Road to Riches

Cheltenham is under 3 weeks away now and while all the talk is of Willie Mullins, Co. Meath will be making their own raid on the Cotswolds in the shape of Noel Meade, Gordon Elliott and Tony Martin. Noel Meade in particular has a few very exciting prospects including Very Wood, Apache Stronghold, Wounded Warrior, Monksland, Muirhead, Aengus and big Gold Cup chance Road to Riches, not to mention the handicaps. Recently married Meade could have a honeymoon period in Cheltenham. What a thrill it would be to see the man from the North East train the winner of the blue riband event on the Friday.

Kingbet are having up and coming jockey from the Noel Meade stable Ger Fox to a Cheltenham Preview evening in Gleesons in Drogheda on the 4^th of March at 8pm. He will be joined by Champion Chase winning jockey Andrew Lynch, form expert Tony Keenan and myself to hand out the free bets and enhanced prices! MC for the night will be Will Reilly. Do join us for an evening to look forward to the big races and try to find a few winners.

Dundalk seen its fair share of celebrations last Friday night with popular local winners Share a Secret and Headlong. A great cheer went up when the Dunleer trained and Dromiskin owned Headlong held on in the last. None of my selections are locally trained this week, but if I find a winner or two, we won’t mind where they’re from.

Tubeanie is a horse who’s had plenty of tries to break the maiden tag, 14 to be exact. But another chance is taken with the 4yo filly as her last run in France would be good enough to win this ordinary heat, the first at Dundalk. Amy Weaver trained her to be 2^nd in Chantilly with the application of first time blinkers and first start on all weather. The racing post gave her a rating of 79 for that effort which would be more than good enough for this. Before that she was twice second in England off 59; two starts ago edging out Bishan Bedi into 3^rd at Yarmouth. Denis Cullen now trains Tubeanie and if she is not tired from her travels, she may go one better than the trainer’s Whippers Boy here a fortnight ago. 

32 are entered for the 47-65 7f handicap on the card, only 14 can run. 2 darts are thrown to hit the winner. Lucky Boo has very poor form on paper. Rated as low as 44 now a leap of faith is taken with this 6yo mare. She’s had excuses for nearly all of her runs at Dundalk though, including when nearly falling early on here on the 30^th of January. Beat only 3l the last day behind Elusive in Paris; she came from last off a slowly run pace, was hampered 2f out and stayed on eye-catchingly to suggest a win soon is not beyond her. Doonard Prince ran in that same race and had an extremely wide trip throughout. The 6yo gelding wasn’t beaten far back in October here off 70 and now runs off 62. This course and distance winner is the type at a big price to go close if getting a nice inside draw.

Have a Nice Day remains on 73 after finishing 2^nd to a highly progressive Togoville on his last start over a mile. He now drops to 7f, the distance all his 4 wins have come over and the Sabrina Harty gelding could be value against some recent winners like Have a Great Day and past winners of this race Fastidious and Indian Landing. Lifting Me Higher ran a satisfactory race first time out here behind Arif under hands and heels riding. The well-bred Sea the Stars filly should improve plenty for the outing and her shrewd trainer won this maiden last year with American Girl.

There are two difficult handicaps and a Qualified Riders race to conclude the card. Asian Wing is one I liked in the 12f race. On his first start for J Feane at the end of January he ran an encouraging race, just letting the race develop in front of him turning in and stayed on well at the finish. His new trainer was 9/30 in 2014 while his old handler 0/10 at the track. Asian Wing was a course and distance winner in 2013 off 59 and now runs off 48. The 6yo showed himself to be in good heart the last day and the new trainer may spark enough life in him to win such a race.