Irish Horseracing Betting: Thursday at Laytown

005 Irish Racing / Wayne Bailey / 11 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

It's time once again for Laytown, the only meeting in Europe that's held on a beach! Wayne Bailey has more...

Laytown takes place just once per year and is now Europe's last remaining meeting held on a beach under rules. While the quality of racing is not the greatest, it's truly a unique event - so if you want a little bit of background, have a read of my (first ever!) article for betting.betfair.com which discusses the makeshift course.

Racing will be shown live on ATR, so I'd highly recommend watching at least a couple, as it's certainly an unusual spectacle. It'll be even more enjoyable if we get a few winners too...

3:00 - Seaview Slovakia Handicap (4yo+,50-70)

Unfortunately, the first race of the day is a pretty poor affair and not many make appeal. Maid Of Lorn is a better horse than her basic form figures suggest and while she's had a disappointing season so far, she might just nab a place in this company. Dafaroun looks like the best of a bad bunch and I'll put a (small) few quid on him to win.

Advice: Back Dafaroun to win, back Maid Of Lorn to place (minimum stakes on both).

3:30 - Gilna's Cottage Inn Maiden (4yo+)

Ruby Walsh on the flat? That's right! He's riding for Ted, his father (Father Ted!) and can get the ball rolling with January, a promising colt that ran a respectable second last time out at Killarney. The one worry is the short distance, but no doubt Ruby will have instructions as to when to let him go. I've watched a few of Absa Lutte's races and feel she's been unlucky on occasion. She may just make the placings today.

Advice: Back January to win, back Absa Luttle to place

4:00 - Castlemartin Final Sales Claiming Race (4yo+)

Keen Look is an interesting entry and the word on the grapevine is that he's expected to return to form soon. However, if I had a penny for every whisper I get, I'd be a rich man now - so I'm going to stay away as he's far too inconsistent for my liking. Ger Lyons' Rockazar will carry my money. Again, the basic form figures are not great but he won on the beach before, and he's clocked up some decent races at Dundalk. Admittedly, he's become a costly horse to follow lately, but I think he's good enough to see these off today.

Advice: Back Rockazar

4:35 - Hibernia Steel (Q.R.) Handicap

I've no doubt that Nina Carberry will have her supporters here, but it's not a race I'm keen to get involved in. Grand Opera does look the best on paper, but a good case could be made for a number of these and I'm happy to sit this very tricky race out.

Advice: No Bet

5:05 - O'Neills Sports Handicap (4yo+,45-60)

It's fair to say that this race is pretty poor, but Libra's Child looks overpriced in the early markets. He's gradually taken a slide down the ratings, but it's got to bottom out some time and I believe this type of race offers a realistic chance of a place at the least.

Advice: Back Libra's Child to place.

5:35 Pat's Centra (Q.R.) Race (4yo+)

Romeo's On Fire looks like a rock solid bet to finish off the evening in style. Lyons has had racing at Dundalk this year, and he's put in some decent performances along the way. Munich looks like the main threat to the bet, but Lyons' four year old should just about keep him at bay in the business end of the race.

Advice: Back Romeo's On Fire.