Bellewstown – Saturday 2nd July

There is some brilliant racing going on throughout the day in both England and Ireland and none more so than Coral Eclipse Day at Sandown. Despite some top quality flat action, I did not like the look of the card from a betting perspective and have decided to give it a wide berth. Instead, as some may have been expecting – I found the jumps card at Bellewstown far more juicy and compelling, and hopefully I can pick apart some of the races.

Starting with the opener, which is the 4.35 race and is a novice hurdle over 2m1f. Prairie Dancer did it very nicely indeed last time out, when getting the better of a flat looking Douglas DC, and could take all the beating again in this contest, but is priced accordingly. Instead, I am keen to take a chance on the returning Global Export, who had some seriously good juvenile form from last year and could still be a big improver. He was second to two smart horses in Man O Work and HMS Seahorse, before easily bagging a juvenile at Navan last time out. He has not been seen since then but the possibilities are endless as to how much he could continue to improve. At a price of 9/4 generally, he should be backed against the fav.

The 5.35 race is the feature handicap hurdle on the card over the same course and distance of 2m1f and this features plenty of horses that may well have Galway Hurdle aspirations down the line to think of. With that in mind, will the likes of The Tide Turns be ready to rock and roll on his summer debut is hard to know. Given the way the race has been in recent years, Dark Spark would need to edge up the ratings to get into that race, and with that in mind – I’m sure connections will be hoping he can go very close here. He won last time out at Kilbeggan despite not looking comfortable for most of the way, and despite a rise in the weights, he may well still be improving. Richie Condon continues the partnership and I think there is more still to come. At a price of 13/2Da with Sky Bet, who are offering 6 places, he should be backed each way. 

The 6.40 race is the first division of the 2m4f handicap hurdle for horses rated between 80-95 and these are the type of races that cause me headaches all throughout the summer as there are so many different ways to approach them. I am going to give one more chance to For The Cause, who is dropping into the worst division of race he has encountered before and these could well be his optimum conditions. He has not shown much recently for this trainer, but he showed good promise in Points and he certainly shaped like 2 miles around Kilbeggan was far too sharp last time out. This might be a more adequate test of his credentials and with that in mind, he could be a big price. At a price of 14/1 with Bet365, he should be backed each way. 

The final selection of the day comes from the second division of the aforementioned 2m4f handicap hurdle and this time around I’m going for another horse who ran on the same card at Kilbeggan, but is now dropping back to this trip. If you stopped the 3m handicap hurdle on that card at 2 out, you would have been sure that handicap debutante Homard De Chausey would have played a pivotal role in the finish, only to fade very tamely. He drops back down in trip, after being dropped a few pounds – and I think he could outrun his very taking odds. Horses from this stable can run well on their second start in handicap company and if getting things right today, he might go well. At a price of 33/1 with Bet365, who are offering 4 places, I’m taking a risk.