Wexford – Friday 6th August

It was a mixed bag yesterday at Sligo with the National Hunt selections as John Adams paid for the day, on an otherwise unspectacular day for the selections. John Adams was given a great ride by the inexperienced Toni Quail, and was a well deserved victory for both horse and rider after a few close calls in recent weeks. Tonight, we move onto Wexford, which has been a track that has given us some good success over the last few months, and hopefully that can continue this evening. 

Starting off with the 5.15 race, which is a handicap hurdle over the extended 2m4f for horses rated 80-102. There have been plenty of these sorts of races going around over the last few weeks, and each is just as tricky and competitive as the next. I quite like the look of two in this race, both of which I have previously put up and have been waiting to run again for a while. 

The first, and perhaps the most obvious, is China Princess, for Peter Fahey and Kevin Sexton. This mare won over this C&D a few starts back before falling on her next outing. We backed her at Cork last time out, when she was very well backed, and just failed to deliver when running on for second behind Rain in Spain. That was another solid effort and despite consistently inching up the handicap, she must have a decent chance today at a course that she obviously favors running at. She is currently the best price of 5/1 with Ladbrokes, who are paying 4 places, so despite it being a bit defensive, I will be backing her each way. 

The other horse that has come into the mix in this race is Glen Robin, who I had put up for Roscommon earlier in the week when being pulled out. This horse has also been very progressive this summer, having not shown too much in maiden hurdles and his first handicap hurdle last term. He sprung to life when a runaway winner of a handicap at Limerick under Bryan Cooper. He backed up just four days later to escape a hike in the weights, which would be unusual for his trainer, and he finished a gallant second when being pipped by a length. He was then given a small break before a handy effort when mid-division at Kilbeggan. Returning to the local track on the trainer will surely help, and at a decent each way price of 16/1 with William Hill, who also are offering 4 places, I think he is worth a bet. 

The 6.45 race is the next to zone in on and I will be taking my old friend, Our Friend, who is one of the most beautiful horses to deal with. I was lucky enough to get to see Our Friend in the flesh a few months ago and he has always had a good place in my heart. Sentiment aside, this horse has a good chance in a race of this nature, and his form this summer has been up with the best on offer in this field. Having found his level in recent runs, he did the job well at Tramore two starts back before backing it up with an excellent effort in second behind Fairyhill Run. That winner was well treated and there are great possibilities that Our Friend is still improving. At a best price of 6/1 with Bet365, who offer 3 places in this race, I think he is a solid each way bet. 

And the final race I will be having a look at is the 7.15, which is a 2m handicap chase. The races don’t get any easier to dissect as the day goes on and this race is no different. However, I am going to take a chance on the quirky, but talented, Espion du Chenet, as recent rain could well have aided his cause in this race. He has won twice before for Louise Lyons. He might not have too many secrets from the handicapper at this stage, but he is the type that can run well and is usually travelling well throughout his races. His jumping is bold at times, so I am hoping he can put together one of his good rounds this time of asking. He is currently 10/1 with the majority of bookmakers, who are all offering 3 places, and that’s another each way bet.