Roscommon – Monday 23rd May

Another quiet weekend of action for this month as May has not been full of the best betting chances and opportunities you’ll find. It is sometimes most wise to stay level headed and not to go searching for things, so I have kept my powder relatively dry. However, we are entering the last week of the month and through some good Irish meetings, hopefully this week will be busier. That starts with the flat action tonight at Roscommon, and again I’ll be reaching for some of the longer distance races to have a play in near the end of the card. 

Starting with the 6.00 race, which is a 1m2f maiden on the flat and it is perhaps unwise to be siding against a Paddy Twomey trained favorite, with his strike rate always impressive for the stock he brings to the track. However, it is very interesting to see that they have gone down this route with Gatsby Grey, who made himself into a very good hurdler come the end of the jumps season and his last two runs registered RPRs of mid 140s. 

Coming into the flat sphere, if able to transfer some of that ability, he should have a huge chance in this race and I don’t think he will be the type to fall short for speed, given what he has shown over obstacles so far. He was also a bumper winner back last season, so he has the mind for being able to do this job, and I am very excited to see what he can achieve this summer. At a price of 11/2 with Paddy Power, who are offering 4 places, he is an each way bet. 

The 7.00 race is the 1m4f handicap for 3 year olds rated between 47-75 and suffice to say that this is not a vintage race by any means. Plenty are coming into this off poor maiden runs, or somewhat eye-catching handicap runs, and it is sometimes hard to pick apart what formlines to trust. I am going to side with course and distance form, and the second last time out from Aghaboy, must rate as some of the most solid form on offer in this race, and has to be taken very seriously as a result. That was on softer ground, but there is rain around today and it would not surprise me to see this ground deteriorate through racing, which can sometimes throw a spanner in the works for those wanting to back winners. 

Scott McCullagh takes a useful five pounds off his back and he has the plumb draw, so there is enough to convince that he should run well. At a price of 15/2 with Sky Bet, who are offering 4 places, he should be backed each way.