Niall Cronin’s Racing Tips – Sunday

With a Classic in France, an all flat card in Listowel, a national hunt meeting at Kilbeggan and the usual strong Irish presence at Perth, Sunday is very much a mixed bag of action.

Grounds For Success
John Gosden had to settle for minor honours in the Epsom Derby on Saturday but with Foundation he gets the nod to take home the Prix du Jockey Club from Chantilly.

His Highness Aga Khan will be looking for a Derby double with Zarak (7/1) his representative and he is a horse who will come on for the step up in trip having not featured behind The Gurkha in the French 2,000 Guineas.

Another who will be better for a Guineas outing is 12/1 shot Bravery who was fourth in the Irish equivalent but Foundation is the pick for Gosden and Dettori.

The French Derby is run over just 10-furlongs but that could be an ideal trip for the three-year-old who was third behind stable companion Wings Of Desire in the Dante Stakes.

And while Deauville didn’t do the form a massive service yesterday, Wings Of Desire ran a cracking race and Foundation is a tentative selection.

Down To Listowel
David Marnane’s five-year-old Kodiac’s Back is one that stood out on the Listowel card.

Around about a 6/1 shot, the horse is looking for a fifth career victory, the last of which came on the all-weather last October off the same mark of 71 which he will contest the 4.45pm one-mile handicap.

Kodiac’s Back had a short winter break and returned to action at Gowran Park just under a fortnight ago which should leave him spot on to run a big race here and the quick ground at the Kerry track should be ideal.

Harty and Blackmore to Dance
The Streamstown Handicap Chase is just one of the races at Kilbeggan on Sunday where cases could be made for many of the runners but Buck Dancing looked a horse who could turn the tables with Down Under here.

Eddie Harty’s charge was third behind Down Under here in April.

But with the winner going up 5lbs since then and Rachel Blackmore now taking 7lbs off Buck Dancing, there is a case to be made for the 13/2 shot.

Luck in running is often a factor around Kilbeggan and the seven-year-old may not have just had the clearest of runs around here last time out and despite not winning since claiming a four-year-old maiden point-to-point, there is enough form in his career to suggest he is up to taking a contest of this calibre.

Recommended Bets:
Foundation – 3.15 Chantilly
Kodiac’s Back – 4.45 Listowel
Buck Dancing – 5.30 Kilbeggan

*Prices correct at time of publication.