar a few years ago and placed in a Derby. There was a filly as well of similar ilk around the same time whose name escapes me that went on to be top-class.

Queens Vase might be the race for Radanpour after that. Certainly looks like it could be an ideal race for him based on his displays so far.

Not as easy to know the plan for Bondi after he scuppered it the first day. Maybe he is a Voltiguer and supplementary entry for the Leger as he is not in the King Edward at Ascot?

Grand route as well DV and I'd be encouraged that you'd think of him in those terms. If he got a mark in the  high 90's/ early 100's I'd love to see him go Ebor, but this seems to have been something they've moved away from in recent years possibly because of Black Type for the Dams of these colts. I wonder if they made the Ebor a Grade 3 handicap like the National, would the likes of AOB and maybe even Weld with some of his Moyglare stock target it more.

They could get the ratings to get in in Ireland without killing themselves.

Very hard to get into the Ebor unless you are a 110+ rated 3 year old.

Generally if you are that, then it is worth going the Group race route.

It is a pity that they base the runners on the weights after WFA as some really nice immature and improving 3 year olds could take part if the rules were changed.

I am told that bondi is a bit of a boyo at home, this race may give a better picture as to whether he is a horse who brings it to the track or otherwise. relating to the ebor, I cannot stop thinking, given the weight problems that joseph has, that papa is bound to prepare a few proper group 2/3 standard 3 year olds for the big handicaps, so that joseph can ride with more than 9st 7 on their backs. normally not the way with ballydoyle, the weight situation this summer may see an adjustment to needs.

They have targeted the Ebor in the past with  Med and Honolulu. The latter carried 9-3 when rated 111 so they would need to target a very decent horse at these races with Joseph in mind.

It obviously gets a little easier when the distance is reduced but there is not as many options other than something like the Cambridgeshire. Maybe we will see the next Halling from Ballydoyle dot up in that race later in the season.

The other handicaps probably don't carry enough prize money to target other than some of the 3 year old handicaps at the Royal meeting.

Thanks lads, interesting insights.

Seems Colm is only interested in Classic success these days.

Bantry Bay fell in a hole the last 2 furlongs at Leopardstown, I'd be wary of that form , Thought Bondi Beach @9/4 was a shocking price

11/8 come race time......... Mmmmmmmm

Twenty-four hours after thread is open and you wait until they are near loading to post that? Mmmmmmmmmm

I was waiting for the race time to get nearer ...... to give him every chance for his opinion to happen.

Personally I would make Bondi Beach clear fav.

strange ride by emmett?

**** ride by Emmett, horse was intimidated i think.

Well then what was the point of your post?

Emmet should be embarrassed of himself there. Obviously told to hold horse up and afraid to engage his brain. Smullen was a 3's on shot after a hundred yards. He should be charged with larceny the way he rides the boots off other riders.

Bondi is a very nice sort in the making.

Nice ride by Smullen and hard luck Dj as you highlighted the best horse in the race but the cards did not fall your way.

second ever run and he brings it up the inside through horses..very little room..didnt like the way he was tugging the reins either..hmm?!? and i am pocket talking before im told!!

Emmet now 1/45 at Leopardstown, managed to get snookered

What was strange about it ?. There was nothing strange about the race riding in that race, one of the best jockeys in the world lifted the winner over the line, after controlling the race from the front. Most of the other jockeys rode exactly the way they do in most races they are involved in. Emmett and a few other of them riders in the race wouldnt have been placed on the winner.

You have to be able to ride at Leopardstown.

You have to be able to ride.

You really would wonder what goes through riders heads when they see Smullen go to the front. Same thing as when Murtagh and Kinane were doing it.

The only horse you probably have to beat and you give him an easy start.

Your right Mincer..... Emmma is as weak as W.T.D

surely keep it simple on bondi.not so far back. come on the outside clear run  unless of course the plan was to come up the inside and do exactly what happened..

Superb ride from Smullen- jockey was fairly inept on Bondi Beach.

Have him whereever, just come down the f'n outside.

Many spoke about the rider before the race........ just lower ur stakes...... when a pilot that is poor is on ur fancy..... at the end of the year ur P/L should be o.k.

Looks a nice race, winner looks useful too, money came for him.

I say put him in the Arc and pray for heavy going

Its a cruel game,Bondi Beach comes and wins the Curragh Cup next time out.

Not much of a consolation but ye can at lest consider yourselves justified.

i had too much on him under emmett.left it yesterday.a sickener....a great ride from seamie..hes as good as anyone given the ammo..

Where next ?

They look two proper St Leger horses and have pulled right away as well. The mile and six furlongs helped Bondi Beach, and Seamie gave him a great ride. A P O'Brien, trainer.