14:00 Leopardstown – Maker Of Kings
Sam Ewing retains the ride on MAKER OF KINGS who can follow-up his recent victory at Tipperary close to two weeks ago and secure this one-mile handicap for Ger Lyons and the Newtown Anner Stud. Both rider and horse showed brave, battling qualities when coming through rivals from off the pace and seeing off a progressive type in Teed Up from Ken Condon’s stable.
The 5lbs rise looks reasonable, with hopefully more improvement to come having already managed two victories from four starts this season for the Glenburnie team since moving from Gordon Elliott’s in March.
15:30 Leopardstown – Ediyva
EDIYVA has shown enough this season to see off Nawafeth, Moonwalk, Miss Molly T and Oh So Chic and could break her maiden in this 7-furlong contest for trainer Michael Halford. Her debut fourth for Dermot Weld behind Celestial Object reads well with Jessica Harrington’s winner placed in both Listed and Group company earlier this season.
She found another Harrington runner, Lady Anner too good at Roscommon at the backend of August, before recently finishing second to the well-backed Haifa from Paddy Twomey’s yard. She deserves to break her maiden and can get the job done on Friday – with Nawafeth looking the best of the opposition and newcomer Oh So Chic another leading fly in the ointment.
Read: Horse Racing tips: 4 Ascot course specialists for Champions Day
18:15 Dundalk – Everyhouronthehour
Colin Keane returns to the saddle on EVERYHOURONTHEHOUR in this 7-furlong handicap having previously guided the horse to victory for trainer Willie Ross at Gowran Park in mid-September. The joint top-rated runner of 62, alongside Jo Murphy’s Bay of Skaill can find a good forward position from stall six before kicking for home and benefiting from his drop back to 7-furlongs.
The four-year-old led at the furlong pole before having to settle for second place over one mile at the Curragh last month and with Keane pushing for more winners in the jockeys’ title, you know he’ll be right in the mix at the business end here.
19:15 Dundalk – Unforgetable (NAP)
UNFORGETABLE clearly stands out on official ratings (100), with the daughter of Muhaarar dropping into handicap company having contested many quality races for the Joseph O’Brien outfit over the past 15 months. She was only beaten three-and-a-quarter lengths behind Love in the 2019 Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown before finishing second-last in the in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf last November.
She’s ran creditable races this year without getting her head in front and this looks a golden opportunity for victory with young jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle taking off his valuable 7lbs. Brunelle looks the biggest danger for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane, with Faakhirah an interesting runner on her Irish debut for Adrian McGuinness following a novice victory at Kempton last October for Saeed bin Suroor.
19:45 Dundalk – Muker (Next Best)
The Group 3 Pat Smullen Mercury Stakes has been dominated by British winners over the past decade and the improving MUKER can enhance that stat by securing victory here for first-season trainer Philip Makin. The son of Mehmas was a surprise, but impressive winner on debut when British racing returned from lockdown at Newcastle in early June, winning at 20/1.
He followed up that run with a third-place finish behind Tactical in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, before returning for a find novice victory at York in early July. Muker looks progressive, will dominate from the front under jockey Declan McDonagh and should give a British-based trainer a sixth victory from seven previous renewals of the Mercury Stakes.
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Irish racing tips summary:
14:00 Leopardstown – Maker Of Kings
15:30 Leopardstown – Ediyva
18:15 Dundalk – Everyhouronthehour
19:15 Dundalk – Unforgetable (NAP)
19:45 Dundalk – Muker (Next Best)
READ MORE:
- Horse Racing tips: A magnificent 7 for Haydock on Friday
- Horse Racing tips: 4 soft-ground specialists for Champions Day at Ascot
- Ruby Walsh: More to come from Paul Nicholls after stellar weekend
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