Kilbeggan – Friday 13th May

It was a decent return from Clonmel last night as even though we knocked our head off the crossbar with two selections, we certainly got the bounce of the ball with a win for The Dasher Conway. Him returning at a nice morning price of 9/1 puts us back into a decent position for this month thus far, and let’s hope we can continue that onwards going into Kilbeggan this evening. Results would indicate I need to stick to the jumps action for now, so I am going to do so!

The first race I will be looking at is the 5.30 race, which is a 2m handicap hurdle and sees 12 going to post around Kilbeggan. A couple of these horses arrive in good form and it will be interesting to see whether they can keep on improving. However, I am going to be siding with Rodney Bay, who was fifth in a good standard race at Fairyhouse last time out which is working out well with the horses beaten in behind. He was unlucky not to finish closer as well, given he was badly hampered at the last – and I think this is a lesser race he now faces up to. He is off an unchanged mark of 112 on this occasion, and his previous efforts would suggest that is more than reasonable. At a price of 7/1 with Paddy Power, who are offering 4 places, he should be backed each way.

The next race is the 7.10 and this beginners chase selection is not for the risk conscious among you. It doesn’t look like one of the greatest races of all time and there is no doubt in mind that the best ability of all of these horses is Ujumpthelastuwin, who unfortunately – has lived up to his name in the worst way possible, as he has not been able to jump the last. He has come down on 3 of his last 4 starts over fences, all of which while still in contention. It seems perhaps silly to be backing a horse of this nature, but his natural ability is there for everyone to see, and granted any type of clear round, he should run very well. I am going to take the 7/1 available with Bet365, as a good each way price. 

The 7.45 race is the final race on the card I’ll be covering and this handicap chase over 2m4f looks an intriguing one. Plenty of these could be well handicapped but given recent form, I am very intrigued to see how Fest Deiz runs, for the Kieran Purcell yard. This time last year, he won back to back handicap hurdles off similar marks to this and although his chasing career has not been brilliant, he has returned to form in the last few starts to show that a win might be around the corner. He is off 118, which is a sensible mark and a workable one given his hurdling exploits and I am very hopeful he can capitalize on that on this occasion. At a price of 8/1 across the board, with 4 places available with all bookmakers – he is another each way bet.