James Flaherty

Published 9.02 - all selections online

CIARRAI ABU (3.10 Ascot) is an Irish phrase which translates to “Up Kerry” (“victory for Kerry” taken literally). As a Kerry man ahead of a big weekend for our Gaelic football team, who meet arch-rivals Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final, he is a very appropriately-named selection at Ascot.

He has plenty more than that in his favour though, as I think Harry Eustace’s gelding can go much higher than his current mark. He was green when winning his maiden at Goodwood on his third start in May, his first run of this campaign.

I thought he took a notable step forward in defeat last time at the same venue, where he didn’t have a clear run at a vital point before hanging in the closing stages. To my eyes, he was the best horse at the weights that day and could easily have won despite only finishing fourth (with the re-opposing Abundant in third).

That form has a very solid look to it already. The winner won again next time off a 4lb higher mark, while the fifth also won next time. Ciarrai Abu should be able to cope with the subsequent 2lb rise here, and I think this track should suit him more given how strong he was at the finish.

That was his handicap debut, as well as his just his fourth career start so he is certainly entitled to improve as he is far from the finished article. Crest Of Fire is a horse I like, and he was undone by the draw last time, but I feel the selection has a little more potential upside.

I thought it was a difficult looking card at Newmarket today for the second day of their July meeting, but VALEDICTORY (3.00 Newmarket) might be worth a play. Regular readers of my eyecatchers column will know I have long been a fan of this horse (since his debut), and I think we might finally see him fulfil his potential this season.

He thrived for the step up in trip to 1m 6f last time at Goodwood, with cheekpieces also helping him travel nicely through the race. I thought he was a dominant winner, certainly value for more than the winning distance and I feel like a 5lb rise for that effort is fair.

He certainly isn’t slow even though he stays, and he showed a powerful late burst on his return to action this season when an unlucky loser at Newbury off a mark of 84 over 1m 2f. The selection disappointed next time at Ascot behind the favourite here, but I’m willing to forgive that poor effort.

Valedictory’s latest win was much more like the Newbury run and after just six starts he is unexposed for a four-year-old. He hasn’t been the easiest to train clearly and this is the first time they have managed to get a few races into him. There should be more to come from him, and I think he can give the favourite plenty to think about here.

NORTHERN EXPRESS (2.10 York) is something of a York specialist and he is of interest in a competitive contest that opens the card there. He returned to action at Newmarket last time but given that since his debut he is winless on his seasonal return, I thought that was a perfectly acceptable effort in defeat.

The fact that he now runs here, after that pipe opener, makes him very interesting. While he has run plenty of good races over a mile here, his record is exceptional over this trip. In six starts over course and distance his form figures read 216121, with the sixth seeing him beaten less than three lengths.

He has placed several times over a mile since the last time he ran over this distance here in July 2023. That win came off a mark of 99 and he is 4lb lower here, while he has managed placed efforts in the interim off 102 (twice), 100 and 97.

Northern Express is an eight-year-old now, but that return showed there is still life in him, and he returns to his ideal race set up off an attractive mark based on his old form. It is a competitive contest, but a small-stakes each-way play is recommended given his overall record here and with most firms paying five places.