By Michael Guerin
Tony Herlihy has a problem his rivals would love at Alexandra Park tonight: he can’t decide who his best winning chance is, for all the right reasons.
Herlihy has winning hopes in as trainer in five of the eight races and could provide at least three favourites.
Add to that a winning driving chance with La Maitre Dix in race two and the champion horseman, who celebrated his 57th birthday this week, looks in for a big night at the meeting that will compliment Addington’s outstanding premier card.
While he trains impressive recent winners Walkinshaw (race seven) and Its Oscar (race four) Herlihy narrowly opts for Downunder Stride in the last race as his best hope.
“He has gone two good races behind Risk, who looks a nice horse, this time in,” says Herlihy.
“He is probably down in grade here and the 2700m will suit him so he should be hard to beat.”
Walkinshaw meets just four rivals in what looks like a mini Sires’ Stakes heat and while he was beaten last time the boss wasn’t perturbed.
“He ran fifth in that Sires’ Stakes heat at Cambridge where Art Form went 1:53 but we had no luck and he still found the line well. “It could be a tricky little race, as these often are, but he can win if he gets into the right spot.”
That 2200m mobile also features impressive Ray Green-trained three-year-olds Beaudiene Beaufighta and Lincolns Keepsake so should be a great form guide for the weeks head.
Its Oscar won his northern debut for Herlihy last Thursday and stays on the same mark as a class-one horse so makes obvious appeal in race four.
“He has good speed for a trotter in this grade so has a good hope.” While Herlihy’s pair of Mr Euroman and Cheers Stride both look better than maidens in race one, they do meet last-start Sires’ Stakes third Zach Maguire, so could be running for place money.
The night’s feature sees Besotted looking for his first win of his new campaign and even though he faces a 40m handicap it is not a strong field and he is good enough to overcome his backmark.
Delight Brigade, who was a brave fifth against the open class horses including Besotted last week, looks the danger with the advantage of a 20m head start.
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