Right. The less said about yesterday’s tennis the better (straight sets Youzhny – straight sets?!). Forget yesterday – two more from racing and tennis will do.
Novak Djokovic has dropped sets in three of his four matches to date but we’re willing to bet that’s down to a lack of concentration more than anything else. He should be fully focused against Austria’s Jurgen Melzer this afternoon and we’re going for the Serbian to WIN IN STRAIGHT SETS.
Later in the evening, the racing pick is Hassanali in Fairyhouse’s 8.30.
Hassanali has been a so called notebook horse for a while now and today could be his day. We believe 12 furlongs on a galloping track with a longish straight are this horse’s optimum requirements, and he has these conditions today.
James Gorman’s gelding ran very well to be third to The Pier at Listowel last year and has shaped very promisingly on his last two starts. He was all at sea at Wexford’s sharp circuit but stayed on well to be a fair sixth that day having given away oceans of ground on the outside. Then just three days ago at Leopardstown he stayed on very well having been well behind off a slow pace over ten furlongs.
He has again been unfortunate with a bad draw here, and accordingly he is likely to be left with a fair amount of ground to make up. However that is compensated for by the extra two furlongs of this race and the longer straight at Fairyhouse will give him more time to catch his rivals. In a tough handicap, we take HASSANALI to mow down his rivals late on.
JOE’s Daily Double: Djokovic to win in straight sets (11/8) & Hassanali (Fairyhouse, 8.30 @ 8/1)
