Kilbeggan – Saturday 6th August

It has been a hard month or so of jumps racing and I could do with some inspiration. In fact, I could do with a complete change of fortunes and hopefully that might come sooner rather than later. The racing at Kilbeggan tonight is hopefully a perfect chance to put some things right and with four selections to go to war with, I am hoping it might be the start of something new. 

Starting with the 6.25 race, which is a 2m3f maiden hurdle, there are only three or four that should be involved in the finish of this race. Esperti is the favorite in this race, however, I’m not sure he is too trustworthy and he has been beaten a long way on his last two starts. Instead, I am going to be taking a chance on Secret She Keeps, who despite disappointing in her last two starts, still rates as a big challenger especially with the weight concession from the favorite. She won her PtP, and was a very good third on stable debut at Leopardstown over Christmas in a similar trip maiden hurdle, and if repeating that form – she should be winning. At a price of 16/5 with Paddy Power, I am hoping for the best. 

The 6.55 race is the 3m1f rated hurdle and this race has some household names as Darver Star looks to get back on the winning thread after a series of okay displays. He is the one to beat in this race, but I am not sure whether he is a horse to hold your hat on from a confidence point of view. Instead, I am going to take a chance on Streets of Doyen, who is returning to hurdling for the first time in a while. It is hard to remember that when this horse was last seen over the smaller obstacles, he was competing with great credit in Grade 1 novice hurdles at the back of the 2021 season. He has been in and out over fences but he is well weighted to run well on this return to hurdling, and John McConnell has been in decent nick this summer. At 11/4 with Bet365, he should be backed. 

They often say that one has to learn from their mistakes to make it pay in this game, and although that is sound rationale – I will not be taking that advice in the 7.25 – as I’m going back to the well on Grangeclare Native at a track that he has run very well at in the past. This horse has blown hot and cold for a long time now, but he has posted two very sound efforts this summer, including over 2m7f at Downpatrick. The key to this horse is his early rhythm and I am hoping that this step up in trip can mean that he can get into the front rank and jump well, like he did at this course back in June. Hopefully if finding that sort of rhythm, this horse can outrun his big odds. At 30/1 with Paddy Power, who offer 4 places, he should be backed each way. 

And finally, the 7.55 race is the 2m3f handicap chase that is the feature race on the card and this competitive nine runner race is being run for some decent prize money. I am going to be siding with Il Courra, who was a winner at this course in his hurdling day and his best chasing efforts would entitle him to a big say in this type of race. I have quite fancied him before in similar races, where he has run well without quite producing the full quantity – and I’m hoping he can go a few places better this time around. Off a competitive mark of 123, he should be able to land a blow in this grade of race. I’m hoping a price of 13/2 with Bet365 will seem generous each way.