John O'Keeffe's Irish Racing Tips
3 minutes John O'Keeffe returns with 3 tips from Ballinrobe and Dundalk.
John O'Keeffe warms up for the weekend's racing that includes the Scottish Grand National and Spring Trials from Newbury with 3 selections from Ireland including a 12/1 shout from Dundalk.
5:30 Dundalk (AW)
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden
MISSION CENTRAL - 10/11
MISSION CENTRAL looks the one to side with in this maiden, and the booking of Ryan Moore for Aidan O’Brien simply screams intent. You have to sit up and take notice when that partnership teams up, and I’m firmly keeping him onside here.
The likes of Leblon Beach and Mina Bonita bring a touch of experience to the table, but frankly, they don’t set an insurmountable standard, and the door looks wide open for a smart newcomer to strike.
Mission Central, a son of the brilliant No Nay Never, boasts a cracking pedigree and could well be a cut above this lot. I’ll be keeping a very close eye on the market moves on Friday night – any strong support would be a huge positive.
5:47 Ballinrobe
McGrath Limestone Works Handicap Hurdle
EXTRAPOLATION - 5/1
EXTRAPOLATION looks primed to go close today after shaping with plenty of promise on his recent Flat return, and this dual course-winner will surely have had this very race ringed in the calendar. A four-time winner already, he hit a peak chase mark of 127 last summer and with the ground drying out nicely, everything looks in place for a big run.
Handicap debutant Glenashling is definitely one to note too. A half-brother to none other than Champion Chase hero Special Tiara, he took a massive step forward when promoted to first at Down Royal last time. Wearing a first-time hood, he travelled like a dream and was ultimately awarded the race ahead of Walk On The Beach, who brings solid form to the table.
Don’t sleep on Flidais either — she’s a proven course-and-distance winner and comes here fresh off a recent success over fences. She's another with claims in what's shaping up to be a cracking contest.
8:30 Dundalk (AW)
View Restaurant Summer Offer Just 29 Euro Handicap
MAN OF KING - 12/1
Thomas Dowling’s MAN OF KING might still be a maiden after 31 starts, but don’t let that put you off — he’s very much knocking on the door now and looks ready to strike.
He really found his groove over the winter, rattling off four consecutive placed efforts behind proven Dundalk specialists like Higher Kingdom and Cousin Shay. Three runs back, he shaped with real promise in a claimer, beaten just four lengths into sixth despite being badly wrong at the weights and setting a scorching early pace.
He backed that up with another cracking effort when a close-up second in a stronger claimer, having again gone keen early on and that form reads very well in the context of today’s race.
Last time out, he ran respectably enough over a mile, but make no mistake this shorter trip is right up his street. Off his current mark, he looks dangerously well-handicapped and this could finally be his day to get off the mark and certainly a place if not!
Irish Racing Tips
5.30 Dundalk - MISSION CENTRAL - 10/11
5.47 Ballinrobe - EXTRAPOLATION - 5/1
8.30 Dundalk - MAN OF KING - 12/1
