Wednesday 29 December

IRELAND’S EYE

Wolverhampton and Kempton later in the day provide the all weather action today but it is the National Hunt which will arguably provide the best racing. We are spoilt for choice with an excellent card at Leopardstown featuring 3 Graded contests while at Newbury there is fine card featuring the Challow Hurdle and the deferred Long Walk Hurdle. Meanwhile it is Day 2 of the Limerick Christmas Festival where there are some interesting races on the eight race programme. A long priced runner (26.0 and better on the DAQ) gets our vote to land the Paddy Power handicap chase at Leopardstown while a recent good Cork bumper winner can upstage a few more fancied rivals in a Limerick mares maiden hurdle for Ann Lambert.

Yesterday proved a little frustrating as several of our main choices had to settle for the runner up prizes. Nevertheless we did manage to register twice though our savers as State Benefit (9/4) just edged out another of our savers Iron Chancellor in the opener at Ffos Las while in the big race at Leopardstown Pandorama (6-7/2) put up a fine performance to beat our nap Money Trix who had to play ‘bridesmaid’ for the second year running. However we tasted agonising defeat in the novice chase at the Blaclrock venue when Quito De La Roque (5s morn-10/3) just failed to get up while at Limerick our sole selection Trendelenburg (9/4) also filled the runner up spot in a handicap hurdle.

For Bill has been a good friend to the column in the past and Mick Winters top mare can land the Listed 2m 4f mares hurdle at Leopardstown today (12-20) under Davy Russell. The winner of two points and three bumpers and hurdles the 7yo failed to land favouritism on her first crack at a chase at Clonmel seven weeks ago but she should strip fitter on this occasion and this arguably represents her best trip whilst the ground will be right up her street. The progressive Macville will have her supporters but she is untried on a deep surface and the main danger could come from Peter Faheys Shop DJ who finally opened her hurdles account at the fifth attempt at Cork 16 days ago on soft and the five year old who won a bumper on testing ground at the same venue earlier this year gets 6lbs from the selection.

Mares races do tend to be quite competitive in Ireland and the 1-40 contest at Limerick today – a 2m 2f maiden is no exception with many of the leading yards supplying leading contenders. Willie Mullins Maggie Connolly rates a solid favourite as the Wexford good ground bumper winner has shown decent and consistent form in three hurdles runs and her recent second placing in a similar event here (over 2m 3f) was boosted by success for the winner at this venue yesterday in a Grade 3 event. However there are are plenty of viable alternatives here and there is plenty of value in rowing in with Wexford challenger What An Flyer who comes here in good form having run away with a Cork bumper on soft over the minimum trip over two weeks ago. Testing ground should hold no fears for the daughter of Broadway Flyer who accounted for the subsequent chase winner Willies Boy in a point on soft/heavy last year will appreciate this test and she can put her experience to good use here to account for Maggie Connolly and Dessie Hughes Definite Class.

2-10 NEWBURY – 2m 5f Grade 1 novice hurdle

An interesting renewal and a good case could be made for half a dozen of the competitors but our selection is the former Irish pointer FOR NON STOP who represents the stable who won the last two runnings of this event (Nick Williams) and he has shown enough in decent handicap company to indicate that he is ready for this test and he can beat another progressive type in Alan Kings former pointer Jetnova.

2-30 LEOPARDSTOWN – 3m hc chase

This Grade B handicap has been a poor race for market leaders in recent years and todays event can continue that trend. Though Davy Fitzgeralds The Burrow Vic went up almost a stone for his initial success over fences at Sligo over the trip some three months ago on yielding ground that was just his third run over the major obstacles and having shown his best form on a demanding surface (won 2m 4f maiden hurdle on heavy) the lightly raced 7yo can land the spoils here at generous odds from market springer Becauseicouldntsee and Venalmar.

ADVICE
BET 4pt win FOR BILL 12-20 Leopardstown
BET 2pt win (saver) SHOP DJ 12-20 Leopardstown
BET 4pt win (nap) WHAT AN FLYER 1-40 Limerick
BET 2pt/1pt win (saver) MAGGIE CONNOLLY and DEFINITE CLASS 1-40 Limerick
BET 3pt win FOR NON STOP 2-10 Newbury
BET 2pt win (saver) JETNOVA and AL FEROF 2-10 Newbury
BET 4pt win THE BURREN VIC 2-30 Leopardstown
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) BECAUSICOULDNTSEE and VENALMAR 2-30 Leopardstown
    
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Tuesday 28 December

IRELAND’S EYE

Today sees the start of what should prove a busy time on the National Hunt scene with Leopardstown and Limerick making late starts to their Christmas Festivals while Wales plays host to a fine jumps card at Ffos Las. Meanwhile on the level the jumpers can once again be seen on the AW at Southwell in another all bumper card whilst Lingfied makes an early start at 11-30. Ireland will be our main port of call today and the feature Lexus chase can go to an English challenger on his first start for almost a year while former point winners can land a handicap and novice hurdle at Limerick and Ffos Las at decent odds on the DAQ.

Our fine recent run continued yesterday with a brace of winners on the sand at Southwell. Nap Dontpaytheferryman (7/2-5/2) sauntered home in a handicap while earlier in the day our selection Shostakovich (6/1) landed the nursery for the Kirk yard though there was a hefty deduction due to the late defection of our well supported saver Even Stevens. Saver Minortransgression (5/2-9/4) did also pick up the third money in the finale.

Noel Meade bids to land the Grade 1 chase at Leopardstown today (1-25) for the third year in a row with the unbeaten chaser Thegreatjohnbrowne and though the slick jumping front runner looks to have fine prospects we will side against the son of Beneficial on this occasion on his first try at three miles.

The one that gets our selection is the former useful point winner Quito De La Roque – a decent dual hurdle scorer who made a decent chasing debut and justified strong market support when scoring from Time Electric over 2m 4f at Clonmel earlier this month. Winner of a keenly contested Fairyhouse handicap hurdle over 3 miles the 6yo will be well suited by this test and he gets the vote to land his second chase here at the expense of Dessie Hughes Magnanimity who finished over ten lengths behind Thegreatjohnbrowne on his chase debut before just edging out Arabella Boy on his second chase start over 2m 4f almost 7 weeks ago. There should be plenty more to come from the 135 rated hurdler and he can gain his revenge on Noel Meades runner here without just getting to the selection.

The last four runnings of the Grade 1 Lexus Chase over 3m have gone to English raiders and there is a strong possibility that the sequence could be extended further this afternoon at 2-35.

Though both raiders have to overcome an absence from the track with the 2006 winner of this race The Listener coming here following a break of almost 14 months it is the Nicky Richards trained Money Trix who can land the prize under Davy Russell.

The former Irish trained (Suzanne Cox) grey has proved a good servant to his current yard during a light racing career but the 10yo boasts a good record when fresh and also has scored in four of his eight chase starts and he stayed on well late to get within half a length of What A Friend in this race last year under todays pilot in an all English finish. Although the lack of a recent run is something of negative the son of Old Vic does handle the ground/trip and he is taken to edge out Noel Meades Pandorama. The exciting 7yo lost his unbeaten record over fences when enjoying little luck in the Hennessy recently but he did beat the subsequent Cheltenham winner Weapon’s Amnesty in a Grade 1 here at this meeting last year and though he has some questions to answer at present (pulled out of Down Royal chase due to presence of blood in nasal passage) a back to form performance could see him keep the prize at home. Despite the fact that his stable are experiencing a quiet patch Joncol must be taken seriously as the giant 7yo is a CD scorer with strong credentials on his best form.

12-25 FFOS LAS – 2m 6f novice hurdle

An interesting opener to the Welsh card and it can prove profitable to row in with Irish import VIKING VISITOR whose bumper successes read well and the Viking Ruler gelding can extend the stables good record at the track on his hurdles debut under Richie McLernon with good Dromahane point winner State Benefit and dual point scorer Iron Chancellor rated the next best.

2-10 LIMERICK – 2m 5f hc hurdle

Gordon Elliotts TRENDELENBURG has only shown modest form on initial starts over hurdles and did prove costly to follow ‘between the flags’ this Autumn but with his confidence restored after a good victory in a truly run Kirkistown maiden last time the 89 rated hurdler can land this contest under Joey Elliott from obvious dangers Owenacurra Milan and Oh Johnny.

ADVICE
BET 4pt win VIKING VISITOR 12-25 Ffos Las
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) STATE BENEFIT and IRON CHANCELLOR 12-25 Ffos Las
BET 4pt win QUITE DE LA ROQUE 1-25 Leopardstown
BET 3pt/1pt win (savers) MAGNANIMITY and THEGREATJOHNBROWNE 1-25 Leopardstown
BET 3pt win TRENDELENBURG 2-10 Limerick
BET 1pt win (savers) OWENACURRA MILAN and OH JOHNNY 2-10 Limerick
BET 4pt win (nap) MONEY TRIX 2-35 Leopardstown
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) PANDORAMA and JONCOL 2-35 Leopardstown
    
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Monday 27 December

IRELAND’S EYE

It looks like we are coming ‘out of the woods’ with the thaw finally settling in for the rest of the week but today at least Southwell fills the void with a 7 race early start card. We can get the post Festival off to a decent start today by siding with an ex Irish trained 5yo in a handicap while a dual course scorer can return to winning ways in the opening nursery.

The last days racing before Christmas did bring us some festive cheer with a brace of winners on the AW at Southwell on the National Hunt bumper card. Cloudy Spirit (4/1) was the first to register for the Hollinshead yard while saver Den Of Iniquity (13/2-5/1) ground it out well to land the 2-50 contest for the Twiston Davies yard.

Dandy Nicholls Even Stephen shot up 16lbs for a facile and wide margin win at Southwell over the minimum trip ten days ago and the progressive sort still holds leading prospects of registering a four timer in the opening nursery here today at 12-10. A winner over CD on his penultimate start off a 22lb lower mark Billy Crays mount should make a bold bid here but at the forecast odds the Ishiguru gelding may be worth opposing and it is the dual course winner Shostakovich s our vote to record his third career victory at the track over the course and distance. Though the Sylvester Kirk trained runner was somewhat below par here on penultimate start when finishing a modest third and at Kempton last time he can return to winning ways here Travis Block and scupper the winning record of Even Stevens in the process

Brian Ellisons team have been in good form of late and the yard can land the 1m 3f hc at Southwell this afterenoon (1-50) with the ex Irish trained Dontpaytheferryman. Twice a winner from four starts here over a furlong further the 5yo comes here in good form having shown plenty of grit to beat one of todays opponents Trachonitis by less than a length on penultimate run before losing out by a length and a half to market rival Rhythm Stick at Wolverhampton ten days ago where a combination of a slow early gallop and a tendency to pull did not aid his cause. Though he has gone up 3lbs for that most recent effort and meets Trachonitis on 9lbs worse terms Dane O’Neills mount may prove up to the task and he can again get the better of the Jenkins runner despite the turn about at the weights.

3-35 SOUTHWELL – 1m hc

Minortransgression remains a maiden but the consistent 3yo looks to have decent prospects of making the breakthrough today on a track where he has been placed over todays trip twice in the last three runs. However backing maidens at skinny odds in competitive handicaps is hardly the stuff on which profits are built and instead we will give a tentative vote to course specialist GENERAL TUFTO who can land his ninth victory at the venue under Robbie Fitzpatrick.

ADVICE
BET 4pt win SHOSTAKOVICH 12-10 Southwell
BET 2pt win (saver) EVEN STEVENS 12-10 Southwell
BET 4pt win (nap) DONTPAYTHEFERRYMAN 1-50 Southwell
BET 2pt win (saver) TRACHONITIS 1-50 Southwell
BET 3pt win GENERAL TUFTO 3-35 Southwell
BET 2pt win (saver) MINORTRANSGRESSION 3-35 Southwell

    
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Tuesday 21 December

IRELAND’S EYE

After two days in the wilderness with frost and snow putting paid to all racing action we have a welcome return today with Southwell catering for the AW performers while the jumpers kick into action with an all bumper card (all over 2 miles) at Kempton. The latter meeting will provide our bets for the day and we will be opposing an ex Willie Mullins trained 5yo despite the fact that he has already scored twice for his current yard while a former County Hurdle winner can succeed following a couple of heavy falls in a hurdle and chase.

Vertige Dor failed to score from three attempts in bumpers for Willie Mullins but the 5yo did show promise with a couple of placings at Listowel and Punchestown on softish ground. Though the French bred has got off to the perfect start for his new yard (Paul Nicholls) by landing a modest Worcester bumper and in beating a 128 rated hurdler in Cass Bligh (gave 7lbs) at Bangor in a 2m 1f novice hurdle last time on better ground the son of Kingsalsa looks opposable in the 1-50 today at Kempton under Timmy Murphy and the one that can deliver is the Warren Greatrex trained Chain OF Command. Admittedly the 7yo has failed to register in two runs in bumpers last year but he has improved in the interim – landing a Hereford 2m 1f novice hurdle before registering a snug success on chase debut in a 2m novice here over two months ago. Although he has since failed by just over two lengths at Ffos Las in the same sphere he looks the value bet here under Wayne Hutchinson and he can beat the 6yo Alwaysonthemove at bigger odds on the DAQ who displayed some promise in bumpers.
 
The 145 rated hurdler American Trilogy has not scored since running out a wide margin winner of the County Hurdle a Cheltenham in March of 2009 but Paul Nicholls 6yo could return to winning ways by taking the 3-20 bumper (over2m) at Kempton today. Three times a winner on the flat in France the Harry Skelton ridden gelding comes here on the back of two successive falls in a Grade 2 hurdle and on chase debut 8 days ago and though that may not be the perfect formula for success here he could appreciate a return to the level here with his yard in good form. Obvious danger is the Nicky Henderson trained Working Title – a six time winner under Rules and though the 8yo could be suited by further (last two wins achieved over 2m 5f) he has recorded two of those career wins at this venue over flights and the Tony McCoy ridden gelding comes here on the back of a fair fourth in a keenly contested Newbury handicap chase over three weeks ago.
 
2-20 KEMPTON – 2m bumper
 
Twice a winner on the flat in France in 2008 and last year Paul Nicholls BERMUDA BOY looks the answer here in the hands of Harry Skelton on just his second start for the yard having shaped with a little promise in a Wincanton novice hurdle earlier this year having had a breathing operation in the interim.
 
ADVICE
BET 4pt win CHAIN OF COMMAND 1-50 Kempton
BET 1pt win/1pt place (saver) ALWAYSONTHEMOVE 1-50 Kempton
BET lay VERTIGE DOR to lose 7pt 1-50 Kempton
BET 5pt win BERMUDA BOY 2-20 Kempton
BET 5pt win (nap) AMERICAN TRILOGY 3-20 Kempton
BET 2pt win (saver) WORKING TITLE 3-20 Kempton
    
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Saturday 18 December

IRELAND’S EYE

Lingfield is the latest casualty of the weather but the good news is that punters do have jumps and flat action to savour today with Southwell on the AW while in Ireland Navan have managed to beat the elements and the Meath track offer a fine pre Christmas treat though the chases have been abandoned. There looks to be value in siding with a Seamus Fahey trained runner at Navan today on the DAQ while Tommy Cooper can land the feature with an unexposed youngster.

Our hopes were pinned on Ascot racing yesterday but despite their best efforts they had to ‘pull the plug’ an hour before the intended first race.

Endless Intrigue will be a popular choice to take the opening 2m maiden hurdle for Dermot Weld under David Evans on his hurdles debut. A useful dual bumper winner on his first couple of starts the In The Wings 6yo has since recorded two flat successes in a Galway 1m 4f maiden and a Killarney qualified riders race over 2m on penultimate start. Though the 95 rated flat racer comes here on the back of a fine fourth under a big weight in the Cesarewitch over 2 miles some three months ago on yielding to soft he has always looked to be best on better ground and he may just prove opposable her. Seamus Faheys Green Grenello may not have shown much in two good ground maiden hurdles but the six year old did show much better form in finishing a fair fifth to Thegreatjohnbrowne and a close fourth at Naas in a couple of decent heavy ground bumpers at the end of last year and earlier this year. At current odds the 7lb claiming runner looks value to beat Endless Intrigue and the consistent but frustrating Marlay Park who has been placed in 5 of his nine hurdles start but Mags Mullins runner did record one of his bumper wins on this track.

The Grade 2 two mile and four hurdle at 1-50 is the feature on the Navan card today and Noel Meade bids to land the race for the third time in the past three years with course and distance winner Aitmatov. Though the 9yo finished runner up in this race in 2008 (behind Shakervilz) and was in front when coming down at the last in another Grade 2 contest over CD on penultimate start he looks worth opposing here having finished in rear behind Hurricane Fly at Fairyhouse on three days ago. Tommy Coopers ex French 4yo Son Amix comes out worst against Noel Meades charge on official ratings (7lbs) but the Fragrant Mix youngster did run out a wide margin winner of his maiden hurdle (2m) here on his second start for the stable on sole start at the venue and he has since run well in defeat, going down to a couple of fair types in Shinrock Paddy and Alaivan over two and two miles and four at Naas. His biggest danger could come from the useful chaser Made In Taipan – a dual chase winner here over shorter trip, including a Grade 2 last year though the 151 rated chaser is making his seasonal debut under Paul Townend.

2-55 NAVAN – 2m hc hurdle

A big field and a typically tough handicap which can go to seasonal debutant MISTER FARMER. John Brassils 9yo has yet to score over hurdles but the Niall Madden trained gelding will appreciate the testing conditions having landed a 2m 4f handicap chase over the course when last seen in March on heavy ground. Barneys Honour and Cantrell rate the best alternatives at opposite ends of the handicap.

ADVICE
BET 4pt win/1pt place GREEN GRENELLO 12-45 Navan
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) ENDLESS INTRIGUE and MARLAY PARK 12-45 Navan
BET 4pt win (nap) SON AMIX 1-50 Navan
BET 2pt win MADE IN TAIPAN 1-50 Navan
BET 3pt win MISTER FARMER 2-55 Navan
BET 1pt win (savers) BARNEYS HONOUR and CANTRELL 2-55 Navan
    
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Friday 17 December

IRELAND’S EYE

Todays jump cards at Downpatrick and Uttoxeter have already ‘bit the dust’ unfortunately and we are awaiting a late decision on Ascot. In the hope that the meeting survives we will be looking at the value bets there while there is plenty of flat all weather action at Southwell starting at 12-05 and two hours later at Wolverhampton. The Howard Johnson team look to have decent prospects of landing a decent priced double by landing a competitive novice hurdle and handicap chase with two seasonal debutants while a former Irish dual point winner can land a keenly contested opener – also at Ascot.

Though we did not reach the heady heights of yesterday we did manage to bag another double courtesy of former point winner Upthemsteps (9/2-7/2) in a Towcester maiden hurdle while saver Quito De La Rouge (7/4-5/4) proved a well backed winner of a novice chase at Clonmel for the Colm Murphy yard. There was a little disappointment earlier on the Tipperary card when our nap Evesham Star (11’s morn-7/1) was just outgunned by a former bumper winner in a mares maiden hurdle with saver According To Lizzie (5-7/2) back in third. Another selection Dun See Dee (6/1) also had to give best in second in the opener on the Exeter card – a mares novice hurdle for the Charlie Mann yard.

Four year olds Poungach and Easter Meteor shaped with promise on their hurdling bows in a 2m 3 1/2f novice hurdle at Ascot a month ago where the duo finished third and fourth respectively behind the older Frascati Park. The Paul Nicholls and Emma Lavelle trained youngsters will have their followers in the opening 2m 6f maiden hurdle at the same venue today (11-55) but it may pay to side with the older and more experienced ex point to pointer Gurtacrue on this occasion. A dual point winner for Donal Coffey the Deploy 6yo took a Listowel 2m 4f bumper in June and he has since gone down to two fair sorts in Owen Glendower and Arthurian Legend (though both have been well beaten in better company since) over and around 2m at Worcester and Chepstow for his current yard. The step up to this trip and the prospect of decent ground (no worse than soft) can see the Evan Williams trained gelding open his account here at the expense of Easter Meteor who is taken to turn the tables on Poungach on this occasion with the trip looking highly likely to suit the promising Midnight Legend gelding. Oliver Sherwoods Kasbadali could be worth a small saver.

Howard Johnsons yard have been slipping into form of late and he looks to have prospects of landing a brace of winners at Ascot today and he can start the ball rolling by landing the 2m 6f maiden hurdle at 12-25 with the six year old On His Own. Winner in fine style by a wide margin on his sole start ‘between the flags’ at Maralin over a year ago the former Oliver McKiernan trained gelding followed up a month later by taking a Leopardstown 2m 4f bumper on better ground (yielding) before disappointing in the Cheltenham bumper in March. His prominent style of running should suit around here and the Brian Hughes ridden gelding could make all to beat the warm favourite Rock On Ruby – a five year old son of Oscar who has looked a decent type in recording three bumper successes on good to soft this year though he has yet to jump a hurdle in public. Former Irish dual point winner Iron Chancellor cannot be left out of calculations as Alan Kings 5yo shaped well enough on his English debut to take third at Hereford over a furlong further and he will appreciate a good test of stamina with the prospects of a decent pace here.

1-35 ASCOT – 2m novice hurdle (Grade 2)

This can go to 144 rated hurdler TOUBAB who followed up two decent efforts in Grade 2 and Grade 3 hurdles before easily landing a Listed Haydock hurdle less than four weeks ago. Paul Nicholls 4yo can beat the front running Frasfacti Park and Kid Cassidy here under Sam Thomas.

2-45 ASCOT – 2m 1f hc chase

Brian Hughes and Howard Johnson can land this open handicap with the unexposed 5yo SILK DRUM who jumped well in opening his chase account at Kelso on soft over a year ago though the lightly raced son of Intikhab makes his seasonal bow here he can record his second win (from 3 starts) at the expense of Tanks For That.

ADVICE
BET 4pt win (nap) GURTACRUE 11-55 Ascot
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) EASTER METEOR and KASBADALI 11-55 Ascot
BET 4pt win ON HIS OWN 12-25 Ascot
BET 3pt/1pt win (savers) ROCK ON RUBY and IRON CHANCELLOR 12-25 Ascot
BET 4pt win TOUBAB 1-35 Ascot
BET 4pt win SILK DRUM 2-45 Ascot
BET 2pt win (saver) TANKS FOR THAT 2-45 Ascot
    
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Thursday 16 December

IRELAND’S EYE

With the weather forecasters prediction for the weekend and onward looking decidedly bleak we will have to make the most of the opportunities over jumps and today there are three decent meets in England and Ireland. Towcester and Exeter provide the action in England while there is competitive seven race card at Clonmel. The all weather action today is provided by Southwell this afternoon and switches to Kempton later in the day. Clonmel will be our main meeting today where Willie Mullins and Paul Townend look set to continue where the left off yesterday by landing a novice chase with an 8yo while a pair of former Irish point scorers look the answer to a couple of novice hurdles at Exeter and Towcester.

It was an almost perfect 4 from 4 yesterday for the team with a brace of winners at Newbury and the excellent Fairyhouse to boost our recent record even further. Nap Jessies Dream (7/2) looked decidedly fortunate to land a Grade 1 chase at the Meath fixture however where our lay of the day Mikael D’Haguenet (6/4) came down at the last when upsides while saver Head Of The Posse (10-8/1) was left in third. Meanwhile saver Hurricane Fly (10/3-11/4) just got the best of main choice Solwhit (evens) in a Grade 1 hurdle while the feature at Newbury produced the same result as once again saver Tartak (3-11/4) narrowly edged out the long absent Breedsbreeze (7-11/2) in the Peterborough Chase. Earlier on that card we scored with 12/1 winner Major Malarkey (14-12/1) in a competitive novice handicap chase as Nigel Twiston Davies runner just edged out our next best Promising Anshan (13/2-6/1) to complete a highly profitable afternoon.

The 2m 4f mares maiden hurdle at Clonmel today (1-05) boasts a typically large field and not surprisingly in these events it looks an open affair. Denis Aherns yard made a return to form of late ‘between the flags’ and their runner here Evesham Star gets our vote to open her account over flights at the second time of asking. Though the Flemensfirth 6yo did take four pops before gaining her maiden point success she had shown promise o each start before beating the subsequent scorer Overnight Fame (prospects in 12-50 at Exeter today) on testing ground at Dungarvan earlier this year. Though she did not sparkle here on her bumper debut Mark Walshs mount did show promise on her hurdles debut at Cork when finishing a respectable fifth behind the more experienced Model County Lass over todays trip on heavy ground. She can land this contest at decent odds from another former point scorer in Terence O’Briens Royal Crew who beat a stable mate of the selection when opening her account in points before showing consistent form in a few maiden hurdles earlier in the year and indeed the King’s Theatre gelding looked somewhat unlucky not to collect at Sligo on better ground when last seen in May. Nenagh point winner According To Lizzy also merits a small saving wager on the DAQ.

Lightly raced eight year old Definite Edge may be venturing over fences at a late stage in his career but the son of Overbury can provide the answer to the 2m 4f novice chase at Clonmel today at 2-35 however. With the Willie Mullins yard sending out a clear warning of their intent with a hat trick on yesterdays mouth watering card at Fairyhouse they look to have decent prospects of taking the other novice chase here (2-05) with Cadspeed and they can follow up here with the once raced chaser who boasts a decent strike rate with a bumper and a couple of hurdle contests from just eleven career starts. Though he would be suited by further (landed maiden hurdle over 3m) he did run fairly well on his chase debut at Punchestown when beaten just over twenty lengths in mid field behind the easy all the way scorer Thegreatjohnbrowne over todays trip on good to yielding. Softer ground will play to his strengths and the Paul Townend ridden gelding just get the vote to beat the likely favourite Quito De La Roque. Colm Murphys charge looks a potentially useful chase recruit having landed his only point before landing two hurdles, including a Listed event here over 2m 6f earlier this year. However the Gigginstown runner is making his seasonal debut here and the selection could just have the edge on this occasion.

12-50 EXETER – 2m 3f mares novice hurdle

Charlie Mann can land the opener at Exeter today with the former useful Irish point and bumper scorer DUN SEE DEE. The daughter of Flemensfirth showed progressive form in points before scoring at Dromahane and she ran out an easy winner of a Cork mares bumper on testing ground over 2m 4f. Though she eventually had to settle for third on her debut in similar CD event for her current yard over 5 weeks ago she looks sure to improve for that run and she gets the vote to beat the decent hat trick bumper scorer Mizzurka who makes her seasonal and hurdles debut here under Tony McCoy.

2-40 TOWCESTER – 2m maiden hurdle

Though 2m might just be on the short side for the Ian Williams trained UPTHEMSTEPS the former gutsy Castletown Geoghegan point to point winner should appreciate the considerable demands of this track on his hurdles debut having finished a modest fourth in a Southwell bumper on debut for the yard 10 days ago. He could face his sternest test from another former decent Irish point winner in Nosecond Chance who beat a useful sort when winning ‘between the flags’ and he could improve significantly for his modest English debut over flights three weeks ago.

ADVICE
BET 4pt win DUN SEE DEE 12-50 Exeter
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) MIZZURKA and OVERNIGHT FAME 12-50 Exeter
BET 4pt win (nap) EVESHAM STAR 1-05 Clonmel
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) ROYAL CREW and ACCORDING TO LIZZIE 1-05 Clonmel
BET 4pt win DEFINITE EDGE 2-35 Clonmel
BET 2pt win (saver) QUITO DE LA ROUGE 2-35 Clonmel
BET 4pt win UPTHEMSTEPS 2-40 Towcester
BET 2pt win (saver) NOSECOND CHANCE 2-40 Towcester 
    
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Wednesday 15 December

IRELAND’S EYE

It may be just an ordinary Wednesday but what a feast of National Hunt racing we have in store today. Fairyhouse is definitely the place to be today as the Meath fixture houses a top notch 8 race card which features most of the Graded contests lost to the weather in the last ten days. Each of the races is a Graded contest and it includes no less than 5 Grade 1’s!. England however are not let out of the fun as the Peterborough Chase is down for decision on an interesting Newbury card while Bangor also stage a decent jumps card. On the level Lingfield kicks off at 12-05 while later in the evening the baton is handed over to Kempton to complete the days AW action. We will be taking on a hotpot in one of the Grade 1 contests today at Fairyhouse while a Nigel Twiston Davies runner is tipped to land a competitive novice handicap chase at Newbury.

There may have been a couple of disappointments yesterday but we kept up our fine run of winners with a 10/1 (from 16s) scorer in Little Hercules in the bumper at Catterick as Howard Johnsons debutant had our next best Dunowen (15/8) back in third. Saver Super Villan (14-11/1) was just gunned down late in a competitive novice hurdle at Folkestone while selection Ballabroom (7/1) could only finish a modest third in a Catterick handicap hurdle.

Charles Byrnes talented Solwhit may have looked vulnerable in the Grade 1 Hattons Grace Hurdle if the contest had gone ahead on its scheduled date some 18 days ago as it would have come about two weeks after his good win in a Grade 1 at Punchestown over the minimum trip. However the 6yo seems to hold ‘all the aces’ today in the rescheduled contest at Fairyhouse at 12-50 and Davy Russell can guide the French bred to his seventh Grade 1 success with this step up in distance likely to be an asset rather than a negative as the son of Solon boasts a fine win over the distance at Aintree last year. Hurricane Fly must rate the obvious danger as the Willie Mullins trained six year old who won over the trip in his native France 2 years ago has a psychological advantage over the selection as he narrowly beat Charles Byrnes runner narrowly in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Punchestown earlier this year when last seen. However that was on good ground and the selection will be suited by the underfoot conditions and has an edge in regards to fitness and though the odds will be somewhat cramped he gets the vote on this occasion to beat the Mullins star.

All eyes will be on Willie Mullins Mikael D’Haguenet in the Grade 1 novice chase today at Fairyhouse (2-30) and though reports about his schooling have been fairly bullish the call is to take on the last years Ballymore Novice Hurdle winner on his debut following an absence of more than 19 months off the course. The exciting French bred would be a moral if returned to near the form he showed when winning his last five over hurdles – all bar one Graded contests but there are enough decent types in the line up here to take on the six year old. The one that gets our vote is a former Willie Mullins inmate in Jessies Dream and the former decent pointer will be suited by the easy ground (soft). Winner of a bumper and two hurdles up to this distance the son of Presenting has taken a little time to open his account over fences but the Timmy Murphy ridden gelding did do the job in fine fashion at Galway over 2m 6f on good to yielding almost two months ago in admittedly just a fair contest. Though this represents a much stiffer test the Gordon Elliott trained gelding can account for John Kielys Head Of The Posse a course winner who is unbeaten in two starts over the major obstacles.

12-25 NEWBURY – 3m nov hc chase

A most interesting and open contest with top weight Mostly Bob and former point and maiden hurdle winner Promising Anshan given the utmost respect but Nigel Twiston Davies MAJOR MALARKEY is improving in the fencing department and has an edge in experience (and recent form) to land his second chase here under Paddy Brennan with Paul Nicholls charge taken to chase home the 7yo.

3-10 NEWBURY – Grade 2 Peterborough Chase 2m 4f

Though Paul Nicholls has expressed some doubts about the match fitness of the sweet jumping BREEDSBREEZE on his return from a near two year absence this race with ground/trip looking ideal for the 8yo could see the son of Fresh Breeze spring a surprise in a race where there are some question marks against many of his rivals also, including his talented if somewhat flawed Twist Magic. Tom Georges Tartak could prove the main danger.

ADVICE
BET 4pt win MAJOR MALARKEY 12-25 Newbury
BET 2pt win (saver) PROMISING ANSHAN 12-25 Newbury
BET 4pt win SOLWHIT 12-50 Fairyhouse
BET 2pt win (saver) HURRICANE FLY 12-50 Fairyhouse
BET 4pt win (nap) JESSIES DREAM 2-30 Fairyhouse
BET lay MIKAEL D’HAGUENET to lose 5pt 2-30 Fairyhouse
BET 1pt win (saver) HEAD OF THE POSSE 2-30 Fairyhouse
BET 3pt win BREEDSBREEZE 3-10 Newbury
BET 2pt win (saver) TARTAK 3-10 Newbury
 
    
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Tuesday 14 December

IRELAND’S EYE

Sadly the deferred Punchestown card has had to be abandoned but nevertheless we have jumps action at Catterick and Folkestone today where a former Irish point winning 4yo can land his second win under Rules in the opener at the latter venue while up North Donald McCain can continue his good winning stretch by landing a staying handicap chase with a maiden fencer. Southwell provides the AW action today with a seven race card.
 
Shop DJ (2-7/4) proved our sole winner yesterday when recording his second win at Cork – this time in a maiden hurdle with one of our savers Saved By John (14s morn-6/1) back in third. Tullamore Dew (5-9/2) finished runner up in a novice chase at Plumpton while saver On Trend (12-10/1) finished third in a decent novice hurdle at the same track.

Four year olds carrying penalties against mainly older types normally are at a disadvantage but there are exceptions to the rule and Oliver Sherwoods Camden could be a case in point in the opener at Folkestone. Though the Old Vic gelding took three runs to mount the winners podium ‘between the flags’ he did show plenty of the ‘right stuff’ to score in a fair Loughbrickland maiden earlier this year. He made an encouraging debut for his current yard six weeks ago when staying on well to land an average Fontwell 2m 2 1/2f bumper by a length despite racing keenly under todays pilot Leighton Aspell. Hurdles can bring about even further improvement from the youngster and he can land the spoils here for his in form yard by taking the 2m 1 1/2f novice hurdle at 12-35. Another 4yo Sire De Grugy rates the danger as the French bred has shaped quite well in taking the runner up money in a Sandown bumper before being outpaced in a Kempton novice hurdle over the minimum trip three weeks ago.
 
Bumpers can often be as tough as tricky handicaps to solve and it is with some caution that we will give our vote to the unraced 4yo Little Hercules in the closing 2m event at Catterick today at 3-15. The well bred son of King’s Theatre is a full brother to a two mile hurdle winner out of a winning dam and he can make a winning debut here under stable jockey Brian Hughes and beat more experienced rivals. His biggest danger could be the ex Irish pointer Dunowen Point – a €75,000 purchase earlier this year for the McCain yard. This 5yo probably would have collected in a competitive Liscarroll youngsters maiden (point) but for unshipping at the penultimate fence and though he failed to justify short priced favouritism in a Hexham bumper on his debut for his current yard over two months ago he did put up a decent performance to go down narrowly to the debutant Cool Vic, despite taking a good hold. 
 
1-35 FOLKESTONE – 2m 6 1/2f maiden hurdle
 
An interesting event with plenty of potential improvers and decent sorts in the line up but at the risk of being boring we will be siding with Nick Giffords market leader Oscar Papa who showed fine form in bumpers, winning easily at Plumpton and the Presenting 5yo ran a ‘blinder’ when beaten a length and a half by the useful Court In Motion at Exeter. Super Villan and Oddjob are just two of several possible dangers in an intriguing event.
 
1-45 CATTERICK – 3m 1 1/2f hc chase
 
Dual hurdle winner BALLABROOK has yet to register over fences from nine efforts but the Donal McCain trained 8yo who scored one of his career successes here is taken to land this open looking contest and give his in form yard their second win in the race in the space of as many years. Dangers aplenty abound but perhaps a small saver on Work Boy and Star Beat who proved a beaten favourite in this race last year can pay dividends.
 
ADVICE
BET 4pt win (nap) CAMDEN 12-35 Folkestone
BET 2pt win (saver) SIRE DE GRUGY 12-35 Folkestone
BET 4pt win OSCAR PAPA 1-35 Folkestone
BET 1pt win (savers) SUPER VILLAN and ODDJOB 1-35 Folkestone
BET 3pt win BALLABROOK 1-45 Catterick
BET 2pt/1pt win (savers) WORK BOY and TOP IT ALL 1-45 Catterick
BET 4pt win LITTLE HERCULES 3-15 Catterick
BET 2pt win (saver) DUNOWEN 3-15 Catterick
 
    
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