12:00 BetVictor Loyalty Club Beginners Chase 2m 3f 150y
All eyes on Bob Olinger, so impressive in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle when last seen, and now about to embark on an exciting chasing career. The form of that Cheltenham contest is already working out nicely and though connections flirted with staying over hurdles, it looks marginally the right call to go chasing. A point winner at Turtulla, he has the scope to be even better now over the larger obstacles.
His owners are represented also by French Dynamite, who shouldn’t be underestimated on his chase debut for Mouse Morris. He was a solid 150 horse over this sort of distance last season and he has a good record fresh. The Gigginstown House Stud pair Farceur Du Large and Torygraph are worth monitoring also, but both could probably do with a softer surface.
SELECTION: BOB OLINGER
Next best: French Dynamite
12:38 BetVictor Casino Novice Chase (Grade 2) 2m 180yds
Cape Gentleman can make it three out of three over fences. The 101 flat-rated five-year-old won on his chase debut over this course and distance, beating Buddy Rich who has won since and opposes again today. Emmet Mullins’s horse was then impressive in a Grade 3 contest at Cork where he accounted for the 145-rated Run Wild Fred. That sets a stealthy standard today and he’ll be difficult to beat.
Embittered is next best on ratings and won a Grade 3 contest over slightly further here on his previous start. He’s a threat but perhaps not as much as the four-year-old Riviere D’Etel, who will receive 18lbs from both the aforementioned horses. She was a smooth winner over Jeremys Flame, who has run well since, at Fairyhouse, and can progress again.
SELECTION: CAPE GENTLEMAN
Next best: Riviere D’etel
1:13 BetVictor Proud To Support Irish Racing 3yo Hurdle 2m 20yds
There is not much to go on here and while Iberique Du Seuil is perhaps the most solid selection given he showed ability when finishing second at Galway first time up, it might be worth taking a chance on newcomer Swinging London. He represents the same connections of last season’s runaway Leopardstown juvenile maiden hurdle winner French Aseel, and has a similar profile having been sourced from France by Michael Shefflin and Paul Holden. He finished second in a couple of races on the flat in that jurisdiction and it won’t be a surprice if he runs well on his Irish/hurdles debut.
Iberique Du Seuil should benefit from his debut experience for Gordon Elliott while Noel Meade’s Lunar Power also makes appeal, having won very well on his final flat start, elevating his rating to 82 in that sphere.
SELECTION: SWINGING LONDON
Next best: Lunar Power
1:48 Extra Places Every Day At BetVictor Maiden Hurdle 2m 20yds
Purple Mountain comes here on a hat-trick but she was fortunate to win a Grade 3 contest at Tipperary last month and has a penalty for that. The Names Jock, third to her at Tipperary, could get closer now with a 7lb swing at the weights with this more testing course perhaps a help. However he was well held and it might be worth looking towards the unpenalised horses in this contest, with slight preference for Top Bandit. He travelled smoothly through his maiden hurdle win at Cheltenham and although he was all out at the end, he may well have been idling in front. His earlier maiden hurdle form at Limerick is decent as well.
Sit Down Lucy should also be considered after he very good second to Impervious in a Grade 3 mares’ novice hurdle at Down Royal. If she can back that up, she’ll be a big threat today.
SELECTION: TOP BANDIT
Next best: Sit Down Lucy
2:23 Lengthen The Odds With BetVictor Maiden Hurdle 2m 3f 120yds
Whatsavailable gets a tentative vote in a difficult contest to decipher. Mouse Morris’s horse jumped poorly when a remote third on his hurdles debut at Tipperary last May, but definitely showed ability when a staying-on sixth in the Land Rover Bumper at this course in April. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him put up an improved jumping display today and if so, he could have a say.
Carrarea and Noble Birth have plenty of bumper experience, and the former has done okay on two starts over hurdles, most recently fifth to Farout in a novice hurdle at the Galway Festival. He should be okay on today’s ground and may be able to progress again.
SELECTION: WHATSAVAILABLE
Next best: Carrarea
2:58 Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle 3m 40yds
Glenquin Castle goes for a remarkable sixth win in a row but the handicapper might just have caught up with him, with 11lbs added to his rating for his Galway win. The two that finished closest to him that day, Humps And Bumps and Roped In, oppose again off much better terms, and slight preference is for the latter mentioned, Daniel Murphy’s mare. She came from a lot further back in that race and considering it was just her fourth ever start and seasonal/handicap debut, she has lots of scope to improve further.
Another to consider in a wide open contest is Stockdale, who ran okay when fourth on her most recent start at Downpatrick, and now returns to scene of her maiden hurdle win last year.
SELECTION: ROPED IN
Next best: Stockdale
3:30 Get A Run For Your Money With BetVictor (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m 20yds
Minella Crooner should make it two out of two in what looks a gilt edged opportunity. A Mallow point-to-point winner, he was a smooth winner on his track debut at Sligo, picking up well off a steady pace, so he should have no issues in this small field. Our Dylan might be the one to chase him home. He has disappointed on each of his last two starts but was much better when fourth to Grangeclare West in a bumper over this course and distance and May.
SELECTION: MINELLA CROONER
Next best: Our Dylan