Irish Racing Tips: Red Basil a tasty proposition at Gowran

Tipping / Billy Nash / 19 March 2011 /

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Paul Carberry rides Final Victory at Gowran on Saturday

"He [Red Basil] was putting in his best work at the finish when fourth to Arctic Mick over two and a half miles at Navan last time and gets to compete from an 8 lb lower mark here."

After all the euphoria of Cheltenham during the week it is back to more run-of-the-mill fare at Gowran, but we have come up with three win selections.....

Local trainer Kieran Purcell has been enjoying a good season and he has a good chance of getting another winner courtesy of Steele's Rock in the opening maiden hurdle at 14:05. Runner-up on his sole start in points, Steele's Rock finished third to his stable companion Smokey Joe Joe on his hurding debut here in October and has since filled the same position in a pair of Punchestown bumpers. He was a shade disappointing tried at this trip at Clonmel last time but the ground was very heavy that day and he is worth another try in what looks a very ordinary contest.

Gordon Elliott, who saddled a memorable double at Cheltenham on Wednesday, looks to have a really nice prospect on his hands in the shape of Final Victory and this one is taken to make it two wins from two starts over jumps in the Ballyhale novice hurdle at 15:40. Final Victory didn't always look straightforward on the Flat (when trained by Andrew Balding) but he did win three times in that sphere and didn't display any of those traits when spreadeagling a big field in a maiden hurdle at Navan in February. The bare form of that contest is nothing out of the ordinary but he could hardly have done it any easier and is open to considerable improvement. Ruler of All has arguably the best form on offer but Edward O'Grady's horses are under something of a cloud at present, and Final Victory should have too many gears for the likes of Johnny McGeeney and Sydney Des Pictons.

Red Basil (16:50) has only won one race under Rules, a two mile handicap hurdle for lady riders at Thurles last season, but he has often run well from higher marks than this over hurdles and is completely unexposed at this sort of trip. He was putting in his best work at the finish when fourth to Arctic Mick over two and a half miles at Navan last time and gets to compete from an 8 lb lower mark here. James Nash's charge has blinkers and a tongue tie on for the first time over fences and this isn't a particularly strong contest.

Recommendations:

Back Steele's Rock in the 14:05
Back Final Victory in the 15:40
Back Red Basil in the 16:50

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