HUGELY COMPETITIVE ACTION AS FESTIVAL BEGINS
Ian Fortune
A total of eleven sweepstake deciders and a tremendous Old Stagers Open 525 make up a wonderful twelve-race card at Shelbourne Park as the RCÉ Winter Racing Festival gets underway this evening. The opening race on the card is due off at 7.40pm with the finale set for 10.40pm.
In the intervening three hours, there is some hugely competitive action with very few short priced favourites to speak of with the exception of the two six bends races on the card.
BABE SET TO JUSTIFY FAVOURITISM
Youandme Babe has a perfect draw on the fence in the final of the WRF Dual Distance over 850yds and is likely to come home in front if avoiding bad traffic.
Representing Paul Hennessy and Paul Hynes, she is set to turn close to the pace before making her superior pace count. Mochonog Miss is likely to finish strongly and can pick up the pieces to take second.
WILD THE ONE TO BEAT IN NOVICE 750
Mongys Wild made a wonderful start to his six bend career in the semis of the Winter Racing Festival Novice 750, coming home clear in a rapid 41.17. He will likely start a red-hot favourite and will be very difficult to beat if avoiding traffic.
Pennys Cailin won the other semi and looks a promising stayer but she may need a little luck to come home in front. Mongys Wild faces a potentially tricky draw in three and needs to avoid clashing with the early paced duo of Radical Scoby and Ballymac Wendy but, if doing so, will emerge as the one to beat.
Expect the Graham Holland trained star to prove too strong for his rivals.
FRED READY TO DICTATE
Racing ends with the final of the Winter Racing Festival A0 525 and 2023 National Puppy Stake runner-up Dunnanelly Fred is selected to come home in front. An impressive semi-final scorer, he looks certain to come on for that run and is perfectly drawn in the stripes.
Brockagh Justine, Toolmaker Note and Lolos Scottie all have the ability to go close but Dunnanelly Fred is lightly raced in recent months and can only improve on recent efforts.
LENNIES DESIRE LOOKS A PROSPECT
Lennies Desire may face a tough draw in the final of the Winter Racing Festival A1 525 but he displayed all sorts of pace in the semis and looks destined for bigger things. Should he negotiate a clear passage around the turn, he could again take some stopping.
Toolmaker Quick and Dear Me are the potential pace-angle but Lennies Desire is chosen to overpower his rivals from halfway. He can get up late to score at the expense of Dear Me and Toolmaker Quick.
BLUE TO POWER HIS WAY HOME
Glenlara Blue and Blackeyed Turbo will dominate the market ahead of the final of the Winter Racing Festival A0/A1 600. Glenlara Blue posted a rapid 32.25 in the semis and will be hard to stop if repeating that form but Blackeyed Turbo is greatly respected.
She won in 32.67 last week but can go considerably faster. She needs a faster start, however, and Glenlara Blue can get first run before going on to win again.
JACK TO SHOW HIS POWER AGAIN
Thats It Jack has plenty in his favour in the final of the Winter Racing Festival A1 550. He flew home to deny Daraghs Sydney in the semis, leading in the closing yards to win by a neck. The make-up of this evening’s contest could work in his favour.
Toolmaker Curio has a kind draw on the fence and could potentially set the pace but he would be vulnerable to his stronger rivals from halfway. Thats It Jack can turn close to the pace from trap two and is expected to arrive late and fast.
Daraghs Sydney and Droopys Carbine can both make their presence felt but Thats It Jack has the pace and power to follow up his impressive semi-final victory.
BEAUTY TO DRIVE ON
The penultimate race on the card is the final of the Winter Racing Festival A0 Bitch 525 and its yet another hugely competitive contest. Semi-final form would suggest Highview Katy and Drive On Beauty will race to the fore, while Coolavanny Ogie will finish with purpose.
Much will depend on what turns in front but Drive On Beauty is chosen to make every inch from the front. A winner in 28.41 last weekend, she seemed comfortable in her surroundings and can go even faster to lead home Coolavanny Ogie.
FINN TO SHINE IN OLD STAGERS
2022 Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn is nominated as one of the best bets on the card in the Winter Racing Festival Old Stagers. A true professional with the early speed and all-round pace to excel at his chosen profession for over two years, he can add another victory to his impressive tally.
Ballyhimikin Rex can emerge as the main threat from a kind draw on the fence but Ballymac Finn is also perfectly drawn in three and can dominate from the outset. He is selected to lead home Ballyhimikin Rex and Cheque For Sir.
BRIDGES CAN DICTATE THROUGHOUT
The final of the Shelbourne Regulars A2 525 is another conundrum. Black Bridges is perhaps the most likely pace-setter and that could make the difference.
She narrowly saw off Stuie Griffin last week and the latter can again emerge as the main threat, although Coonough Aki is also respected.
CLAN TO FOLLOW UP
Cloverfield Clan is the most likely leader in the final of the Winter Racing Festival A2 525 and is selected to follow up his impressive trap to line victory in the semis.
Coolavanny Shay is well housed on the fence and has the pace to make a bold bid, while Jetara is also worthy of consideration given his tremendous early speed and perfect draw in the stripes.
LASKARINA AND EFENDI APPEAL IN COMPETITIVE CONTESTS
Racing commences with the final of the Winter Racing Festival A4 and Laskarina is chosen to come through in the closing yards to deny Vale Poppy and Black Bell.
The final of the Winter Racing Festival No Back Graders A3 is also hugely competitive and picking a winner with confidence is no easy task.
Zenith Efendi came home well to justify odds-on favouritism in the semis and he can improve on that form to come home in front of Kilara Moosh.