Wexford Betting: Excitement on favourite's Friday

005 Irish Racing / Johnny Ward / 08 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Johnny Ward with this evening's best bets...

Wexford stages a reasonable mixed card on Friday evening, with the lack of competitiveness liable to entice punters to wager heavily on favourites.

In the opening Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap, it is hard to oppose Elas Child in a very weak race. Obviously a moderate sort, this Noverre filly got off the mark at Fairyhouse before beating all but Lara Celeb at Ballinrobe and similar form should better the rest here as none of her rivals make much appeal.

In the Hook Hotel Maiden, it will be interesting to see what betting patterns surround Total Excitement, who is beyond his foes here in terms of established ability but has been an expensive disappointment the last twice. Tom Cooper's charge has been heavily on both those occasions, and the pick of what he has shown so far should easily do here. He was ridden wide in Galway last time, presumably to get the better ground, but he has won on yielding and the form of his penultimate second to GPT winner Majestic Concorde would be more than enough. If he runs to his ability, he will win.

The Carnsore Point Handicap is a 0-60 and punters know what to expect. All Heart has threatened to win her second race for a long time without doing so and, while one may fret about her inability to get her head in front, there is no real questioning of her resolution and at [5.0] she is worth a small wager in a necessarily poor race. Shane Gorey is an encouraging booking.

The Whitford House Hotel (Q.R.) Race should be avoided, with jumps horses going on the level assisted by amateur riders. Most of these have to prove that they stay two miles on the flat and whatever is heavily backed should possibly be opposed in view of that. None has solid credentials and it is a race best swerved.

The Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle provides the night's lock in the shape of Better than Jewels, a proposition at 7.2. The mare was in the process of going close at this track when falling three out last time and she remains of interest in a moderate event.
Richie Kiely is one of the best pilots in this contest and he will nurse the daughter of King Charlemagne into a challenging role by the third-last. She handles an ease in the ground and makes considerable each-way appeal.

Bru Na Si ran a most encouraging race behind Max Time last month, but that was a very uncompetitive event. Dropping back to 18 furlongs may suit, but the 'bounce factor' is a concern.

Adajal sticks out in the Raven Point (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle, with Nina Carberry booked by Charlie Swan. While he has won on soft on the flat, the worry is that he is not a convincing stayer and any worsening of the ground is thus against him.
However, there is next to nothing in the manner of viable opposition and if he settles he should get off the mark over the small barriers.

Nina also rides Miss Maranello in the finishing Baganbun Mares INH Flat Race, which can probably be ignored for betting reasons.