A competitive field as you would imagine and some unexposed types to account for.

 

I'll wager a tip, a tracker and a shrapnel on each of today's 3 races and look at the dangers and dark horses

 

Plenty of interest in here so we'll start with the main dangers with Bronson in Blue will be a serious danger, a 3 mile winner, he may have to come late and take his chance in running and that's the only niggle for me e.g traffic problems in a field of this size.  Good World is a winner at this trip but raced mainly at 2 miles, Sean Flanaghan whose superb ride just denied Ben Dundee yesterday takes the ride on this and it'll be a serious competitor to the selections. Pike County for Denise Foster, now back training her own string is upped in trip but one who could improve for it. Silvertown is strong in the market for the Cromwell yard who had a winner yesterday after a quiet spell, it's run well at the trip but just not really the value I'm looking for on the balance of its form overall. The Great White has been off for 152 days and that's the only chink I can find with this one, it has run well fresh and probably the one I fear the most and would be reserve if one of the picks is a non runner.

 

There are plenty of others in with chances and the likes of Ceasar Rock, Carrig Rock; Nazine;  The Dasher Conway; Turbojet; Youngnedofthehill and Mylestown Upper all have serious chances, some on potential as yet untapped and others on some form, well hidden in places but there to see.

 

I can't get away from PRIORY PARK though and although favourite I think there is each way banker value in the price, it's up 8lbs but looks very progressive. I think FORTUNE STREET is over-priced, a Distance winner for the Paul Nolan team, off a very nice mark and has very solid and consistent form. At a bigger price I think the best of the dark horses is GEALACH, it's top weight for a reason and drops in class here and Davy Russell takes the ride, I think it can run a big race and I can't see any reason why the horse would not run to it's merits in this company.

 

TIP - Priory Park / Tracker - Fortune Street / shrapnel - Gealach (reserve The Great White)

 

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Elliott runs 3 here but has the market leader and first reserve in ARDHILL, it's not rocket science to think one of his may drop out at the final second if nothing else does and with a run the horse will be a short priced and strong favourite. Mullins runs a pair upped considerably in trip, we have to remember that this race is a Qualifier for a big pot, so some who have already qualified may now be hiding their marks and others who may be very dark horses for later on may be looking to get a qualifying mark, I can't tip either Dark Voyager nor Authorised Art here but both are worth watching longer term.

 

Again there are plenty of dangers, Coltor is a serious one and may be just readied for today, Futurum Regum is a progressive horse upped in trip; Pour Pavore is upped in class but very impressive recently; Unexpected Depth was 3rd in this last year, comes here fresh on seasonal debut but has won off longer breaks and run well fresh before.

 

We also have to consider the likes of Baptism Of Fire for De Bromhead (one to track onwards for sure!!), Coventry, for whom my main concern is the trip; De Name Escapes Me who can be very inconsistent but equally very dangerous on a going day; Gentlemansgame who could be anything on handicap debut, Kilfenora wo is another who might just need this run, Panda Boy who is a scopey sort who falls in to the "could be anything category too, plus a couple of very unexposed types for Jessie Harrington (one of which we'll come to); Whatsnotoknow for Mouse Morris, who is one who I feel may be looking to reduce it's mark a bit now ready for the Final of this, and one at big odds who I think can run a massive race in Whirling Dervish.

 

I was left with 4 though and will have a tip, a tracker and a pair of shrapnel bets and Whirling Dervish did come very close in the final analysis too.

 

The tip is MAZE RUNNER, it's a Course and Distance winner, has had a run that will surely bring it spot on fitness wise and the one I feel they all have to beat. You cannot ignore the claims of A GREAT VIEW either, very strong and consistent, my only niggle is that they may have to protect its mark at some point if they are looking at big season long features like this, and my shrapnel will go on SILVER SHEEN one from Jessie's yard (The Very Man is the other) who looks very unexposed, it's had 2 runs, should be at peak fitness and one eye-catching bit of back form at Warwick a while back would put it bang on the right mark to win this if replicating that sort of form. Finally, HOLYMACAPONY who is from the De Bromhead stable with Rachel up in the saddle and an unexposed one with decent Maiden form.

 

TIP - MAZE RUNNER / Tracker - A Great View / Shrapnel - Silver Sheen + Holymacapony (reserve The Whirling Dervish)

 

(This has the feel of a race we'll come back to time and time again in the Spring - at Cheltenham and in Ireland)

 

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Over to Limerick for the first time this week, Going will be very attritional and as we saw yesterday a Course where it's good to give a horse a blow down the hill and then kick again up the straight with something left in the tank.

 

Of the three at the top of the market I can leave Kingston Kid and Blossom Fort alone today on account of the going and value, Bergentown seems to be a bit of a talking horse here but I'm not sure the form stacks up as well as some scribes do, China Princess will be a danger under ideal conditions, Not So Simple was too poor to be true last time, will welcome a return to the mud though and along with Rock Of Tuskar who is dropped in trip and may stay on late and Roped In are genuine dangers. Another who was poor last time who we tipped was Robinevideostar, they did pull up early on surprisingly good ground and although this surface will suit, I think he'd prefer soft to heavy so he'll be 4th in the list and reserve if any non runners amongst these three.

 

My tip is BIRDIE BLITZ, I think hes the each way banker of the race, Going and mark are ideal and in a consistent vein of form at the moment. CHENERY could be running in to form now, has solid form on heavy going and off a nice mark and looks ready to strike as does our old favourite GLENABO BRIDGE, spotted and noted last time, ticks all the boxes and one I would be very surprised if not placed at least here.

 

TIP - BIRDIE BLITZ / Tracker - Chenery / Shrapnel - Glenabo Bridge (reserve Robindavideostar)