Elliott To Notch Up Winners On Sunday

Willie Mullins is yet to ramp up his entries this winter with Ireland’s champion trainer having just eight runners in the last three weeks.

But there’s no doubt that when the Closutton lorries begin to fill up the Mullins juggernaut won’t be long getting up to full speed. With just one runner at both Wexford and Galway on Sunday however, it is another opportunity for trainers to make the most of his absence and for Gordon Elliott to secure the services of Ruby Walsh.

Good Day For Gordon
Elliott has been unsurprisingly quick to use Walsh in the absence of some of his more regular jockeys and at Clonmel on Thursday Walsh guided Orchard Road to win the two-mile handicap hurdle.

The nine-year-old heads to Galway on Sunday to run under a 6lbs penalty and although Walsh goes to Wexford instead, Orchard Road can go in again (3.55). Chris Timmons’ 5lbs claim almost wipes out the penalty and the lightly raced gelding can win on just his fifth start for Elliott.

At Wexford it would be a surprise if Elliott wasn’t among the winners and in the finale Three Swallowsnick is the pick.

The two-time point-to-point winning mare looks to have an ideal opportunity to extend her winning sequence and make a perfect start on the track with Jamie Codd booked to ride and the fact that he’s departing the point-to-point action to make the trip to his local track must be significant.

Trip is Magic
As well as teaming up with his father in the first race, Ruby Walsh will later team up with his brother in law Ross O’Sullivan in the beginners chase (3.05) and that should be a fruitful association on this occasion as Call It Magic steps up in trip to two and a half miles.

The six-year-old point-to-point and bumper winner was unlucky to meet one too good on three of his hurdle starts and again on his chasing debut at Roscommon when Space Cadet proved to be too good on heavy ground over two-miles.

The trip and the ground should prove ideal for Call It Magic on Sunday and he should be returning to winning ways.

He may well prove to be a horse who can land a big prize later on in the season.

Feeling Lucky
Sunday’s selections are likely to be shorter prices than preferred so to make up a Lucky 15 a more tentative inclusion is King’s Wharf in the handicap chase. (3.40)

The seven-year-old was a course and distance winner earlier in the summer and although Willie Mullins has been quiet of late, the eight runners he did run in the last three weeks returned form figures of 214P1211 so you can expect King’s Wharf to go very close and hopefully oblige.

Recommended Bets:
Call It Magic – 3.05 Wexford
King’s Wharf – 3.40 Wexford
Three Swallowsnick – 4.10 Wexford

*Prices correct at time of publication.