13:00 DOWN ROYAL – ROSES BLUE
ROSES BLUE returns from a break having finished fifth in a good maiden at Naas on debut in June and should go close to landing the opening five-furlong fillies maiden at Down Royal. The Moyglare team has sent horses to several other trainers besides Dermot Weld this year, with this Kodiac filly trained by Jessica Harrington. The form of her run at Naas behind More Beautiful has worked out very well, with the seventh home, Miss Amulet winning the Lowther Stakes at York for Ken Condon and the eighth horse, Fozzy Stack’s Aloha Star placed in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.
Dense Star, who finished behind our selection at Naas has raced consistently five times since and looks one of the main dangers for Joseph O’Brien and Mikey Sheehy. Another with plenty of recent starts, Mooneista ran well in the Ballyhane Stakes behind Chief Little Hawk, while Tilia Cordata is another to watch for Michael O’Callaghan. The trainer has teamed-up well with Leigh Roche on occasions here at Down Royal and this filly should improve from her debut fifth behind Frenetic three weeks ago.
14:00 DOWN ROYAL – VERBAL FENCING
The Jim Bolger team are now getting into full gear which is great to see with the master trainer securing several winners over the past week following a slow start to the rescheduled season. VERBAL FENCING looks nicely handicapped to reverse the form with Omakase (both were second and third) at the Curragh last weekend behind winner Star Image. The Bolger filly now wears cheek-pieces for the first time running off the same rating (69), but has the benefit of Luke McAteer’s 7lb allowance, with the young jockey already guiding home a Bolger winner earlier this week.
Omakase for Joseph O’Brien has been raised 2lbs with Mikey Sheehy once again in the saddle and another interesting battle with our selection and Shambara (fourth at the Curragh) for Johnny Murtagh looks on the cards. Elsewhere, In The Attic looks a possible danger for Noel Meade and Colin Keane with this filly running in a nursery for the first time off an official rating of 69, while Betrayed, Mass Gathering and Barretstown are just three of a handful of other-runners who could improve to knock on the door for place among these juveniles.
14:35 DOWN ROYAL – MASTER OF REALITY
Joseph O’Brien landed this race, the Her Majesty’s Plate last year with Downdraft and should do again on Friday afternoon with MASTER OF REALITY, the best rated horse here (111) under jockey Wayne Lordan. The five-year-old has not managed a victory since the 2019 Vintage Crop stakes at Navan, but has raced consistently with solid form since, including a cracking run in the Melbourne Cup. He was more recently second on two occasions at the Curragh behind Twilight Payment and Delphi and that looks good enough form to see off the opposition here.
The Jessica Harrington trained Barbados looks the main danger after several good runs this season, which included his second place finish in the in the Vintage Crop in June, a race were Master Of Reality finished sixth on his seasonal reappearance.
Elsewhere, Rakan is hoping to improve for his comeback run at Leopardstown for Dermot Weld in July, while Sea The Lion finished behind our selection on his latest start for trainer Jarlath Fahey. Effernock Fizz should make it a good pace up front here with Barbados sitting handy under Shane Foley, but Master Of Reality gets the verdict to get back to winning ways from off the pace in one of feature races on the card.
15:10 DOWN ROYAL – JERANDME
Paddy Power is sponsoring another big handicap with JERANDME for Noel Meade and Colin Keane getting the thumbs up for the 2020 Ulster Cesarewitch. Keane and his father Gerard took Paddy’s cash last Friday when Laughifuwant won the Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh and the former champion jockey has another good chance of claiming more today. Meade and Keane has teamed-up for success on several occasions in recent seasons and have an excellent chance here with the very consistent Jerandme.
This multi-purpose six-year-old comes here following victory in a beginners chase at Kilbeggan in July and was previously successful on the level at Dundalk, before finishing second in a good handicap at the Curragh earlier this year. He looks nicely handicapped here off 81 and could give Meade a second conseceitive victory in this race following success with Dinard Rose last year. There are many others in the mix here, including Eight And Bob for Willie Mullins and Rachael Blackmore with this gelding running solid races in the past two years.
18:40 KILBEGGAN – JACK HACKETT
I’m always eager to take a close look at any Dot Love trained runner at Kilbeggan and her JACK HACKETT can claim success here over several J.P McManus owed runners in this beginners chase. Having failed to win over hurdles, the six-year-old ran a good second on his chase debut here two weeks ago behind winner Funky Dady and should have every chance for victory today.
Elsewhere, Arthur’s Quay for the McManus team could be the best of his runners following a third place finish at Roscommon and looks the biggest danger to our pick – it’s a weak looker affair and hopefully Love can strike at her local track with Jack Hackett.
*The latest odds are bang up to date on our new bet widget
Read More:
- Sprint over to all the top tips and racing previews now
- Horse Racing: How to watch racing for free with Paddy Power
- Placing bets is easier than ever with Paddy Power News’ live odds banners
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
