Dirar, (borrowed from The Racing Post/Edward Whitaker)
A note before we get started: a new post will be up here within the hour from the great Harvey Pack about his Travers memories. You don’t want to miss that. But let’s get this out of the way first. . .
I don’t say this to give American breeders/horsemen a hard time, I just say it because it’s true. When it comes to grass racing, UK and Irish runners. . .well, they’re just better (there, I said it). And the same goes true for grass racing that happens to ask the runners to go over some sticks.
Looking at the race from a Handicapping 101 type perspective, #3 DIRAR looks strong, really strong. His UK/IRE form absolutely buries these. He’s rated 30 pounds higher than Percussionist, who hacked up in the big one at Far Hills last October. He’s rated 25 pounds higher than Decoy Daddy, who might well be a shorter price and actually gives Dirar weight. His placement here makes sense, since shrewd conditioner Gordon Elliot had him going for Galway anyway. It’s so clever I wish I thought of it.
The lone worry is how he’ll handle the ship/handle the conditions. But if he’s even half of his Morning Line, I’ll roll the dice. Galway is a fairly tight track so hopefully our tight turns won’t be a huge issue. And Barry Geraghty has ridden here before and is world class.
BANKROLL PLAY
$25 win and place on #3 DIRAR
MEET TO DATE RESULTS
+463 (lost $50 yesterday, though it was fun to have a 50-1 shot on the lead in the stretch for a nano second)
The Unbearable Lightness of Betting 