Brian Fleming looks back at the action last week and nominates his ‘Tracker Trio’ The irishracing.com tracker facility is something that has become a must-have tool for anyone serious about their punting. Having used the tracker since it was added a long time ago, I'm going to share some of the horses that have caught my eye over the previous week. The first race I'm focusing on is a maiden hurdle at Gowran on Friday (Oct 2) with a low-grade 7f nursery that took place at Dundalk later that evening and a Qualified Riders' 12f Handicap at the Curragh on Sunday (Oct 4) completing the ‘tracker trio’. LIRAKALI, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Jordan Gainford, Gowran Park, Oct 2 The outsider of the stable’s duo for this 2m 80yds maiden the 5yo was arguably unlucky not to get the verdict in the stewards room after going down by the narrowest of margins to his better-fancied stable companion The Captain’s Word. Only defeated by a nose he wasn’t helped when the winner edged over on him after the final flight making things tight against the far rail and having got his head in front in the dying strides was pipped on the bob in the end by the 10/11 favourite. A lengthy enquiry probably just about got it right leaving the judges placings stand. It shouldn’t be long before this €40,000 Derby Sale purchase, who had previously also finished second on debut in a Clonmel bumper last May, go one place better in this sphere before he goes chasing in due course. SNAPEQUUS, trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Joey Sheridan, Dundalk, Oct 2 The market spoke volumes for this son of Ten Sovereigns at Dundalk last Friday evening in a 0-70 nursery, attracting support from as big as 5/1 in the morning to go off favourite in the end at 9/4. The weight of financial support coupled with the fact the original morning favourite Littlepacer (5th, Johnny Murtagh) was friendless all day was justified but not without plenty of encouragement in the saddle from Joey Sheridan over a trip probably short of his optimum. Well defeated in his three runs on turf prior to getting off the mark here off 61 on handicap debut, the steady pace probably wasn’t ideal (slow by 4.84secs). Related to an AW winner over further he looks the type to build on this debut win when tried over further. The handicapper raised him 5lbs when the revised list was released on Monday (Oct 5) but now that the penny has dropped, he may well deliver again when stepped up in distance on this surface. It’s interesting to see he could be heading for the Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale (Lot 141) later this month. ALFALFA, trained by Timmy Doyle and ridden by Jessica Stokes, Curragh, Oct 4 Was another well supported in the market to repeat his win in this corresponding race 12 months ago under the same rider, who opened her account aboard this gelding last year, but had to settle for third place behind Whimsy (Anthony McCann). The 8yo was 2lb higher than when he won his second race last season and ran off 67 when he was demoted to second place in a 19-runner Curragh 1m2f handicap on testing ground almost three years ago. With the ground likely to be in his favour over the coming weeks he deserves another chance off this unchanged mark of 65. Considering this was just his second run back following 11 months off, he could be sharper next time too.
