James Griffin brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Dundalk in Ireland.
16:00 – Race 1
A race in which a few have scores to settle and once again Dundalk form comes to the fore. Sheila Lavery has her string in better form then the turf months and last weeks dead heater MS THOMSON is back again but off 5lb higher. She didn’t win with 5lb up her sleeve to me and had MAGIC CHARM in third over CD and he only gave way inside the last furlong over his first try at the trip. He is definitely worth another shot. PHILLYS HOPE was fancied last week and disappointed her backers when only 4th but she stayed on quite well and looked like further would help her. She’s no weight on her back and at double digits she’s a solid each-way selection.
Selection:- Phillys Hope (ew)
Danger:- Magic Charm
16:30 – Race 2
A race of two halves. 8 with a chance on the book and possibly only 4 of those with a realistic one. The bookies could get a result in this!! Last Wednesday’s selection in the claimer, ROYAL ADMIRAL, was second when carrying the burden of my fancy but is back in handicap company where he needs to improve on the book but he was only beaten a head and a neck in his two claimer seconds. EVERYHOURONTHEHOUR loves this place and won when last seen but his best form is over shorter. John McConnell can’t stop having winners and he uses Sam Ewing here to claim the 7 off FRYERNS who was a snug winner in early November. She’s only 3yo and is open to more improvement. Gormanston was another selection last week and another second!! He steps up in trip here and he is nothing if not consistent having been placed in four of his last five appearances, he will travel into the straight but the trip is the bogey.
Selection:- Fryerns
Danger:- Gormanston
17:00 – Race 3
Strictly on ratings this is a one-horse event and in hindsight an odds-against price may have been a gift we all ignored. In these claimers current well being rather then ratings is more important, however, BOITRON has a good 7lb apprentice in the plate and has been running well over both shorter and further then today’s trip. It looked like 6f was a fraction too short and 8f a half furlong too far, this 7f should be ideal. He’s ideally drawn in 5 and after today he really will be running out of excuses if he doesn’t collect, he’s 12lb clear minimum, on ratings before riders claim. BAY OF SKAILL likes to go forward and is on the rail today. He runs his race and is honest. to attack from stall one and could make good use of it. He’s made the running when placed here in October and November and his last run was from a wide draw, he’s drawn low again today but could end up being the ideal tow for BOITRON. Royal Highness was 3rd in a claimer here two runs ago but is a previous course winner and eye catching has a decent 10lb claimer on board.
Selection:- Boitron
Danger:- Royal Highness
17:30 – Race 4
HALE BOPP was an easy winner over C/D in October but interestingly has a tongue strap on for the first time. He is lightly raced and he beat a subsequent winner when scoring. MESSIDOR took 3 runs to break her maiden and she made no mistake on her Dundalk debut but that win came from stall 2 and she has to contend with a wide 10 today which is off-putting. At a price for place or each way punters PRINCE OF PEACE ran a race of promise when 6th on debut over 1f further. If improving like his stables did all year for a run he could be a nice price for those going against the fav.
Selection:- Hale Bopp
Danger:- Prince of Peace
18:00 – Race 5
A handicap for 2yos that should really be concerning the top few in the betting at the business end. Andrew Slattery hasn’t had the same year as he had the last few but his Autumn horses have been running very well including this son of Power who made up plenty of ground after being waited with, to chase home previous winner STYLEDOME. TAYLORED was only denied by a neck and a reproduction of that would see him hard to beat. Newly wed Billy Lee rides BALTINGLASS ABBEY who took a big step up on previous form was second on handicap debut 2 weeks ago. If that wasn’t a fluke and he can back it up he’ll give the selection most to do.
Selection:- Taylored
Danger:- Baltinglass Abbey
18:30 – Race 6
Fundraiser Fir Children’s Health Foundation Crumlin In Memory Of Pat Smullen 6f
Come the business end of this race a giant horse blanket will cover most of them. A few of these met the last day when Michael Browne saddled KEEPTHEBESTSIDEOUT to win and land a little touch at the same time. These sprinters all get their turn but she was winning for only the first time from 13 previous attempts which isn’t that many goes for a sprinter when you compare it to Pillar who chased her home. That was his 95th start that day!! They’re claiming 7lb off pillar but his wins usually are spread out rather then being successive. SESTRIERE is nearly always placed and found the sharp 5f just too short the last day and is back up to his 6f here. He’s a safe place option.
Selection:- Keepthebestsideout
Danger:- Sestriere
19:00 – Race 7
IMPOSING SUPREME isn’t a confident win selection but with many of the horses at the head of the market having questions to answer, this 4yo is a solid horse who runs his race. He was only headed on the line two runs back before a slightly disappointing run back here 2 weeks later, if he can bounce back to the run here 2 runs ago he’ll be an each way bet to nothing at 5/1 or bigger, his main danger looks to be BOBBY K was only a head in front of him on that run here 5 weeks ago. There was market support for BOBBY K then and on his old UK form he’s well handicapped. I’d like to see market confidence in him before wading in myself.
Selection:- Imposing Supreme
Danger:- Bobby K
19:30 – Race 8
Ado McGuinness has done really well of late with his British imports and his MERCHANT OF VENICE was only having his first start for the trainer when second a couple of weeks ago. That was over 7f and all he did was power home on that occasion. All of his three previous wins were all over 8f in his previous native UK.
Selection:- Merchant Of Venice (Nap)
