A double helping of Irish racing on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY’S WEXFORD & DUNDALK TIPS
- 13:00 Wexford – Zara’s Dream
- 13:33 Wexford – Mystic Rose
- 14.05 Wexford – McAllister
- 14:37 Wexford – The Cobblers Wife
- 15:10 Wexford – The Big Westerner
- 15:45 Wexford – Fierce Handay
- 16:05 Dundalk – Saint Acclaim
- 16:20 Wexford – Hartford
- 16:40 Dundalk – Always Magic
- 17:15 Dundalk – By The Lake
- 17:45 Dundalk – Otsana
- 18:15 Dundalk – Littlepacer
- 18:45 Dundalk – Carrigans Grove
- 19:15 Dundalk – One Cool County
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13:00 2m½f (2m100y) Racing TV Free Trial For A Month Maiden Hurdle (4yo)
Willie & Danny Mullins team up with ZARA’S DREAM, who is out of a dam called Whiteout, who was a nine-time winner from 30 starts. She was a Grade 1 winner at Punchestown back in 2016 and if Zara’s Dream can improve for hurdles, then she looks like one of the main contenders here. She started favourite on her bumper debut but weakened late on to finish fifth. The form has been boosted by the runner-up, She Was The One, who was a bumper winner at Listowel. If she can improve after a 72-day break, she could go close here.
Selection: Zara’s Dream
13:33 2m½f (2m100y) Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle (4yo+)
Josh Williamson and Patrick Magee teamed up for a nice winner at Down Royal on Saturday and the pair combine with MYSTIC ROSE here. This filly was visually impressive when she won at Sligo last time and the RPR of 102 backed up the performance. With the weight allowance in her favour, she could step up and go back-to-back with luck in running.
Selection: Mystic Rose
14:05 2m½f (2m100y) Start Your Free Trial On Racing TV Now Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
A chance is taken with the locally trained MCALLISTER stepping up on third start for the Paul Nolan team with Sean O’Keeffe in the saddle. He started at a big price on debut and would ultimately finish sixth behind the Gordon Elliott-trained Santo Sospir. He would also start a big price on his second start and that was when he entered bumper company and ran 10th of 12 behind the subsequent Champion Bumper winner, The Mourne Rambler. This doesn’t look the strongest race, so a market check is advised.
Selection: McAllister
14:37 2m4f Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Hurdle (3yo+ 0-100)
It could be a quick double on the card for jockey Danny Mullins with the mare THE COBBLERS WIFE, who has been in consistent form of late. She was a winner at Tramore two starts back before a little one paced when fourth to Driveonwill at Downpatrick last time out. She hasn’t been with the Tony Mullins yard long and she will run off the same mark of 82 that she ran off last time. There could be more to come here.
Selection: The Cobblers Wife
15:10 2m7f Michael Hickey Memorial Chase (Listed Race) (5yo+)
The feature on the card looks an excellent race and the Knockeen representative THE BIG WESTERNER looks sure to go close. She is the highest-rated runner in the field off a mark of 143, and she hasn’t been seen since a victory at Limerick over Christmas when she finished in front of Jade De Grugy. She was due to run recently, only for the meeting to be abandoned. With the form in the book and her ability to run well fresh, then she should take all the beating here.
Selection: The Big Westerner
15:45 1m7½f (1m7f150y) racingtv.com/freetrial Beginners Chase (4yo+)
A competitive beginner chase on the card with the likes of Fierce Handay, The Big Clubman, The Store Boy and Mode Avion all running. The Noel Meade-trained FIERCE HANDAY could be a completely different proposition than it was over hurdles. A two-time winner from ten starts, but travelled very strongly in those victories, and a track like Wexford could suit. He was a tad unlucky at Punchestown when last seen, getting hampered by a faller. With a clear round here, he should go close.
Selection: Fierce Handay
16:05 6f Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Claiming Race (3yo+)
Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen team up with SAINT ACCLAIM in the colours of Hollywood Stud & Barnane Stud. He finished second in a similar race at this venue two starts back, and it would be disappointing should he not get his head in front here. The stiff finish at Navan caught him out a little last time, but a return to the polytrack looks a positive move.
Selection: Saint Acclaim
16:20 2m1f Thank You To All Our Sponsors & Supporters In 2026 (C & G) (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race (4yo+)
Harry Swan will take the mount here aboard HARTFORD in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud for trainer Gordon Elliott. This horse ran a nice race on debut behind Quiryn at Naas in early January and then fourth to Delamotte when last seen at Punchestown at the end of April. A repeat of either of those runs should be more than enough to see him win at the third time of asking.
Selection: Hartford
16:40 6f Celebrate Your Special Occasion At Dundalk Stadium Median Auction Maiden (2yo)
The cheekpieces will be added to ALWAYS MAGIC for the first time, and this gelding should go close for the yard of Jack Davison. This will be his fifth start and the last run out was the most notable of the previous four. He finished fourth to Value Pending after being slow away and running on strongly in the closing stages. That was his first start at this venue, and a repeat of that run should be more than enough.
Selection: Always Magic
17:15 6f Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (3yo+)
Newly crowned champion apprentice Paddy Harnett will team up with Derek McCormack here, who trains BY THE LAKE. This filly will carry top weight, but she has only had one start for this yard, and you would expect improvement to come. She is a former course winner and ran a cracker with the hood on for the first time at Navan last time out. Shane Foley reported after the race that the jockey received a bump and was intimidated late on. She has a nice draw in stall two and could challenge late on like she did last time.
Selection: By The Lake
17:45 7f Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Maiden (3yo+)
This looks like a good opportunity for OTSANA to get off the mark at the fourth time of asking with Siobhan Rutledge in the saddle. This filly ran third at this venue last time when beaten 2 ½ lengths by Firewalker, keeping on in the closing stages. She is drawn in stall seven and Siobhan might let her slot in and use her turn of foot late on.
Selection: Otsana
18:15 7f Bet On The Best Night Out At Dundalk Stadium Nursery Handicap (2yo)
It could be a double on the card for the Johnny Murtagh team with LITTLEPACER, who was a winner at Gowran Park last time. She was impressive and the handicapper has taken a dim view by raising her eleven pounds in the weights. There should be plenty more to come and with a nice draw in stall four, she should be tough to beat.
Selection: Littlepacer
18:45 7f Book Your Christmas Party At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (3yo+ 0-60)
Robyn Donoghue-Leahy and Pat Flynn have had a great time of it of late at Dundalk Stadium and could get another winner with the mare CARRIGANS GROVE. Robyn has had four winners from her last seven mounts and is operating at a very healthy 57% strike rate. Carrigans Grove is a three-time winner from 24 starts but is very lightly raced on the all-weather. This will be her sixth start and she was unlucky in running at Navan last time. The handicapper has dropped her a pound from 58 to 57 and should go very close.
Selection: Carrigans Grove
19:15 1m2½f (1m2f150y) Now Racing Every Wednesday At Dundalk Handicap (3yo+ 0-60)
A chance in the last on the card is taken with ONE COOL COUNTY, trained by Pat Murphy in County Kilkenny. This gelding has only had five starts but ran a nice race last time behind Jasmine Affanalis at Killarney. That was his first handicap run after four maiden runs and if he can back that up, you would expect him to be involved here. Gavin Ryan said he rolled about in the straight last time and while that would be a slight negative, I would more put it down to inexperience. There could be more to come and if he can get luck in running from stall nine, there is a chance he will be involved.
Selection: One Cool County
WEDNESDAY’S WEXFORD & DUNDALK TIPS
- 13:00 Wexford – Zara’s Dream
- 13:33 Wexford – Mystic Rose
- 14.05 Wexford – McAllister
- 14:37 Wexford – The Cobblers Wife
- 15:10 Wexford – The Big Westerner
- 15:45 Wexford – Fierce Handay
- 16:05 Dundalk – Saint Acclaim
- 16:20 Wexford – Hartford
- 16:40 Dundalk – Always Magic
- 17:15 Dundalk – By The Lake
- 17:45 Dundalk – Otsana
- 18:15 Dundalk – Littlepacer
- 18:45 Dundalk – Carrigans Grove
- 19:15 Dundalk – One Cool County
