Poetic Looks The Right Choice At Leopardstown

Master Carpenter wasn’t actually beaten that far at all for us in the Lincoln on Saturday (4L), and it was Sod’s Law that the low numbers were favoured by the draw. High numbers had triumphed for the previous two seasons, and though Bravery started in stall 20, just outside Master Carpenter, his jockey’s decision to switch across to the far side right after the start paid dividends. At least our old friend Seskinane put a gloss on the weekend, and hopefully we can continue in the same vein on Wednesday.

Poetic Choice likes it at Leopardstown

The one I like goes in the penultimate race at Leopardstown, and I think Poetic Choice looks handicapped to run a big race for Keith Clarke and Robbie Downey. This 6yo daughter of Byron has run well on both previous visits to Leopardstown, and she is 2lb lower than when running a cracker behind Tribal Path here last season. In hindsight, she did well to get anywhere near Damian English’s stable star given that she was conceding over a stone to that rival.

She was less than 3L behind Tribal Path that day, and the second home Bainne was 2L ahead of her. She was also conceding 7lb to that rival, and now Poetic Choice is 4lb better off when both jockeys’ claims are considered. She was ridden by a very inexperienced claimer at Dundalk last time, and it is encouraging to see Downey back in the plate. He knows this mare inside out and he has been on board for her last two victories.

Her last two wins came off marks of 74 and 72, but she has gone close off as high as 81 in the past year so she should be capable of getting involved at the finish off her current rating of 77. She has a decent draw in 6, but she is a hold up horse so Downey will need the gaps to come at the right times. If they do, I think she looks well overpriced at 16/1 and granted luck in running, she could well reward each way support at a track where she has claimed third on both previous visits.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 18.00 LEOPARDSTOWN-POETIC CHOICE E/W @ 16/1