Irish Horse Racing Tips – Best Bets on the Friday Cards

Irish Horse Racing Tips – Friday, July 15

The main action in Ireland on Friday comes from Killarney, which hosts a seven-race Jumps card, as well as a supporting card from Kilbeggan, which also showcases seven races over Jumps. Our Irish horse racing expert has identified his top bets on the day which you can check out below.

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Finches Cross (2.50 Killarney) 8/1

The best bet on Killarney’s seven-race Friday card comes in the Dawn Milk Hi + Lo Handicap Hurdle, where FINCHES CROSS is taken to get off the mark at the seventh attempt under rules.

This 5yo cut little ice in five maiden hurdles earlier this year, but he improved for the switch to handicap company when fifth at Tramore 12 days ago.

Finches Cross made his challenge out wide on that tight track which wouldn’t have helped, yet he headed to the last still well in contention before a mistake saw him drop a couple of places late on. Finches Cross was far better than his finishing position of fifth suggests there, so it’s notable that he runs off the same mark of 91 and that top jockey Danny Mullins maintains the partnership.

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Summer Tide (4.00 Killarney) 5/1

Killarney’s Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle has attracted a competitive field, but SUMMER TIDE strongly catches the eye for Charles Byrnes and jockey Phillip Enright.

This son of Fame And Glory has gained one win from his twelve starts under rules, that coming in a Tipperary maiden hurdle last July, form which has been franked since with the runner-up now rated 128.

Summer Tide bounced back from a few below-par showings when second at Listowel last month, the addition of a first-time visor clearly having a positive effect.

That headgear is retained today and Summer Tide will have no concerns with this return to quicker ground. Summer Tide recorded his career-best RPR on his only previous visit to Killarney when only one spot behind the subsequent Imperial Cup winner Surprise Package. The return here, therefore, is if anything a plus for Summer Tide, and on more than one piece of form, a mark of 114 appears to underestimate him.

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Union Park (8.00 Kilbeggan) 6/1

The best bet at Kilbeggan on Friday evening comes in the Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Handicap Chase where Philip Rothwell’s UNION PARK appears to hold strong claims.

This gelding has been heavily campaigned for a 6yo, making his 25th start under rules today.

His only victory during that period came in a handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe, yet it’s now almost 12 months to the day since that victory, so this could be a good time to catch him.

Union Park has only had the three starts over fences, running up to a similar level in beginners chases at Clonmel and Cork before finishing a 4l fourth in a handicap at Punchestown in May. Union Park arguably would have finished closer there but for being hampered by fallers two-out.

His jumping wasn’t the best back hurdling last time, but he runs at a lower level reverted to the larger obstacles here and is on a 3lb lower mark than that of his hurdles rating, with apprentice Jack Foley claiming a further 3lb.

This doesn’t look like a strong race with the runners either well out of form or not looking the most natural over a fence and that opens the door for Union Park to gain a second career victory.