ITV Racing Tips: Westover can enjoy change of luck in Irish Derby
Published:
It’s another Classic weekend on the TV with the staging of Ireland’s most important race for three-year-olds, the Irish Derby at the Curragh.
While the Group 1 has the most prestige, there is also a race at Newcastle that is close to the heart of racegoers in the north east, the Northumberland Plate or the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’ as it used to be known as.
The Group 1-winning stayer Trueshan, who missed Royal Ascot because of the quick ground, will try to pull off the feat of winning the 2m prize of a welter weight of 10st 8lb.
On the Curragh the Oaks winner Tuesday will bid to become the first filly since 1996 to win the Irish Derby but faces strong competition from Westover, the unlucky Derby third.
On a schedule shared among Newcastle, Newmarket and the Curragh, there are also two Group 3 races, two Listed races and a consolation race for the Plate.
ITV is showing eight races. Coverage begins at 1.25pm and we have previewed the three most significant races of the day in our ITV Racing Tips.
14:25 Chipchase Stakes
A field of 12 for this sprint, including former winner Judicial, and Glen Shiel, a Group 1 winner two years ago who seems to need soft ground to show his best. He has won three of his five starts over the track which is going to be useful experience. However, recent efforts suggest he may not be the force of old.
Edraak could be the horse to side with. Also a course and distance winner, he only failed by a short head to land the All-Weather Sprint Championship in April and with only one start since, looks like he has been kept for this prize by trainer Mick Appleby.
15:30 Northumberland Plate
Group 1-winning stayer Trueshan was denied a start in the Ascot Gold Cup by fast ground so heads to Newcastle for this 2m handicap.
He took on the same challenge 12 months ago where he finished sixth under 9st 13lb. At the time he was the highest rated horse for 20 years to contest a handicap, a record he is set to break as, now rated 120, he has to carry a mammoth 10st 8lb. It would be some feat to pull off under Hollie Doyle.
Stablemate Who Dares Wins, the winner in 2019, is in the field again as is Rajinsky, fourth in 2021, but Valley Forge could be the horse to follow. He got up to win at Haydock by a head last month where he was the last off the bridle and would have won by more had his jockey not temporarily dropped his rein.
15:45 Irish Derby
A rather disappointing field for the Irish Classic with only one Group 1 winner in the line-up and that is the Oaks winner Tuesday who was supplemented earlier in the week.
That move in itself is a reflection of the lack of depth among Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-olds this year who often fills the field with a plethora of contenders. Tuesday will be his only runner this time and it looks like she will be fighting for the spoils with the Ralph Beckett-trained Westover.
Tuesday could have been considered a fortunate winner of the Oaks as it looked like Emily Upjohn would have won, but for a bad start. That said, Tuesday was able to pull out more when challenged and is going to be tough to beat.
Yet Westover was stopped in his run at Epsom, just as Desert Crown was launching his. Once he got a clear run, he was eating into Desert Crown’s advantage but too late to worry the impressive winner. He can make amends under Colin Keane.
ITV Racing schedule, Saturday, 25th June
13:50 Newcastle – 6f handicap
14:05 Newmarket – Empress Stakes
14:25 Newcastle – Chipchase Stakes
14.40 Newmarket – Fred Archer Stakes
14.55 Newcastle – Northumberland Vase
15:15 Newmarket – Criterion Stakes
15:30 Newcastle – Northumberland Plate
15:45 Curragh – Irish Derby
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
