Fields Of Athenry represents an outstanding each-way betting proposition in the group one, £650,000, Doncaster St Leger Stakes over an extended three-quarter miles of ‘good’ ground on the famous Town Moor circuit; with three places available’ today is the day’ to take advantage of an edge for punters.
Nowadays bookmakers offer only a fifth of starting price odds, it used to be a quarter and in five/six runner races, a third for two places.
Bookmakers also try (and succeed!) to bribe trainers/owners to effect withdrawals in eight-horse events; you can guarantee they will be attempting such ‘below the belt’ tactics on this occasion because the ‘dead eight’ in such a high-profile race, especially on ‘super-Saturday, is a logistical disaster in their narrowly-focused eyes.
Never pity bookies, they have no respect for their client; in fact nowadays they are no more than accountants and all the humour has gone out of racing; the camaraderie and banter was terrific in my early days, it doesn’t exist anymore but punters will be laughing if indeed Fields Of Athenry makes it four wins from seven outings. I’ll bet he does!
Fields Of Athenry, rated 115, ran remarkably well under top-weight and a 17-year-old apprentice in the ‘Ebor’ last month; missed the break, was charged up to lead entering the straight, went three lengths clear and then, inevitably, hung left under a flailing whip. when it was put down this Galileo colt stayed on strongly. stamina isn’t at issue.
It definitely is with Epsom Derby third Storm The Stars and the majority of rivals; significantly Aidan O’Brien has booked ultra-positive, champion-elect, Silvestre de Souza!
As to what Joseph O’Brien would have ridden doesn’t matter, he’s in Ireland riding Gleneagles in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Running in tandem will be several meetings, one is Chester where ex-Irish trained Stamp Hill is clear ‘best-in’ for the two-year-old Maiden Stakes over six furlongs of forecast ‘good to soft’, judged on efforts over the minimum trip.
Transferred from Johnny Murtagh to Richard Fahey after running in the ‘Windsor Castle’ this Zoffany colt will be ridden by Jack Garrity, serious challenger to Tom Marchand for the apprentice championship; his guv’nor is leaving no stone un-turned to make it happen for the lad but this is a stiffer course than most realise.