Tipperary – Sunday 17th July

After a very tough Saturday of action, which I feel I wisely passed over – we are back this afternoon to try and tuck into the action from Tipperary, which hosts a competitive jumps card and although there are not too many betting opportunities staring right down the barrel at me, I am hopeful for a decent day. 

There are three selections from today, and the first comes in the 3.32 race, which is the 2m7f handicap chase and although this looks a competitive handicap for its kind, I am quite happy to side with the obvious here rather than trying to fashion up a case elsewhere. The obvious is Mica Malpic, who would be arriving here with two wins to his name in his final two starts if it was not for a mishap at 2 out last time at Wexford. That can obviously be excused, as it was just a small mistake and he is not badly weighted to go in again if none the worse for that unseat. He has looked very progressive in those few starts and I would be disappointed if there were not more wins to come from him under this type of mark. A price of 2/1 with William Hill seems very fair. 

The 4.07 race is the 2m3f rated novice chase and this looks like one of the better races on the card and the six runners are all in with some sort of chance off their best form. I feel I might just be repeating my thoughts from Friday but I am going to go to the well again, with the extremely tough and durable Ferdia – who ran a cracker over 2m1f at Killarney, only to be denied by a stablemate. John Ryan typically runs his horses hard, especially throughout the summer, and this horse has been on the go for sometime, considering he only made his debut just over a year ago. He should be suited by these conditions and never before has he looked like races catching up with him, so I’m hoping that won’t happen. At a price of 6/1 with Bet365, I will be backing him each way and hoping that he can get his head in front. 

And finally, the 4.41 race is the 2m3f handicap chase and this equally lucrative contest has attracted a field of 6 to post, and again a small case can be made for all of these in their best form. I am going to take a risk on Fancy Foundations in this race, who was really progressive last summer in these types of races and if returning to that form, could be too good for these off top weight. He is returning from a spin over hurdles, which I am hoping was just a pipe opener for returning to the big obstacles, and he should be suited by these conditions. I feel due to his price and the fact that he is a little bit of an all duck or no dinner type horse, I am going to back him win only. At a price of 9/2 with Bet365, I will take that chance.