Wexford – Friday 5th August

An even Stevens day yesterday at Sligo as it was two places from two selections. So no damage done, and we can set ourselves up for what is a decent weekend of national hunt action over here in Ireland. The party starts tonight at Wexford, where there is a good jumps card being held – and hopefully that can result in a winner or two to bring forward into Kilbeggan tomorrow night. 

The 5.15 is the first race on the list that I am looking at and this handicap hurdle over 2m4f for horses rated between 80-102 is an open contest. There has been plenty of money for recent Cork scorer, Watch The Weather, but I think he is opposable at the prices. Instead, I am going to take a chance on handicap debutante Pour The Wine, who comes from the red hot stable of Peter Fahey and makes her handicap bow off a workable mark. She showed a lot of promise this time last year in bumpers, where her best effort came at this track, and she has been quietly qualified for handicaps in her three hurdling runs so far. Given the form of her team, and the fact these could represent ideal conditions, she looks overpriced currently. At 11/1 with Bet365, who offer 4 places, she should be backed each way. 

The 5.50 race is a very ordinary looking 3m handicap hurdle for horses rated between 80-95, and the betting would suggest how open a race this is as they go 6/1 the field in places. I am going to take a chance, rightly or wrongly, on a horse who I feel will be able to spring in handicap company at some stage, and that’s reserve Homard De Chausey, who should get a run because of an overnight non-runner. This horse has not shown too much on the track thus far, but he tanked through his first handicap at Kilbeggan only to fade, and he was well backed last time out only to disappoint. I’m taking the chance that connections feel like there is something more to come from this horse, and he has dropped down a few pounds and is at his trainer’s local track. At a price of 20/1 generally, with four places available, he should be backed each way. 

The 7.00 race is the 2m4f handicap chase and this looks a good race of its grade, with plenty of horses arriving in decent nick. No more so than Direct Image, who is on a big winning spree and it’s hard to know where the ceiling is with this horse. However, The Great White was very harshly demoted down to second place at Kilbeggan last time out after being involved in a small collision trying to run around the final fence. He should be marked up for that effort and he has only been raised two pounds from the assessor, which has been negated by Paddy O’Hanlon’s claim. This horse looks to finally be maturing and he certainly has a future over the big obstacles. At a price of 6/1 with Bet365, he should be backed each way as well.