Friday Irish horse racing best bets
We’ve picked out our Friday Irish horse racing best bets and tips for Wexford and Downpatrick over the sticks.
All being well with the weather not having an impact on Friday’s Irish racing schedule then Irish racing fans will have two meetings to look forward to.
Currently both racecards are under threat with some intense rain threatening to wash out both the cards at Downpatrick and Wexford with both holding inspections in the morning to see if they can go ahead.
Friday’s Irish horse racing action in Ireland comes exclusively over the sticks and 16 races will head to post across both of the day’s cards and we’ve picked out our Friday Irish horse racing best bets at Wexford and Downpatrick.
FRIDAY IRISH HORSE RACING BEST BETS – TIPS FOR WEXFORD & DOWNPATRICK
3:40 Downpatrick – Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (Div II) (4yo+ 80-95) 2m5½f
DIASPORA didn’t show much in a trio of heavy ground maiden contests around the turn of the year, but the Getaway mare has shown up better since going handicapping following a break, latterly finishing third behind Wat Ua Doin at Wexford five days ago.
David O’Brien’s charge was beaten a long way there, not finding much having travelled quite well into the race; but it was a better effort and she could make her presence felt here if building on that performance back in handicap company.
This longer trip could suit and bring out some more improvement and less exposed than most of these she could be worth chancing to get off the mark.
4:50 Downpatrick – Toals Bookmakers Handicap Chase (4yo+ 0-109) 2m7½f
HELL ON EARTH has yet to get off the mark and is currently 0-19; but he’s shown enough in recent starts for Sneezy Foster that he is capable of picking up a win and the Germany gelding is given another chance to finally open his account.
The seven-year old has finished in the frame in each of his last three starts, the most recent of which came over this course and distance earlier in the month where he was beaten five lengths into third behind Clonguile Way.
His cause wasn’t helped by a mistake two fences out which cost him the lead and might have knocked some of the stuffing out of him as he couldn’t recover and dropped to third on the run-in. That form does look reasonable when evaluated for this contest where he takes on some pretty exposed rivals.
Racing from the same mark he ought to make his presence felt with a repeat of that effort and while he’s proving hard to win with he can have a big say here in a moderate contest.
Tips for Wexford and Downpatrick on Friday. Joseph O’Brien can saddle a winner at Wexford.
6:00 Wexford – ESET Ireland Mares Handicap Hurdle (Div II) (4yo+ 80-109) 2m4f
FLAMIN AIMEE struck over this course and distance back in September and might be worth chancing on her reappearance to get back on the scoresheet.
The Oscar mare has run well on both starts when fresh and she was last seen running a good third in a Thurles handicap back in October behind Trickey Trix where she was beaten six lengths, not helped by some sloppy jumping.
The runner-up from that race has won twice since and Colin Bowe’s charge turns out here from the same mark following seven months off so might be able to exploit her rating with Jordan Gainford able to claim 7lbs so she looks well handicapped here as a result.
She might want further than this trip to be seen at her best given her point-to-point background and her sole win coming over three miles; but she has made the frame on both her starts following absences and she can make her presence felt here.
6:30 Wexford – Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Hurdle (4yo+) 3m
METICULOUS was thought good enough to contest the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival a couple of seasons back, eventually finishing eighth behind Envoi Allen having also run up against the same rival the time before in a Grade Two at Leopardstown.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge has run some solid races over hurdles since where he made the frame three times before getting off the mark at Cork latest where he ran out a four lengths’ winner over Don’t Matter Now.
He won a shade cosily that day despite having led early before losing his place and dropping back to a distant fifth although he rallied well and was well on top at the line. There may be more to come from him now he’s got his head in front and he sets a decent standard on his form so ought to show up well here with the softer ground no issue.