Punting
Michael Duffy
THE All-Ireland football championship steps up a gear this weekend with round three of the Qualifiers. Our two ante-post bets (Dublin 5-1 and Tyrone 16-1) are still alive, though Tyrone scarcely looked like contenders last weekend. That said, Westmeath have carved out a reputation in making teams look less than impressive and they certainly succeeded in doing that in Healy Park on Saturday.
Mayo would be foolish to read too much into it though, and it would be a big surprise if John O’Mahony’s men were still in the championship come Sunday night.
You get the impression that with the return of Owen Mulligan, Mickey Harte might finally bite the bullet and release Seán Kavanagh from the shackles of the number 14 jersey. If that happens Tyrone could look a different proposition.
Elsewhere Fermanagh face a huge task in lifting themselves for the challenge of Kildare, and even though Down have embraced the Qualifiers with real relish, they might have to defeat Wexford without Dan Gordon.
On their first half show against Laois in Portlaoise, they are well capable of doing that.
The game of the round is between Monaghan — uplifted by two gritty defeats in two weekends over Ulster rivals — and Kerry, without their captain Paul Galvin and playmaker Declan O’Sullivan. Monaghan felt they should have beaten the eventual champions in the All-Ireland quarter-final last year, and Seamus McEnaney’s side are well capable of at least beating the handicap this weekend.
In Galvin’s absence and Darragh Ó Sé still struggling to find some form, there are question marks over Kerry’s ability to win enough ‘dirty ball’. Monaghan don’t suffer in that department and should secure enough possession to trouble the reigning champions.
Recommendation: Tyrone (v Mayo), Down (v Wexford), Monaghan +4 (v Kerry).
Mores Wells is worth an each-way bet
AT the time of writing it isn’t known whether the all-conquering Ballydoyle stable will send Yeats into battle at Goodwood this week — it may in fact be Honolulu who flies the flag for Aidan O’Brien in the Goodwood Cup. In Yeats’ absence Ireland’s best chance of nabbing the spoils may lie with Kevin Prendergast’s Mores Wells. The son of Saddlers Wells hasn’t won this season but his run behind Septimus at the Curragh signalled his potential as a top class stayer. That performance was hugely promising considering the ground had more cut in it than he would prefer. Mores Wells will be a price on Friday and is well worth an each-way interest.
Godolphin have struggled in Ballydoyle’s shadow this season but their Il Warrd is well capable of taking today’s Betfair Cup at Goodwood. The connections have won this race twice in the past four seasons and Il Warrd can build on his second in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot.
Mastercraftsman looked the business at the Curragh last weekend but bookmakers may have got it wrong by promoting him to 2,000 Guineas favouritism ahead of stablemate Rip Van Winkle. Rip Van Winkle was simply stunning at Leopardstown last week and the 10-1 available about him could look massive by the end of the season. Rip Van Winkle holds entries for the Futurity and the National Stakes and there doesn’t seem to be anything out there to stop him adding to his unbeaten run. If ante-post is your thing, grab that 10s.
Recommendation: Il Warrd (Betfair Cup, Goodwood, today), Mores Well each-way (Goodwood Cup, Goodwood, Friday). Rip Van Winkle 10-1 (2000 Guineas, 2009).
Already recommended: Cool Running 14-1 (Galway Plate, Wednesday), The Last Hurrah 20-1 (Galway Hurdle, Thursday).
