Limerick – Friday 27th May

It was a good day at Limerick yesterday which was a welcome tonic for the week we had, with two winners from three selections – including one at 15/2 and one at 4/1. These days are hard to come by so I am going to savor it as much as I can and hope that we can continue some form going into tonight’s card, which again comes from Limerick – and this time it is the time for the chasing action, and there are some fascinating handicaps to get stuck into. Let’s hope for a decent day.

Starting off with the 5.10 race, which is a 2m handicap chase and this race sees plenty of horses graduating from beginners chase runs into their first handicap on this occasion. In that sense, there is some guess work involved with trying to pick apart these types of races. However, given some of his previous form in England and the way he has shaped, I am hopeful of a decent run from Butte Montana, who certainly has the natural ability to compete off a mark of 102. That should not overface him on handicap bow, and given he was as high as 115 over hurdles would be a fair indicator of that. He has not shown a whole pile for this yard so far, but handicapping would have always been the aim and he now enters that sphere. At a price of 10/1 with Sky Bet, who are offering 4 places, he should be backed each way. 

The 7.40 race is the second race on the card that I will be delving into and this competitive handicap chase over 2m6f has again some horses that might have a bit more to show then they have delivered in beginners chases just yet. Mica Malpic and Money Heist fall into that category, but on this occasion I am going to side with the exposed but consistent Trickey Trix, who has a likable way of going about things and on a track that can suit horses on the pace, he should be strongly considered. He was third at Wexford before filling the same berth at Downpatrick, in a race that has already proven to be very strong form. That is something to strongly consider and with that in mind, he should be backed at a price of 8/1 with Paddy Power, with 5 places available each way.

The 8.10 race is the final race on the card and unlike the usual Irish cards, we have a pulsating 3m handicap chase to get stuck into, rather than a bumper. I am compelled to back a horse in this race and the staying 3 mile trip should be well suited to the admirable Mister Bells, who returned to form in timely fashion last time out at Down Royal. He perhaps doesn’t have too much in hand from the assessor at this stage, but Paul Nolan has chosen to use Rob James today, who claims a vital seven pounds off his back and gives the horse a more than feasible chance. With that in mind, given he has run well around this course before as well, and again he looks to be a horse suited to being ridden handy, he has a lot in his favour tonight. At a price of 8/1 with Coral, he should also be backed each way, with 5 places available.