Tramore & Down Royal – Friday 3rd June

Today sparks some huge excitement in the flat racing world, with the Oaks and Coronation Cup being top of everyone’s lists for entertaining action this afternoon. One has to tip your cap to some good flat horses and races, but neither of them scream out to me that they are real betting heats and I am prepared to let them fly by on this instance and watch with intently from the sidelines. Instead, we will be focusing on the real good stuff, with jump racing this evening treating us to cards at both Down Royal & Tramore. A few musings from those cards are below. 

Looking at the Down Royal card, it is probably the 6.35 race that makes the most appeal to me as a race I would like to have a play in and this handicap hurdle over 2m4f is for horses rated between 80-102. These are typically open and Gavin Cromwell has a chance with Sweet Will, who has won her last two and is off an advantageous hurdling mark. Instead though, I will be siding with the shrewd Paul Flynn, and hoping that The Grey Lad can bounce back to form here after slightly disappointing his followers last time out at Fairyhouse. That was a better race than this mind, and he just couldn’t live with some well handicapped horses at the front of the market. His previous second at Naas was bang on the money and a reproduction of that effort will see him bang in the mix this evening. At a price of 11/2 with Paddy Power, who are offering 5 places, he should be backed each way. 

Moving down south to Tramore, who house a good looking card and the first race I am interested in is the 5.36 race, which is a beginners chase over 2m5f and sees plenty of horses go chasing after some decent hurdling exploits. I was keen to see how Winding River went on his chase debut at Downpatrick without plunging in to have a bet, and I was impressed with how he fared and he seems to be getting the hang of racing now after being a slow burner. The only worry with a horse like him is that his best form has come at the Northern Ireland venue, and he will have to cope with being away from there on this occasion. He has been in decent form for a few starts now though and if improving at all for that chase debut, against some horses that have been over fences in public before, he should have a great chance. At a price of 6/1 with Sky Bet, who are offering 4 places, he should be backed each way. 

The final race to cover throughout the evening cards is the 7.21 at Tramore and this mare comes at a very similar price to my first two selections and comes in the mares maiden hurdle over 2m5f. Clairmc is the name of the horse, who represents in-form connections at the moment and has some decent form to be bringing to the table of an average enough looking summer maiden. She has shown up well in some winter maidens, and if transferring all of her ability to this race, she should rate as a big player. Cromwell’s yard can operate in good patches, and this seems to be one of them. She should run well. At a price of 5/1 with Paddy Power, who are offering 4 places, she should be backed each way.