Papa Luigi is a long time winning but this Richard Hannon-trained Zoffany colt can put matters right, at the ninth attempt, in an eight-runner Maiden Stakes over six furlongs of Wolverhampton Tapeta this afternoon, when running in tandem will be two jumping fixtures, Hexham and Southwell.
No one concentrated moreso on NH racing than yours truly but nowadays race-times are diabolical; inconsistency can’t be tolerated and because guessing isn’t an option we ‘specialise’ with set-weight races on the flat, Papa Luigi is typical of my modus operandi.
On the time-handicap Papa Luigi is clear best-in, he’s rated 80, has sufficient experience and seems genuine, not to mention consistent. Under Kevin O’Neill, one of a ‘pool’ of proficient jockeys riding for the racing family Hannon, we expect Papa Luigi to land the nap.
Later it’s difficult to choose between Hannon-trained Torch and High Draw from the yard of Karl Burke, two of ten ‘decs’ for an ‘aged’ Maiden Stakes over a mile of ‘good’ ground Wetherby. Apart from Excellent World none has any chance and so were likely to target the better-priced runner in an each-way double with Papa Luigi.
Torch is by second season sire, Paco Boy, whose Galileo Gold won the English 2000 Guineas and was runner-up, Saturday night, on The Curragh to Awtaad in the Irish equivalent. Paco Boy was being spoken of negatively in the early part last year, so many speculators are impatient!
Never forget in life ‘patience is the supreme virtue, until you run out of time’ which is why you must take advantage of this veteran columnist because there will never be another able to concentrate on a time-handicap and use classification to advantage; dinosaurs eventually become extinct!
Sean Levey rides Torch, no problem there; jockeyship is at a premium when punting seriously, a good reason why one likes to ‘lay’ favourites, ridden by moderates.
Incidentally two of three favourites for the Epsom Derby, a week on Saturday, are still to be supplemented, The Gurkha wont run and so it was pleasing to hear Massaat worked well in a spin round Lingfield two days ago; he’s now on course, so to speak!
Racing Special Selections:
11.15 Papa Luigi (nap)
1.40 Dubai Knights
4.20 Torch