John Flavin’s 5yo has been in good form on the all-weather and can translate that back over the obstacles here. A win and a close fifth at Dundalk back in April should have him in decent nick for this and he’s got a bit of form at this track. He was just denied second over 2m here back in January with that run coming on bottomless ground. A quicker surface will suit and Hugh Morgan is back on board claiming 5lb. This looks like his best opportunity to date to lose his maiden tag over jumps.
Over Milk Wood took a big step forward at Kilbeggan last time to run on into a decent fourth. His jumping still lacked fluency that day so if he can get a little bit slicker at his obstacles, then you would imagine there’s a fair bit of improvement in him. He was still plugging away at the line, so the step up to 2m5f is likely to suit. Philip Enright is a positive booking and this one is less exposed than many of his rivals here. Le Fou’s Keep has been showing signs of encouragement of late and could be the Exacta play.
He’s been off the boil recently but given that he’s turned out quickly following his run at Punchestown, his handler must think that he’s potentially not been giving it his all on his last two starts. Prior to that, this 5yo scored here over a furlong shorter than this trip and if getting back to that run, where he showed a dramatic level of improvement to score by 16l, he’ll surely go close here. Sean Doyle’s Emma Prada has been running with credit recently and she could come on for a bit of better ground.
This is a decent mares’ beginners chase and Willie Mullins’ Lady Breffni can make a winning start to her career over fences. A really likeable hurdler, she picked up a decent pot at Fairyhouse back in April and finished fourth in a red-hot handicap at the Dublin Festival. She didn’t really get into it at the Punchestown Festival but it might just be that she’s ready for a fence now. She Tops The Lot is the main danger and has had experience over the bigger obstacles. She could improve for a better surface too.
Undoubtedly a specialist’s track, Tramore is a twisting test of a horse’s balance, with many simply not handling the turns of the seven furlong round circuit.
The venue’s four day August Festival is a particular highlight, having been on the calendar since 1807, though not always in its current guise. While racing has taken place in Tramore since the 18th century, prior to 1912 that racing occurred on the beach looking out across the Waterford coastline
