It will be quite a month of May for horse racing enthusiasts. First, in the state of Kentucky, in USA, the Derby will take place on the 4th of May. Meanwhile, in Newmarket (UK), the flat season keeps gathering in pace, as the first Classic of the season is almost within touching distance. The 2000 Guineas will take place from racing HQ in the exact same day of next month, and punters will be able to see some of the best equine athletes in the world today.
However, due to the Irish and the prestigious heritage of racing, it remains impossible to overlook them in favour of the English, American and Australian horses. But who should punters who are looking for the best value horse racing tips be keeping a closer eye on for the upcoming season?
Norway
Aidan O’Brien has hardly been able to contain his excitement regarding the prospect of his Scandinavian named Norway. Similar to his past horse of Derrick Smith, Norway also took his time to win his first race; which dually arrived during his outing at Naas in October on his third run. Prior to that, he had endured consecutive defeats; finishing third and fifth both at different meetings at Curragh. The latter of which came on his debut run, in a race which was won by Jessica Harrington’s Klute.
However, he quickly followed up his victory in the Nursery of Champions Maiden by winning once again, this time at Newmarket in the Zetland Stakes. He was powerful, composed and dominant at HQ. He was held up at the back before steaming home under the stewardship on Seamie Heffernan.
He was way below the standard required on his last run at Saint Cloud, where he finished fourth behind Wonderment. However, he is still being touted as a possible St Leger winner later in the season.
Iridessa
Another hopeful for the O’Brien’s comes in the form of Aiden’s sons Joseph-trained three-year-old Iridessa. The bay already has tasted success at HQ after winning the Group One Bet365 Fillies Mile last season. The one main factor that goes in her favour is the fact that there is no standout filly as we get closer to the 1,000 Guineas. Her career has been somewhat stop-start so far with two wins and three defeats in her young career.
She started with a flyer at Killarney on her debut; however, she was heavily beaten by the current market leader for the 1,000 Guineas at Curragh on her second run. Before, finishing third at Leopardstown. She roared back into form at Newmarket when she held off a late challenge from Hermosa to win by one-and-a-half lengths. The signs are definitely bright for this talented mare, and the step up in distance could be the making of her this season.
Japan
We have saved the best for last, and this Aidan O’Brien trained horse for team Ballydoyle could be a serious player in the Epsom Derby in June. It hasn’t been without minor hiccups, however, as he finished seventh of his debut at Curragh in September 2018. But since then he has been in fine form in the colours of Derrick Smith; he has won swiftly with swagger in his previous two runs.
He managed to find another gear at Listowel and won emphatically over seven-furlongs, as he held off a strong push from Aristocratic Man to finish three-quarter-of-a-length ahead. The step up in distance proves that he a staying in trip could be on the horizon in the future. Japan was able to follow this up three weeks later when he secured his first victory in a Group Two race. He achieved this by winning the Beresford Stakes, as he held off Mount Everest.
Japan could essentially be O’Brien’s best hope of a Classic victory for this flat season, and success would see him follow in the path of his father Galileo; who achieved success in the showpiece event of the British flat season calendar in 2001.