We pick out our Irish racing best bets for Thursday’s race-meetings at Leopardstown and Limerick.
With three racemeetings taking place in the UK on Thursday, the day’s supplementary Irish racing sees two fixtures heading to post with afternoon action on the flat from Leopardstown where there is Listed action on the card.
Meanwhile over the sticks there is also a jumps fixture from Limerick taking place in the evening.
We look over both of the day’s fixture in Ireland and pick out our Irish racing best bets for Leopardstown and Limerick.
IRISH RACING BEST BETS AT LEOPARDSTOWN AND LIMERICK
2:00 Leopardstown – TRM Excellence In Nutrition Handicap (3yo 45-65) 1m
TAKE MY HAND made a breakthrough when scoring at this venue last week and Michael Mulvany’s charge is taken to follow up here.
Good, fast ground is paramount to her chances and she’s run his best races on top of the ground conditions which she’ll get here. She shaped last time as if a return to further will suit and she is unexposed over this one mile trip although she made the frame over the distance at Limerick recently.
A 6lbs rise in the rating demands a shade more, but he appears one who is going the right way and with the potential to improve again now she’s got her head in front the Tough As Nails filly can double up her win tally with a repeat.
3:00 Leopardstown – TRI Equestrian Superstore & Cafe Handicap (Div II) (4yo+ 45-65) 1m
OUT ON FRIDAY has gone close the last twice, run down late each time at Tipperary and here latest; Philip Byrne’s charge is worth chancing to get off the mark now with Colin Keane taking over in the saddle.
The Masterofthehorse gelding ran a blinder at Tipperary over a slightly longer trip, headed close home having been slowly away; he was possibly guilty last time of doing too much too soon where he was headed in the last 50 yards and faded into fourth.
He can race off the same mark here and stronger handling could see him find some measure of improvement which can lead to a first career success although this looks a competitive contest. Nonetheless, he can go well for Keane who is an eye-catching jockey booking and no surprise if the pair combine to go very close here.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead saddles one of our Irish racing best bets on Thursday.
5:15 Limerick – Well Done To All Frontline Staff From Limerick Racecourse (C & G) Maiden Hurdle (Div II) (4yo+) 2m
SAY IT AIN’T SO did little wrong on his hurdling debut at this venue last month and the Kayf Tara gelding can put that experience to good use and get off the mark at the second attempt.
Henry de Bromhead’s charge finished around nine lengths’ fourth behind Filon D’oudairies, perhaps doing too much by racing keenly. But he should know more this time and the form of that run has been boosted by the runner-up winning since.
If he settles better this time around then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t improve for the run and with the potential for better to come he could prove another typical improver for the yard.
He can make his presence felt under Rachael Blackmore and no surprise if he were to go close here.
6:15 Limerick – Adare Handicap Hurdle (4yo+) 2m4f
LORD LARIAT arrives on a hat-trick having found improvement since returning to hurdling to reel of a brace of course wins one of which came at this distance.
Karl Thornton’s charge was last seen scoring under a penalty at this track when tried over three miles, beating Eimear by almost three lengths with the front two pulling well clear. That form has since been boosted by the runner-up and third both winning since.
The handicapper has hit him hard for that latest win and he’s fully 12lbs higher in the weights; but there’s a suspicion he has better still to come and the presence of a good 5lbs claiming amateur helps offset part of the weight burden.
Having won a shade cosily when last seen, he can continue to defy the assessor and every chance he can collect his three-timer here with the drop back in trip no problem for the Golden Lariat gelding.