Tipperary and Stratford – Sunday 18th July

There are very few times that I enter a racing card with premonitions that things might go right, but entering Killarney on Friday, I was obsessing with how Jeremy’s Jewel might run. She is a mare that I hold in the highest regard and as the leader of the Paul Nolan fan group, I am always hopeful to see him saddle good winners. She didn’t let the side down, scoring in the bumper in decisive manner at 5/2, showing that might be even more under the bonnet as well, which is a frightening feeling! That added to Capuccimix, who delivered in fine style at a massive price of 22/1, ensured it was an excellent day for anyone who followed in on WhichBookie. July has been a brilliant month so far, and I can only hope it continues this way going into Galway and Goodwood.

I have a few selections from around the grounds today, and after shouldering arms to yesterday’s cards, I am hoping that patience can be rewarded. The first port of call today is Tipperary, where the National Hunt cards are ramping up before the exciting Galway Festival in a couple of weeks time. The 2.55 at Tipperary is the first division of a competitive 2m6f handicap chase for horses rated 0-109. These are typically tricky races, and therefore horses in good form come at a premium. One near the head of the market offers this in abundance, and is Mister Bells, who you may remember me putting up on this blog just a few days ago. 

He has had a lucrative summer so far. His last two starts have been superb, when winning over this distance two starts back before finishing a game second at Kilbeggan last time out. He probably didn’t see that trip out, so the return to this trip should be perfect today on this more forgiving track. Given his accuracy with his jumping and his top recent form, it is hard to oppose him here. At a best price of 4/1 with Paddy Power, I will be hoping he gets his head in front this time round. 

The next selection of the three for today comes in the 4.40 at Tipperary, which is a handicap chase over 2m3f. I have managed to procure a bit of luck over recent weeks with big priced handicap chase winners, and I’ll be hoping for something similar as I’m taking a massive swing at one at a big price in this. I am siding with the class horse in this race, and top-weight, Castlebook from the combination of Mangan and O’Keeffe.

 I would have said that this horse has potentially let down connections, given his lofty reputation after winning a Tallow Point to Point earlier in his career. This being said, his career has been littered with injuries, and his efforts have been decent when getting fit after a few runs. His runs this year have been lacklustre, but the handicapper has given some relief and this is a more realistic target. He is a big price of 28/1 with SkyBet with 4 places available, and I’ll make him play each way as a result. 

The final selection of the Sunday comes from Stratford, which he encountered some good luck with last month when Butte Montana won by going from the front. That seems to be the right way to approach this track, with handy runners having a productive record. The 4.15 looks like a decent opportunity to have another horse win a novice hurdle from a handy position with the progressive, Chez Hans. This horse is returning back into novice company, nursing a double penalty for his troubles after novice/handicap wins at Newton Abbot last month. 

His mark of 124 doesn’t leave him with too much room for manoeuvre against some of his rivals, but he is the standard setter and he is in the best form of the lot entering this race. He has not gone unnoticed in the market though, and is the shortest price on offer this afternoon from these picks. At a general price of 9/4, I give him a decent chance at recording a British winner.