Killarney Racing Tips

A winner on hurdling debut last year, James Motherway’s mare has gradually built on her runs race by race this year, with two solid efforts in defeat recently. She almost collared Harry Fry’s exciting prospect Pure Bliss at punchestown before finishing third behind the re-opposing Fest Deiz at Roscommon last time. Beaten 2½l that day, she takes on that rival here on 7lb better terms and has the scope, plus age on her side, to improve past that rival. Those two are likely to be fighting out the finish, with the other five runners all having something to prove on recent form.

Last year’s runaway winner Everlastingpromise is greatly respected here, but this looks a tougher renewal of the day’s feature, with preference for Rachael Blackmore’s mount. Raya Time finished well for second in a hot handicap at the Punchestown Festival, keeping on in a manner that suggests this extra furlong could eke out a bit more improvement. After a month off, he returned to the track with victory in a Beginners’ event at Wexford, beating the 143-rated Embittered 5l off level weights. With his mark still down on 133, that performance says there’s a win in him off this rating.

Few jockeys have such a record over fences at Killarney as Darragh O'Keeffe, with the rider boasting a 41% strike-rate in such conditions. He was victorious on board Different Spot at the scenic venue back in October running out an impressive course and distance winner. It’d be easy to write him off after a couple of disappointing returns, but he’s got excuses for both runs. On seasonal debut at Kilbeggan, he was held up off the pace and never really put in the race in the style of a comeback run designed to bring him up to full fitness. Next time at Limerick, he was going well before a bad blunder three-out ended his chances. With a clear round, he’s entitled to be in the mix at a big price.

A trio of recent winners pose a strong challenge on current form, but getting weight all round, it’s hard to look past the class act in the field, Sempo. Joseph O’Brien’s chaser took good runs to get up to speed over fences, but a second in a Naas Grade 3, before plugging on into fifth in the Irish Grand National , are real smart pieces of form. The latter can be marked up somewhat with the first four home all in a better position to strike than the 7yo. Staying looks his game, and this might be the ideal opportunity to get off the mark over fences.