Sunday 10th July
SEAN - Sligo 4.30 Handicap Hurdle 4.30 - 3 miles 2 furlongs - 13 run - Good to Yielding
The favourite is Don't Tell Allen who makes handicap debut after a nice win at Wexford. It's hard to really know where we stand wit this one but at the price I want to take it on with some with more clear cut form lines. Arthur's Baby reverts to Hurdles but i've got stamina concerns, I'm not sure that right handed nor this trip really suits Turbojet and Not So Simple needs to markedly improve its jumping but would have a solid chance if it did. Icee mBA is slowly returning to the form that saw 3 wins last summer and down to a realistic mark again but is another who may be better at 3 miles or a bit less, The Dabbler has its first Hurdle run in 2 years but has shown glimmers of form and already we are down amongst the "also rans" allegedly.
There are actually 4 of those at bigger prices that I really looked closely at, BROGINE has shown a bit of form on this type of Going at the trip and could be on a nice mark and the booking of Brouder is a big plus. QUAKER ISLAND has run its best 2 races at an extended 3 miles and on Good Going, can run prominently and on this type of ground a nice position and rhythm is vital. SILVER PLANEUR is a Course and Distance winner who won this race last year, it turned wet that day but the horse is fine on top of the ground and may have been aimed to peak again here. The other one who just misses an investment is Lighthouse Rose who won at 3 miles off a mark of 99 last July, not much since but worth a small exchange bet.
TRACKER - Silver Planeur / shrapnel - Quaker Island + Brogine.
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FAIRYHOUSE 5.25 - Handicap - 1 mile 4 furlongs - 17 run - Good / Good to Firm
This is another race where the top of the market poses more questions than answers.
French Company is clear market leader, partially as Keane rides and on basis of mostly AW form, I'm happy to rail against it.
Shes Good Company was really the only one at the top end who I thought worth a punt but it is what it is really a wholly exposed low Grade handicapper who wins rarely and in turn, it's turn is overdue and if you fancy a dabble on that basis feel free.
Breffni Girl for Bolger is a similar type who is due a good run, Barrys Rock has concerns re stamina at this trip, Magi Gai looks to be running in to some form but probably better on AW surface. Estepona Sun would be a big danger if getting a run.
Again I was left with 4 at bigger odds and with 17 runners and reserves so enhanced places I'll play all 4.
FATTAN is drawn in Stall 1, races freely and prominently and usually fades late on, they DROP in trip though and Seamie Heffernan is very adept on these types and if they can just get the fractions right and steal it turning in could take a lot of pegging back. A similar type is CRACKAWAY and we have to hope they don't beat each other up too soon. It's got bits of form at the trip and drawn in 7 it should be able to drop in prominently close to the rail and I'll be disappointed if it doesn;'t place.
If those two do set it up for something coming from a bit further back then Franna who won over Course and Distance last year in this off a mark of 54 and who has run OK since and just dropped back to a mark below 60 should make a bold bid for a repeat at a nice price. The same applies to STORM STEPS also a course and distance winner off a mark of 53 who has to defy a mark of 58 but with some many others having question marks another who should be in the first 5 home.
TRACKERS - Franna + Storm Steps (shrapnel - Fattan + Crackaway)