Democratic to spoil the party

14 April 2012

What are your plans for tomorrow afternoon? Go on, admit it. Your day revolves around either going to the FA Cup Final or watching it on telly with a soothing lager close to hand.

It promises to be a lively day in Cardiff - especially if Malcolm Glazer turns up to watch his new workforce in action - but be sure to switch to Channel 4 during half time for a Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas which sees Coolmore and Godolphin square off against each other with Oratorio and Dubawi.

Bookmakers feel it is odds-on that one of the pair will win - and perhaps they are right - but Democratic Deficit might just upset the big two in a race which could prove much more open than the betting suggests. Clearly, the English Guineas is the key pointer here, and it was a race which hinted at flaws in both Dubawi and Oratorio.

Dubawi's connections blamed the fast ground for his defeat. However, the way he went sideways when Frankie Dettori's whip came out suggested that he might have a suspect temperament to go with his undoubted ability, while Oratorio stayed on strongly for fourth at Newmarket but will be vulnerable again if he races as lazily as he did there.

Rebel Rebel showed no sign of laziness at Newmarket. Indeed, he excelled himself in staying on strongly for second behind Footstepsinthesand, but there are reasons to think Democratic Deficit can reverse the form tomorrow.

Jim Bolger's colt didn't get the rub of the green when sixth in the Guineas, as he was checked leaving the stalls and badly baulked when Dubawi began to hang badly left coming out of the Dip. Only a fool would argue that it cost him a winning chance, but he was unlucky not to bustle up the placed horses and his turn of foot makes him look a fair each way bet at 7-1 or thereabouts.

Back in Britain, Channel 4 will be at Haydock for three live races headed by the totesport Silver Bowl at 3.30.

A £95,000 pot has drawn a predictably strong field including the impressive Chester winner

Notability and the improving Doncaster scorer Real Quality. Walkonthewildside is another with strong claims after beating two subsequent handicap winners with authority at Warwick, but Home

Affairs is the one who really catches the eye.

Sir Michael Stoute's well-related Dansili colt proved all at sea on desperate ground in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last autumn, but the very fact that he ran in that Group One contest is significant. Prior to that he looked a cracking prospect when storming clear of a useful field including Notability at Yarmouth, and an official mark of 90 looks very fair indeed for his handicap debut. Forever Phoenix and Distinctly Game are the names to remember in the other two Channel 4 races at Haydock. Forever Phoenix goes well on this track and came right back to form to bustle up Kind in a Listed race at Nottingham last weekend. She should go close in the Happy Anniversary Pauline Handicap, while Distinctly Game thrived on racing in 2004 and looks the sort to go well at an each-way price in the Option Hygiene Sandy Lane Stakes.

Meanwhile, the spotlight switches back to the Curragh on Sunday when the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Tattersalls Gold Cup headline a fine card.

Virginia Waters will be a short price to follow up her Newmarket Guineas success in the Irish 1,000 and the burning question is whether she is quite as good as she looked when sweeping through from way back three weeks ago.

If she is the rest are in trouble, but evens looks skinny enough and Maids Causeway appeals as the value alternative. This Giant's Causeway filly was beaten on merit by Virginia Waters at Newmarket, but considering she was bang there throughout in a strongly-run race she ran a blinder to go down by two and a half lengths.

Barry Hills feels she has thrived since and, given that she never fails to give her best, a little each-way on Maids Causeway looks one of the safer investments on a hectic sporting weekend.

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Democratic to spoil the party

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