Kevin Blake
2:05 HEN AND STAG PARTIES AT WEXFORD RACECOURSE MEDIAN AUCTION FILLIES MAIDEN 1M 1F 110YDS
An interesting opener and marginal preference is given to the Sheila Lavery-trained Multiviz. The daughter of Multiplex progressed with each of her three starts last season to earn an official rating of 76. While she was well below form on her return to action at Cork, the heavy ground was against her on that occasion. The return to this sounder surface and the step up to this longer trip will suit and it wouldn’t surprise to see her prevail. The biggest danger to her looks to be the Ken Condon-trained Evening Hush following her fine effort in defeat on his latest start at Tipperary.
Selection: MULTIVIZ
Next Best: Evening Hush
2:35 WWW.WEXFORDRACES.IE MAIDEN 1M 1F 110YDS
Another competitive maiden and the one that makes the most appeal is the Johnny Murtagh-trained Eddystone Rock. The four-year-old has run well in all three of his starts since arriving to his current handler having previously been trained in France, most notably when a never-nearer third in a mile maiden at Limerick last time. This longer trip should suit and he seems sure to run well.
The best of the rest looks to be the Joseph Murphy-trained Rainfall Radar as while she finished well behind the selection at Limerick last time, she can be expected to improve significantly from that run.
Selection: EDDYSTONE ROCK
Next Best: Rainfall Radar
3:10 PHELIM BYRNE’S SEASUIR AT WEXFORD RACECOURSE HANDICAP (50-75) 1M 1F 110YDS
Competitive fare and the Tommy Stack-trained Salariaq is given the nod. The daughter of Daaher has been lightly raced in recent seasons, but looked a potentially progressive sort when winning a handicap at Limerick just over a year ago. She hinted at promise on her return to action at Dundalk in March and with the return to this longer trip being in her favour, she looks to have fair claims. The pick of her rivals is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Credit The Giver, with the five-year-old having got off the mark in good style at Naas last time.
Selection: SALARIAQ
Next Best: Credit The Giver
3:45 WEXFORD MEDIAN AUCTION MAIDEN 1M 3F
Ger Lyons has made a strong start to the season and he could well have the answer to this puzzle in the shape of Kubali. The son of Approve was sent off at 20/1 for his debut at Dundalk, but belied those odds by running a race full of promise in finishing second to The Tulip. He seems sure to improve from that and is likely to take the beating in this.
The most interesting of his rivals is perhaps the Dermot Weld-trained Monocle. He made a promising debut at Leopardstown in August and while he was disappointing on softer ground at Navan in October, if he can belatedly build on that debut promise he will be a danger to all.
Selection: KUBALI
Next Best: Monocle
4:20 CAMPILE APPRENTICE HANDICAP (47-70) 1M 3F
A competitive handicap and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Sea Of Blue looks to be a solid option. The four-year-old has been a model of consistency in recent months at Dundalk and should be suited by the prevailing ground on her return to turf. It will be a surprise if she isn’t involved in the finish. Of the rest, if the Jim Bolger-trained Bridle Path can bounce back from a disappointing run at Dundalk last time she will have solid prospects of getting seriously involved based on her previous form.
Selection: SEA OF BLUE
Next Best: Bridle Path
4:50 BLACK POINT HANDICAP (47-65) 1M 3F
The majority of these are open to improvement and the betting market should prove informative, but without the benefit of seeing that, the Paul Deegan-trained Tasty Ginger is given the nod. The son of Tamayuz has been running well in similar contests of late, most recently finishing second to the subsequent winner Birthplace in a handicap at Limerick. A repeat of that will be enough to see him go very close. Of the less exposed runners, market support for the Ger Lyons-trained Bobby Boucher on his handicap debut would be significant.
Selection: TASTY GINGER
Next Best: Bobby Boucher
5:25 OWENAVARRAGH (Q.R.) MAIDEN 1M 7F
Half this field are better known for their exploits under National Hunt rules and it is one of those, the Jessica Harrington-trained Rock The World, that is given preference.
The eight-year-old has progressed into a smart handicap chaser this season, most recently finishing second in valuable contest at the Punchestown Festival last week. He shows enough pace to suggest he can win on the level and is likely to run very well in this. Of those that haven’t run over jumps, the John Kiely-trained Deor remains a maiden but has shown more than enough promise to suggest he can win a race of this type.
Selection: ROCK THE WORLD
Next Best: Deor