Evening all! The first two winners today were nice once ones to have. They returned 14/1 and 3/1. Seconds with Don Poli and Silver Concorde were frustrating, however.

I’ll keep this brief as its been a long day for yours truly!

Colm Murray Memorial Handicap Hurdle 15:40 – A race named after a great man. I’m sure many owners are keen to take this prize in his honour. Two for each way nibbles here. Hurler and Farmer looks to be on the up and the quick succession of runs suggests things are going well. Spacious Sky at a bigger price and at a light weight has interesting form lines and cannot be ruled out. Trainer is dangerous with this type of profile.

Three.ie Handicap Chase 16:15 – Tricky.  Mallowney is good old each way value, as is Tanks For That.

Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort Chase 16:50 – Uncle Junior showed promise when second behind Balthazar King over the banks in Cheltenham at the November meeting making up late ground fast. He probably hasn’t shown that form since but if he can replicate it his each way chance is sound. 

Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle 17:30 – When will the mare stop?! Quevega is a superstar without doubt, but at her price, as usual, is un-backable for us mere mortals! Fingal Bay  provides some good each way value, but he will be chasing Quevega home I imagine.

Naas Court Hotel And Il Fico Restaurant Handicap Hurdle 18:05 – Two here again. Our Man Zebo is lightly raced and potentially still unexposed. “The Geraghty Factor” enhances his e/w chance. Another two for an each way squeak is Eoin Doyle’s charge Count Salazar who has been a great servant to connections. Won’t mind the quick ground either. 

Ryanair Novice Chase 18:40 – I watched the replay of the Arkle recently and, between me and you, I genuinely shed a tear watching that head case Western Warhorse chin Champagne Fever. A sad day for racing. The son of Stowaway will right those wrongs tomorrow. Hon the Fever!

Drinkwater Construction & Orchid Transport Mares Novice Hurdle 19:15 – Urticaire is very well touted by connections but I’m going to go for the second string here. Vicky De l’Oasis caught my eye a while back and if you are will to sift through the Turf Talk archives she was even in this seasons ten to follow. A very bad ten, I might add. However, Im going to stick by her.

Kildare Post Flat Race 19:45 – Tell Us More is the nap. One for the lucky 15’s. He cost a bomb at Brightwells and has proven to be extremely useful. A budding talent and one for the future.

Thats it folks! Enjoy, and all the best!

Slán tamaillín,

T

With two short priced winners and an each way place in the form of Stocktons wing, Day 1 was not an ideal start but its better than a kick up the arse. Djackadam also being a non runner was disappointing. Apologies to those of you who enquired about an alternative in the race. I’m in the far reaches of south Mayo at the moment and the phone coverage is limited!

I’m going to fly through tomorrows card as the wireless appears to be a tad patchy too!

Here we go!

Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle 15:40 – Finding it quite difficult to look past Highbrow Blue here at the weights. Each way claims with Master Oscar.

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle 16:20 – I do be a Le vent D’Antan man, so I do. Never a Cheltenenian fan and others need to improve a good bit to challenge.

Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle 16:55 – Tough one. 3 with very solid claims. The nod goes to Don Poli, but only just.

Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup 17:30 – Two time Thyestes chase winner and bang there in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, it’s On His Own for me.

Attheraces.com Champion I.N.H. Flat Race 18:05 – Punchestown, to me, has always seemed like a good track to back favourites. Not sure what the stats say! I think it’ll be tough for the form to be reversed from Cheltenham and see Silver Concorde holding out. Hary Fry’s horse Jollyallan could be worth keeping an eye on in the betting for an each way saver.

Guinness Handicap Chase 18:40 – The two with each way shouts here are King Vuvuzela for Paul Nolan, and Wise Old Owl for John E Kiely who returns after a long lay off.

O’Reilly Recruitment Flat Race 19:15 – Totally Dominant represents top connections in this sphere and was purchased for a tidy sum after showing promise on debut. He didn’t quite get the job done at Sligo last time and was put away until now. He could be coming in under the radar at a decent price.

So thats it folks! All the best!

Slán tamaillín,

T

Story kid?! God I’ve missed you. It’s been a tough spell of abstinence but at last my focus can return to all things racing. I’m back, and my God does it feel good.

We haven’t spoken since Cheltenham! Lets never do that again! However, if you were a sharp one you’ll have been keeping an eye on the auld twitter there for advice in the Nationals (Irish, Scotch and English). We managed to find the winner of the English and Irish nationals along with 3 other placed horses. Not bad from only 9 selections!

However, our attention is now firmly focussed on the matters at hand! The Punchestown festival kicks off tomorrow with a smashing 7 race card. Theres 3 grade ones in there too so its top notch stuff we’re talking about here. The Guineas are also coming up this weekend and Im going to try and give you my own meandering views there so between 5 days at Punchestown and 2 days at the Rowley Mile it’s going to be a busy little spell here at Turf Talk Towers!

So buckle up and enjoy the ride! Hopefully we can find a winner somewhere!

Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase 15:40 – This a tricky enough Hunters chase to crack. Im not too bullish on anything here. Nhakira ran well enough in this last year and trainer Evanna McCutcheon is an extremely able point to point pilot. Her 7lb claim is gold. Enda Bolger’s 3rd string off a feather weight including jock’s claim. mares allowance and weigh for age allowance. Her name is Wish Ye Didnt and she could be an each way player if ridden closer to the pace than on previous starts.

Herald Champion Novice Hurdle 16:20 – Faugheen drops back to 2 miles and adds clout to the view that hurdling is the way connections go forward with this fella. I reckon he is better over this trip and is very tough to look past. He is the one to add a bit of “sure thing” to your Lucky 15’s!

bragbet.com Handicap Hurdle 16:55 – This is a more interesting one! For me the Mullins horse is opposable. You need to be tough to win a handicap. This will be only the 5th run of his life after having two spins on the flat and winning a maiden hurdle second time up. He carries a lot of weight too. Sea Beat at the weights is more up my street. He showed promise in his first two starts and got the job done at the third time of asking. He comes back after 80 days off and surely has a chance getting into the frame. Stocktons Wing who’s form line with Our Conor I have done my nut on, for some reason catches my eye again for an each way tickle. Charles’ flat string have been firing so hopefully the jumpers are buzzed up too.

Boylesports.com Champion Chase 17:30 – If ever there was a golden opportunity for Hidden Cyclone, this is it. He’s been not just knocking at the door, he’s been all but kicking down this season and still is waiting for a big day out. He’s in the form of his life and runs off the mark of his life (160) which suggests the handicapper agrees with me. Shark, don’t fail me now.

Goffs Land Rover Bumper 18:05 – A tricky race considering so many are unraced. Paddy obviously is grabbing the headlines taking the ride for NJH but I’m going to oppose him here. Burton Hall is the one for an each way bet for me.

Growise Champion Novice Chase 18:40 – I tipped Djakadam for the Golden Miller at Cheltenham and was impressed by the way he travelled. Unfortunately he fell 4 from home but as long as all things are well today I would be surprised if he can’t get the better of these.

Finlay Motor Group Flat Race 19:15 –  Forgotten Rules  is impeccably bred and the dam comes from a pretty successful Moyglare family. DKW’s are going great this weather and he definitely has a chance. He may go off a stupidly short price so the each way alternative for me is Fine Theatre, half brother to Joncol.

That’s it for day 1! Hopefully there’s a winner in there somewhere!

Best of luck with your own selections!

Slán tamaillín,

T