Irish Racing Preview: A plethora of potential punts from across the Irish Sea

005 Irish Racing / Wayne Bailey / 06 December 2007 / Leave a Comment

Wayne Bailey marks your card for the next four days racing in Ireland...

With three winners out of three, the success of last Thursday's article will be difficult to repeat.

Unfortunately for me, my wife also read my article, and was so overjoyed by my success that she decided she needed a new handbag. I never realised just how expensive handbags can be. A quick click of the 'withdrawal' button on Betfair saw most of last weeks profit disappear in an instant, so it's back to the grindstone again!

Today, we're off to Clonmel, whose racecourse is one of Irelands most picturesque. The action kicks off at 13.15 with a maiden hurdle...races that are always difficult races to figure out. On paper, it looks like a toss up between O'Grady's Indian Spring, and Mullins' Temlett. The former has been progressing well in recent weeks and looks set to break his maiden status soon. The latter had a great flat season, and if he can transfer that form to hurdles, he could soon become a household name. If I can get [2.5] around Temlett, I'll settle with that, but backing both for a place is not out of the question. There are big dangers to the bet in the form of Amidreamin and Cry Presto so it's probably not a race to be heavily involved in.

In the 13:45, there has been a few whispers going around about Miss Tidy, but her current price around the [3.0] mark is way too short for me. Instead, I'm going to sit this one out and just watch. It will be interesting to see how Ouhetu Des Mottes runs after a successful flat career in France. It's her first run for O'Grady who has been quite successful of late, so a big race is expected.

Stylish Article might be able to top the funds up in another maiden hurdle at 14:15. The two-mile mark looks just about right, and he seems versatile so the ground shouldn't be a problem. Oscar Rebel, who has been performing well on the point-to-point scene, could well earn a place if she can adapt to the distance.

A field of 18 might see some place value available for Eyeffees at 14:45. Although well beaten into second last time out by the odds-on Rock Street, Rothwell's gelding was far from disgraced, and might exploit the lesser opposition here.

Being the big anorak that I am, I thought it would be well worth noting a Clonmel trainer statistic that caught my eye. Pat Hughes, who is one of Ireland's long time great trainers, can't seem to find a winner at this track. In the past five years, he's had 36 horses run here, yet none have found their way to the winner's enclosure. He's back today with a total of seven entries, and depending on prices, there's got to be a couple of decent lays in there.

Friday

As usual, I have to give Ger Lyons' horses at Dundalk a mention for win and place value. He's keeping up his strike rate here, and Tin Cha Woody may well replicate last week's success if he can take the step up to seven furlongs. At the time of writing, Aidan O Brien has Georgebernardshaw entered for two races here, but whichever contest the colt is involved in, he demands attention. O'Brien has been battling it out with Dermot Weld for the trainer title, so all five of Weld's entries warrant a second glance on the last official night of the trainer contest.

Saturday

All eyes will be at Sandown on Saturday, but don't forget to tune into Navan at 13:55 for the Proudstown Handicap Hurdle. There are 32 entries at the time of writing, one of the more notable being Kerryhead Windfarm, who has a fantastic chance if he can stop making those small jumping mistakes that seem to hamper his chances each time he runs.

Sunday

Depending on how the previous three days go, I might make the trip to Punchestown for the grade one John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, which promises to be a very exciting spectacle. If however, things don't go so well, I may make the trip to the department store to see if they do refunds on handbags!