We give our Monday Irish racing tips for the meetings at Roscommon and Limerick where jumps racing returns.
After a cracking Royal Ascot Festival last week, Irish horse racing returns to the fray on Monday and there are two meetings going to post with flat racing action from Roscommon, while a jumps racing fixture goes to post at Limerick as action over the sticks restarts in Ireland.
Across both cards 15 races will go to post in all and we’ve picked out our Monday Irish racing tips with four best bets to keep onside as we chase more winners.
MONDAY IRISH RACING TIPS 22 JUNE
3:30 Roscommon – Tulsk Handicap (3yo 45-65) 1m2f
DAZZLING DARREN has shown improved form since switching to Gavin Cromwell and being granted a stiffer test of stamina; the Dragon Pulse gelding can quickly get back on the scoresheet here having been denied only by a nose over course and distance seven days ago.
He had previously reeled off a hat-trick of wins on the UK all-weather prior to being narrowly denied latest where he lost out in a driving finish. That was his first run since February and any rustiness will have been dispelled so he can improve for the run.
The handicapper has hit him with a 5lbs rise in the weights, but his rider can claim 3lbs to offset part of the burden and if he continues in similar form then he ought to go close here.
4:00 Roscommon – Athleague M’dn (4yo+) 1m2f
BIGBADANDBEAUTIFUL switches the flat having shown a good level of ability in a number of bumpers and Gordon Elliott’s charge could take plenty of beating if this trip doesn’t catch her out.
The Big Bad Bob mare is a three-time bumper winner including twice at Listed level and she was only beaten around five lengths into fourth when last seen in a Grade Two bumper at Leopardstown which was won by Darling Daughter.
She switches now to the flat game and the strong travelling sort looks to have a good engine so can cope with the switch in discipline where this is likely to be run at more of a gallop and while she drops in distance from her bumper exploits her class in the bumper sphere can shine through here.
Our Monday Irish racing tips includes a Gordon Elliott-trained runner.
4:40 Limerick – Well Done To All Frontline Staff From Limerick Racecourse Maiden Hurdle (Div II) (4yo+) 2m½f
Useful flat winner PASLEY has shown some aptitude for hurdles although he’s met with defeat on all four starts over timber to date. However, he’s hit the frame in each of those outings including finishing a very good third in a decent handicap when last seen out at Naas.
He wasn’t helped on that occasion by being hampered when challenging, eventually finishing around six lengths’ off the winner. He’s only been raised 1lb for that start in the ratings but switches back into maiden company here and arriving fit from a reappearance on the flat nine days ago he ought to prove a lot sharper now.
This doesn’t look a particularly deep race and if he can replicate the form of his runs over hurdles last term then he’d likely take a bit of beating here.
6:45 Limerick – Croom Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 80-102) 2m6f
It might be worth chancing on the veteran OCEAN GLANDORE despite his record when making a reappearance being less than ideal.
Although there’s a worry about his fitness here, his ability still remains intact despite advancing years as he showed last term with three wins following his return to this yard; he scored wins over hurdles at Kilbeggan and twice over fences which includes here in July.
A very good third on his return to hurdles for his final start at Kilbeggan, the Whitmore’s Conn gelding steps out here from the same mark as when posting that run behind Ellipsism and that race has thrown up a couple of subsequent winners.
He won from a higher mark than this in the past and if he can hit the ground running with a similar performance then he ought to go close in a fairly ordinary contest.