13:05 LEOPARDSTOWN – PRIVILEGE
Jessica Harrington has introduced a few nice horses already this season for new owners Alpha Racing with Dickiedooda winning a listed race at Cork earlier this month and Cadillac a very impressive winner in a maiden here earlier this month. Despite no high-class entries in the book, jockey Shane Jockey has decided to ride Privilege over fellow stable-mate Rascal House with Tom Madden in the saddle. The juvenile by Holy Roman Emperor should represent some value in the betting against several well-bred newcomers, including two from Aidan O’Brien’s care.
Wayne Lordan takes the ride on Harvard, a son of Galileo out of a Starvinsky mare with entries in the Futurity and National Stakes later this season, while High Definition, also by Galileo is the mount of Padraig Beggy. Joseph O’Brien runs a son of Zoffany for owner Lloyd Williams, while any market support for Alqabeela for Kevin Prendergast should be noted for a daughter of Awtaad. Elsewhere, another filly getting the weight allowance is Beagnach Sasta for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning who teamed up with winner Meala at Galway on Tuesday.
14:05 LEOPARDSTOWN – FEDERICA SOPHIA
A big field and a very competitive fillies & mares maiden over the ten-furlong trip at Leopardstown for our second race on the Foxrock card this Friday afternoon. Following winners at Galway earlier this week, the Dermot Weld trained Federica Sophia will have an excellent chance to break her maiden after a find second place finish at Cork earlier this month. The Moyglare owned filly is extremely well-bred, by Galileo out of Sapphire and she certainly caught the eye when staying on against winner, Too Soon To Panic at the Munster track on debut. The extra two-furlongs is a positive today under jockey Oisin Orr and once getting luck in running among a big field here, she should have enough class to win before progressing into a black-type performer later this season.
Astadash, Brinjal and Tejano all finished behind Ennistymon here last month in a fillies maiden, with the Aidan O’Brien trained winner finishing second in both the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and Epsom Oaks. Tejano for Jim Bolger might prove the best of those three following another spin when fifth at Naas nine-days ago, while Clint Of An Eye for Jo Murphy and the Magnier family should improve for her debut sixth at Cork. Elsewhere, another for the short-list would might make the places is Pyamid Rock for Jessica Harrington following her fourth place run behind Roca Roma at Gowran Park.
18:45 GALWAY – STAR MAX
Star Max can provide trainer Joseph O’Brien with another Galway winner this week in what looks an open contest with a field of ten declared runners this Friday evening. The Giggiinstown owned son of Maxios has plenty of experience over fences, rated 134 following seven-starts and two second place finishes to date over the bigger obstacles. The five-year-old has plenty of miles on the clock for a youngster under rules with 21-career starts, but he deserves a win over fences today with O’Brien finding a nice opportunity for his runner.
Star Max was behind Éclair De Beaufeu, Carefully Selected, Bapaume and more recently Jerandme over fences since last October and despite looking exposed could have enough class to see off these rivals. Global Jackpot has a similar profile to our selection with the Gordon Elliott trained runner having nine-starts over fences and currently rated 130 – he was recently third and not beaten too far behind Davids Charm at Tipperary. Ingleby MacKenzie ran a creditable fifth on return to chasing at Tramore recently, while Ming Dynasty and Stormy are others with chances.
20:15 GALWAY – HALLOWED STAR
Patrick Mullins has won three of the last four renewals of this closing bumper on the Galway card and it’s interesting that Shark Hanlon has booked the champion amateur for Hallowed Star. The five-year-old is giving weight to all rivals following an impressive recent victory at Tipperary last month and can secure back to back wins in the closing race on the card this Friday evening. The son of Sea The Stars wasn’t beaten far in a Stratford bumper on soft ground in March and with more rain forecast this week at Ballybrit, the Hanlon horse could be the best selection to handle any testing ground conditions.
Snegurochka won two bumpers at Down Royal last year, but returns after a break with Eilise’s A Lady winning a middle-distance Kilbeggan bumper on good round last month. Portlearth for Pat Fahy has plenty of experience in bumpers and a drop back in trip will be better suited today, while Jawbox for Gordon Elliott looks the main danger to our selection. The four-year-old is getting plenty of weight with Kevin Brogan also taking off seven-pounds and returning to bumper company following a recent fall in a maiden hurdle two-weeks ago – he’s a serious player.
Friday’s Irish Tips summary
13:05 Leopardstown – Privilege
14:05 Leopardstown – Federica Sophia
18:45 Galway – Star Max
20:05 Galway – Hallowed Star
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