Kevin Blake

Not seen his new look, but he probably has not long left with the mop on top anyway.

"The big sprint handicap of the day is the Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Bold Lad" Sprint Handicap (14:00) and there is a very clear angle in it that I am keen to try and exploit.

There has been a very notable trend since the beginning of last season for British-trained runners to dominate premier handicaps at under a mile in Ireland. I produced the data and theories behind this in more length in an article earlier this year and it was given another boost at Leopardstown yesterday with British-trained horses finishing first and second in the valuable seven-furlong handicap that closed the card.

Four British-trained runners line up for this contest and the one I like the most is the Richard Fahey-trained three-year-old George Bowen. I have to declare an interest, as I bred the horse, but I have been watching him very closely from the first run of his career and I'd like to think I have a good handle on him.

For me, he wasn't suited by the seven-furlong trip he was asked to tackle on five occasions this season and the return to six furlongs very much did the trick in the Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket last time. The winning margin may only have been a length, but he won with much more in hand, as he was drawn on the wrong side and had the race wrapped over there a furlong out only for a couple of rivals to come at him late from the other side of the track. A 6lb rise is more than fair, the rain that has arrived is unlikely to inconvenience him and it also means that the draw is not as crucial over this course as it is on firmer ground. All told, I feel he has a very big chance and warrants support." - Kevin Blake.

WD son.