This weekend there is classic action at the Curragh and a top-class line up in the Irish Oaks on Saturday evening.
Fahey has as strong a team of two-year-olds as he's ever had and this horse has a fairly middle draw (10) so should be able to go with the pace. Also drawn fairly central (13) is another of his runners, Eccleston. He has only had the two starts and was well beaten in the Norfolk last time out. That didn't look like his true running though and he could bounce back with a light weight here.
Fellow Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan has four runners with Morning Pearl, Proclamationofwar, Yorkshire Relish and Oasis Town.
Alutiq could be one to follow for Eve Johnson Houghton. She ran a creditable seventh in the Queen Mary and she is held in high regard. She only has 8st to carry which looks very attractive.
She runs for Qatar Racing and Cathy Gannon rides. She also looks well drawn in 18 and I think she can run well.
Ripon
Saturday also sees the start of the
Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival. The eight-day festival gets underway at Ripon and I'm pleased to say that Sky Bet are aiming to raise another substantial sum for charity during that period.
I'm part of a so-called "Magnificent Seven" who will be pitting our wits against each other all in the name of a good cause! Although I was lucky enough to win this tipping competition in the past I fear I'm up against some excellent tipsters and I'm not sure I share Sky Bet's confidence in me.
The rest of motley crew are made up of Ed Chamberlin, top trainer Richard Fahey, award-winning journalist Tom O'Ryan (who has plenty of time to study the formbook as he recuperates from an accident), Channel 4's top tipster Jim McGrath, with SportingLife.com editor Dave Ord and Sky Bet's Racing PR Manager Michael Shinners completing the septet.
The daily selections for each tipster will appear on SkyBet.com, SportingLife.com and skysports.com, while a leaderboard will be available at
www.skybet.com/ruk.
The Festival fixtures are:
Saturday July 20 - Ripon
Sunday July 21 - Redcar
Monday July 22 - Beverley (evening)
Wednesday July 24 - Catterick
Thursday July 25 - Doncaster (evening)
Friday July 26 - Thirsk, York (evening)
Saturday July 27 - York
Sunda, July 28 - Pontefract
Sky Bet are giving us £50 each day to bet on any race at the Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival, with any profits added together and shared equally between three charities - New Beginnings, the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
One thing you can be sure of, more thought will be given to these tips than almost any others and there should be some fun and hopefully lots of money raised along the way!
In addition to the fierce competition there is plenty to enjoy over the week, lots of racing with live music, entertainment, competitions, a stable visit (Richard Fahey on Thursday, July 25) and a racecourse open day (at Wetherby on Tuesday July 23) - get involved.
If you fancy backing any of us you can find the details here.
Right, I'm off to study the form for Ripon on Saturday which will also be my Sky Sports News Tip of the Day, wish me luck!
Selections
Riposte in the Irish Oaks @ 5/2 with Sky Bet
Alutiq in the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury
