Irish Horseracing Betting: Bellestown and Tipperary Best Bets

005 Irish Racing / Johnny Ward / 28 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Johnny Ward brings you the best betting opportunities on a busy evening of Irish racing action...

Tipperary hosts a decent flat card and the action is mixed in Bellewstown on Thursday.

The feature Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fairy Bridge Stakes at 'The Junction' looks open enough, with six of the fillies having a three-figured rating. Kyniska is a hopeful choice for Tracey Collins and Pat Shanahan.The daughter of Choisir has been very consistent so far in her three runs, handling heavy ground well enough when third to Snaefell and Georgebernardshaw in similar company at Leopardstown last time. She is a fair price at [6.0] and can get the better of Sharleez, for whom Michael Kinane is a noteworthy booking, choosing her in apparent preference to Age of Chivalry.

Aidan O'Brien is actually without a runner in the Danehill Dancer Tipperary Stakes, run over five furlongs on heavy ground. Douze Points is a sporting nap as I believe that he can overcome the apparent negatives and land this nice pot for Joe Murphy.The son of Redback was on the face of it disappointing last time when well-held by Drumbeat at Gowran Park, but he ran quite freely over seven furlongs and did not get home. However, he seemed to handle the testing conditions well enough and he can better Kevin Ryan's raider Senor Mirasol.

The Aherlow House Hotel & Lodges Race is a trappy enough five-runner affair, with the favourite Inourthoughts' form figures not altogether inspiring as a [2.4] chance. The filly can be taken on at that, with Shining Armour and The Emperor Nero in particular well capable of winning this. It is notable that Inourthoughts has never encountered ground worse than yielding and her only win came on fast ground two years ago.

The ground is the big imponderable in the Super Sunday on October 5th Rated Race, a consequently difficult six-runner event that can be approached with caution. Andre Mon Ami would be no more than a hopeful pick for Andy Kinsella and Seamus Heffernan.

The feature race on the hill at Bellewstown is the Murphy Environmental Handicap Hurdle, an especially competitive affair in which it is [7.0] the field, with Denis O'Regan having a rare ride in Ireland aboard one of the long shots. Plenty of these approach the race in good form and Mudslinger at [20.0] is a speculative choice.The well-related Paul Nolan runner ran well in Galway and any drying out of the ground will help his prospects, with Alain Cawley taking five pounds off. There is any number of dangers, with Spiriton also respected at big odds.

Mageney is the nap of the night in the McCabes Garage Drogheda (Mares) Maiden Hurdle. Sean Byrne's runner took the eye on her most recent outing, when third to Conker Nails and Vicky Lane, travelling well at Downpatrick over a slightly further trip before being out-stayed up the hill. This easier track may help and she makes plenty of appeal at around [8.0]. Vicky Lane has to be respected again and is holding her form well, with Cabin Point looking beatable and Glasog generally struggling to get home over jumps. For an eight-year-old, Mageney is lightly-performed and has the ability to take this.

The Rennicks Signs Handicap Hurdle is split into two, with Dream Champion making plenty of appeal in the second division at [4.0]. Tony Martin had a winner earlier this week and this gelding's performance at Galway (two miles and two) implied that he would appreciate stepping up in trip.