Richard Dunwoody - Winning Tips From a CHAMPION

By Richard Dunwoody

AIDAN O'BRIEN has been successful in the last two runnings of the Irish 2000 Guineas but Richard Hannon is very optimistic that CANFORD CLIFFS (Curragh, 15:45) can come good at last this season at the Curragh on Saturday.

Hannon won the Classic with Don't Forget Me in1987 and Tirol in1990 and is adamant that his potential stable star has the ability to follow in their footsteps.  It can be argued that the Tagula colt should have won the Greenham Stakes after a stunning burst of acceleration but blew his chance by veering severely left.  Perhaps Richard Hughes pressed the button

Hoping for classic glory Richard Hannon

too soon and different tactics were employed in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket three weeks ago.  Unfortunately, the restraining order resulted in Canford Cliffs burning himself and the telling acceleration was absent when needed. 

The horse is reported in fine nick since the run and connections are eager to prove that he can reproduce his gallops' form on the racecourse and over a mile.  It may transpire that he is a better horse dropped back in trip but for the moment it is hard to ignore the Everleigh maestro's assertion that this is the best horse he has ever trained.  Canford Cliffs is fancied to make it seven wins in the last 11 years for the Brits and can see off a strong six-horse Aidan O'Brien challenge, all the more respected as the yard is now hitting top gear.

Back over the Irish Sea, MULL OF DUBAI (York, 14:05) is interesting in the opener on the Knavesmire.  Now trained by Dandy Nicholls, the seven-year-old has been out of sorts since winning over course and distance last June. After three fruitless runs in warm company, the drop into claiming company can see him back to form.

Finally, BORDERLESCOTT (Haydock, 15:00) can reverse recent placings with Equiano in the Temple Stakes at Haydock.  Equiano had the fitness edge in the Palace House Stakes three weeks ago but the selection will be spot on now and that can make all the difference for the horse that has finished second in this race for the last two years. The ground was against him in 2009 and he did remarkably well to get within a quarter-length of the winner. Today there should be no excuses.

Richard's selections:

15:45 Curragh 1 point win  Canford Cliffs at SP

14:05 York 0.5 point e/w 1/5 1,2,3 Mull Of Dubai at SP

15:00 Haydock 1 point win 1/4 1,2,3 Borderlescott at SP


About Richard Dunwoody

One of the greatest jockey’s in British racing history, Richard Dunwoody broke the previous record for the greatest number of career wins for a jump jockey of 1678 when Yorkshire Edition won at Wincanton. Richard went on to ride a career total of 1699 winners. That mark was finally beaten by Tony McCoy in August 2002. As an amateur jockey, he rode his first winner on Game Trust at Cheltenham in May 1983, and the following spring rode a four-timer at Hereford as a 7lb claimer. He was champion jockey for three seasons and is one of only four post war jockeys to have captured the illusive triple crown of the Gold Cup (Charter Party 1986), the Champion Hurdle (Kribensis 1990) and the Grand National (West Tip 1986 and Minnehoma 1994). Richard also rode more than 100 winners in ten consecutive seasons.  His best season saw him ride 197 winners in 1993/94. Yet, to most, he is most well known for his partnership with the iconic Desert Orchid. The pair won seven races, including the King George V1 Chase in 1989 and 1990.

Richard has undertaken various expeditions since hanging up his boots, including a 350-mile cross-country ski race to the Magnetic North Pole and in January this year completed an amazing 673 mile trek to the South Pole, something he considers his greatest ever achievement.

He joined the BBC racing team at Aintree this year, writes a column for the Daily Mirror pull-out section on Saturdays and is a consultant to the British Racing School at Newmarket, where he coaches young and up-and-coming jockeys.

Richard Dunwoody also runs his own highly successful racing service. Recent winners include Admission 10/1,Activate 9/4,Mabait 9/4,Quick Reaction 5/2,Bathwick Bear 2/1,Captain Chris 2/1,Avow 3/1,Buona Sarah 2/1,Sophies Trophy 3/1,Buxted 5/2,Fred Bojanjals 7/2,Mister Pete 5/2,Bothy 2/1,Gansey 9/4,Ginger Grey 9/4,Shadows Lengthen 11/4,Qozak 2/1,Oiseau De Nuit 2/1 & Wunder Strike 2/1.