Elliott To The Double At Fairyhouse

Flat racing in Ireland returns to Cork tomorrow where a listed race opens up the card, while there’s decent graded action at Fairyhouse for their last meeting before the BoyleSports Irish Grand National.

Colm To Master Cork
Ground at Cork is going to be a major factor but the results will be worth taking note of as we shouldn’t forget the venue threw up two Classic winners in Harzand and Jet Setting last season.

There won’t be a Classic winner in the first but Classic winning jockey Colm O’Donoghue can take the honours on the consistent Master Speaker. Trained by Martin Hassett, the seven year old has got a poor win strike rate with just two victories in his 44 race career but there has been some decent efforts in defeat in the last couple of seasons and the ground will be on his side which is a big plus.

Others are better treated by the conditions of the race with Only Mine an obvious one, while last weeks winner Gymkhana is a bit of an unknown having just his second start for Ger Lyons but still with a bit to find according to the handicapper but…

Master Speaker gets the nod in a race that may just be ran to suit him.

Elliott To The Double
Gordon Elliott’s quest to claim a first trainers championship is now into its final month and the current leader can make the short journey home with two of the Grade 2 races on Fairyhouse’s cards.

Ball D’Arc has been a right money earner for Elliott since the turn of the year as he claimed a lucrative handicap here and then took a brace of Grade 3’s at Navan and although Ballycasey impressed at Gowran Park last time…

Ball D’Arc is picked to see him off on this occasion.

The other likely Elliott winner on the card comes in the two-mile hurdle where Brelade can return to winning ways.

The bumper and hurdle winner looked to be running a massive race at Cheltenham last month in the Neptune before failing to finish strongly and the trip and hill may have just combined to catch him out that day. Brelade was still only beaten 10 lengths by Willoughby Court and Neon Wolf and with this drop back in trip at Fairyhouse he looks a good betting prospect for Elliott and Jack Kennedy.

Recommended Bets:
Master Speaker (11/1) – 2.05 Cork
Ball D’Arc (6/5) – 2.20 Fairyhouse
Brelade (3/1) – 3.30 Fairyhouse

*Prices correct at time of publication.