UK/Ireland Monday

5-25 Curragh.
Shanghai Beauty 7/2,but going.Came 4th in listed race last year and that form is good enough to take this

From Ger Lyons facebook, like this stable and if there was some south African trainers as transparent



Thankfully we are back on home soil today at the Curragh all be it on heavy home soil after the deluge we've had over the weekend.

Just briefly, Cappella landed home safely on Sunday evening after resting over there on Saturday night. He's in good order and basically didn't handle the firm conditions or the track. We were initially worried he was lame after the interference he received but he cooled down well and lives to fight another day. Realistically he's shy of Gr1 company and I will aim lower and hopefully win another Gr3 and hopefully a Gr2.

We run Blood Moon in the opener at HQ this afternoon but have no idea how he will handle the heavy going. My policy this year so far has been to run them regardless until we find out for sure that they don't handle the conditions on offer. This fella doesn't set the world on fire at home but if he saves his best for the track I'll be more than happy. The 10+ Bonus is also a great incentive to run and to win a second one with him really would be a bonus!

The 'Big Un'(Endless Drama) runs in the Tetrach Stakes where hopefully he can learn a bit more on track than he already has on his two previous starts. I'm sure he'll handle the conditions as good as anything else but he will be better on a nicer surface. I'm so glad I didn't run him on Saturday as the ground would definitely have jarred him up.
If all goes well today then he will be still on course for the Irish 2000 GNS at the end of this month.

I run a wee filly in the last maiden that is a half sister to Captain Chaos that actually won the Tetrach on this day many years ago. Initially we thought she was too small so we just gave her as much time as possible. She has grown and matured and her work has improved enough to start her off today. Whether or not she will handle the ground we will find out today but I'm delighted to be starting her off for her syndicate of owners and hopefully she can progress from today.

With the jumps season over it would be nice if our authorities would focus on the Flat season for a bit and get it going in earnest rather than drip feeding it. I'm 100% in agreement with Robert Power who has asked for some proper time out for the jump jockeys to repair and rest their bodies. Maybe a rest would stop the spate of injuries they are going through at the moment because it was never this bad in the old days when we were allowed a break.

HGD

Harwood Star an ew chance race 1 at Windsor , probably a better sand horse but chances here

R2 Down Royal Miss Faithful E/W. Comes into this in better form than many of her rivals and should enjoy today's quicker ground. Can make the first four in a very weak race at around 9/1.

R4 Kempton Gallery Exhibition E/W. Will enjoy the ground and a flat right-handed track like Kempton. Still relatively unexposed over fences and can go well in this wide open handicap chase. 9/1 a fair enough price.

R7 Bath Let Right Be Done. A terrible race where most of the five remaining runners have shown little worthwhile form. The selection has at least won a race on the AW and today's fast ground and sharp track should suit his front-running style. 7/2 is a very nice price in a race where I think he should be favourite. Will be hard to peg back if getting an easy lead (as looks likely).

My goodness Richard hughes is something else!!!!!!

I backed Lily's Rainbow in race4 at the Curragh,she was stopped in her run 3 times,then had to pull wide and finished about 7th,didn't have a race and jock was still cruising along.
Because the jock on the 2nd messed up and commentators are flogging the poor lad to death,they have not noticed this unlucky run.
It's getting the full flower treatment on its next run.