Alan Marron is back with his best bets for Day 5 at Ballybrit.
Close but no cigar yesterday as Jesse Evans finished second in the Galway Hurdle, but hopefully some of ye availed of the each-way value.
I have two selections today as it is one of the most competitive cards I have looked at and I simply cannot find a third selection. My main selection will be an each-way nap as he looks a decent price and should be involved.
Scroll down to check out my selections and hopefully we can get a winner.
6.00 EACH-WAY NAP —- FAN DE BLUES — TRAINER WILLIE MULLINS —- JOCKEY PAUL TOWNEND (11/1)
This horse has been in my notebook for quite a while and I am hoping today will be the day that he lands a decent pot.
He is a course winner over fences as he landed his novice chase victory here last July, and the season before he was placed in a very competitive handicap hurdle. Course form is key as we saw with Tudor City landing the Galway Hurdle yesterday, so hopefully it will work this time around too.
He was fourth behind El Barra last time out at Punchestown with Busselton, who reopposes today, two places ahead of him. While he has to reverse the form with Busselton, I think he is massively overpriced in the market this morning and it wouldn’t surprise me if he is supported.
In terms of the ground, he may need a little rain but his novice chase victory was on good ground when he kept on well over 2m 2f to see off Gin On Lime.
With luck in running, he should be involved in the finish for the masterful duo of Mullins and Townend.
Bar One Racing prices for today’s meeting at Galway are available via this link
8.10 NEXT BEST —- AZALLYA — TRAINER DERMOT WELD — JOCKEY CHRIS HAYES (9/2)
My second selection on the evening will be Azallya who looks very interesting stepping up in trip.
She was 6th in the Orby Stakes behind Raise You last time out at the Curragh and she looked very one paced on that occasion. That was her first run of the season and I would be expecting significant improvement this time around.
The main piece of form that stands out for me regarding this filly is when she landed her maiden victory in Cork. She stayed on very strongly on that occasion and much like my previous selection she might prefer a little bit of juice in the ground.
Earl Of Tyrone finished third behind her on that occasion and he has gone from strength to strength and now heads the Antepost markets for the Ebor at York.
While Azallya needs to improve she has the potential to do so and I am hoping the extended trip will be in her favour. She should be difficult to keep out of the frame.
Bar One Racing horseracing offers available today…
