Ryanair Chase winner Balko Des Flos will be hard to beat at Gowran
WE’VE a couple of decent jumps races at Gowran Park today, and I’m hoping to get a double-figure price about the Willie Mullins-trained
Hey Little Boy in the Grade B Kilkenny Racing Festival Handicap Hurdle (3.05) under Danny Mullins.
A dual-purpose gelding, he’s put in a few good shifts on the Flat this season, including fourth place in a Down Royal Handicap last time out.
It will be interesting to see how he performs back over sticks, having finished fifth in that sphere in a Galway Festival handicap off 1lb higher than today’s mark of 117.
Gordon Elliott’s Rightdownthemiddle has strong claims following a good effort when second at Perth recently, but seems a little short around 6/1 in what is quite a competitive contest today.
Sizing Europe won the PWC Champion Chase four times in a row from 2011 to 2014, and Gordon Elliott’s A Toi Phil will attempt to do the double (3.40) having won last year at 6/1.
Aces
But it’s Sizing Europe’s trainer Henry de Bromhead who holds all the aces here, and Balko Des Flos looks a solid bet this afternoon, priced around 5/4 under Rachael Blackmore.
While his latest race when fourth of six in the Melling Chase at Aintree was disappointing, it’s easily overlooked as his victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham had obviously taken a bit out of him.
Second in this race last year, De Bromhead has said he’s in great form at home. He’s one of the highest-rated horses in Ireland at the moment so should take all the beating.
There’s a mixed card at Tipperary tomorrow, and I’m finding it hard to cross a number of horses off the shortlist in the Group Three Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes (2.40), including Dermot Weld’s Imaging, which I’m expecting to improve following a nice win in a Listed race at Naas in May.
Ellthea also has claims, but I’ll get off the fence here and put forward
last year’s winner Psychedelic
Funk as a value selection, priced around 5/1.
Trained by Ger Lyons, he won at this level when last seen in April and some of his best form comes on heavier ground, so he’ll have no problem with the conditions, which are expected to be soft to heavy.
Back over timber, it’s hard to oppose Wicklow Brave in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle (3.15) and if he’s chalked up near yesterday’s forecast price of 9/4, I’ll be first in line with the cash in my hand.
He can be a little inconsistent at times and his latest three races over both codes taught us little priced 1/16, 1/25 and 1/6, but he’s the best horse in the race on all known form and should have enough to see off Arctic Fire, despite conceding weight to his rivals here.
He’ll probably go off as favourite around 13/8, but Quick Grabim looks the one to side with in the seven-runner Grade Three Joe Mac Novice Hurdle (3.45).
He’s still learning the ropes over hurdles but he’s improving and looked a smart prospect when winning a maiden at Listowel last month with plenty in hand.
Finally, I’m siding with another Willie Mullins horse around 5/2 in the Grade Three Like A Butterfly Novice Chase (4.45).
Camelia De Cotte was a decent hurdler but looks an even better chaser in the making, having won her first two starts over the bigger obstacles, including a Listed race at Listowel last month.