TRAMORE - SATURDAY
5:00 LAUNCH OF THE AUGUST RACING FESTIVAL 13TH TO 16TH MAIDEN HURDLE 2M
Preference is given to the Edward O’Grady-trained Reflet Ambre. The five-year-old showed plenty when second in maiden hurdles at Clonmel and Roscommon a year ago and while he didn’t show much on his return from an absence at Cork last time, he can be expected to come on from that and go close here. Eoin Doyle’s runners are always to be feared at this track and his St Peter’s Square looks to be the main danger to the selection.
Selection: REFLET AMBRE
Next Best: St Peter’s Square
5:35 GRAUN HILL SUITE - PERFECT FOR PARTIES HANDICAP HURDLE (80-95) 2M
Eoin Doyle might have the answer with the top-weight Chakisto. The seven-year-old has yet to win in 22 starts, but he ran as well as he ever has when a close third in a handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe on Monday and a repeat of that would probably be good enough to see him win this. Of the less exposed runners, market support for the Arthur Moore-trained Red Castle on what is just his second start in a handicap hurdle would be very interesting.
Selection: CHAKISTO
Next Best: Red Castle
6:05 TRAMORE RACECOURSE SUPPORTERS CLUB MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 5F
Willie Mullins sent Childrens List to this track in April to win a bumper and he looks to have found a fine opportunity for him to make it second-time lucky over hurdles back at this track. The five-year-old made a satisfactory hurdling debut at Killarney three weeks ago and he won’t need to improve much to win this. The best of his rivals looks to be the Eoin Doyle-trained Corrigs, with the seven-year-old having won a point-to-point and run well in a hunter chase at this track last time.
Selection: CHILDRENS LIST
Next Best: Corrigs
6:35 WWW.TRAMORE-RACECOURSE.COM HANDICAP HURDLE (80-109) 2M 5F
Gordon Elliott looks to hold the key to this contest in the shape of Eshtiaal. The five-year-old has taken a bit of time to get the hang of hurdling, but the penny dropped with him in no uncertain terms when he bolted up in a handicap at Ballinrobe on Monday. A 12lb rise is plenty, but the style of the win suggested he can win again and this is a good opportunity for him to do so. Of the rest, the Eoin Doyle-trained Indian Fairy comes into this off a solid run over fences and is officially rated 13lb lower over hurdles, so is of obvious interest.
Selection: ESHTIAAL
Next Best: Indian Fairy
7:05 FIND US ON FACEBOOK BEGINNERS CHASE 2M
An above-average maiden chase for this time of the year, which is illustrated by the presence of the Henry De Bromhead-trained Viconte Du Noyer with an official rating of 132 over fences. He wasn’t beaten at all far by the likes of Gilgamboa, Vautour and Clarcam last season and if he can recapture that sort of form, he will be tough to beat. However, he faces a promising rival in the shape of the Willie Mullins-trained Avant Tout. The five-year-old won a maiden hurdle at this track in January and a competitive handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival last time. He rates as a smart recruit to chasing and could well come out on top.
Selection: AVANT TOUT
Next Best: Viconte Du Noyer
7:35 BOOK ONLINE AT TRAMORE-RACECOURSE.COM HANDICAP CHASE (0-109) 2M
The one that makes the most appeal is the Bill Harney-trained The Conker Club. The nine-year-old has only had six starts over fences and is clearly progressing, winning a maiden at Fairyhouse in April prior to finishing a good second on her handicap chase debut at Limerick last time. If he can improve again, she will be tough to beat. An interesting rival to the selection is the Lar Byrne-trained Key Account, with the seven-year-old returning to fences having won a handicap hurdle at Clonmel last time.
Selection: THE CONKER CLUB
Next Best: Key Account
8:05 IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF (MARES) FLAT RACE 2M
A good opportunity for the Willie Mullins-trained Westerner Lady to make it third-time lucky. The five-year-old has run well to finish third in bumpers at Cork and Thurles and with this being the weakest contest she has run in to date, she could well go two places better. Gordon Elliott may hold the main danger to the selection in the shape of Miss North Light, with the six-year-old having established a solid level of form in her four runs in bumpers to date.
Selection: WESTERNER LADY
Next Best: Miss North Light