Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Norman Lee trained OSKAR HIGH (best priced at 9/4) won this race last season and he should hold strong claims and he should hold strong claims off 1lb higher this year. The ten-year-old made all in this race and kept on strongly at the finish to win by 4 ¼ lengths which earnt him a 9lb rise from the handicapper. He had struggled off higher marks since but bounced back to form on Monday when winning by 14 lengths at Galway.

That victory came off a mark of 82 and he runs here under a 7lb penalty meaning he runs off in theory only a 1lb higher mark than last year. If he can back up that performance only four days later then he should prove extremely hard to beat under Shane O’Callaghan who rode him to victory last time.

The Mark Fahey trained REBEL ROSE (best priced at 7/1) put in an uncharacteristic poor performance last time at Galway in first time cheekpieces but she is expected to bounce back to form in this race. The six-year-old had a consistent profile before that race with form figures of 61225231 including a win at this course on her penultimate start. That victory came in July off a mark of 109 over 2m1½f where she won by 2 ½ lengths in a maiden hurdle. 

Rebel Rose was well fancied last time at Galway and was sent off only 11/2 but was too keen in first time cheekpieces and weakened late on during her first start at the unique start. This return to Ballinrobe will suit and she should run well back up in trip over 2m6f off a mark of 109 with four places on offer.   

The top weight RULE OF JUNE (best priced at 2/1) has been a model of consistency for the previous 12 months and she should hold strong claims of adding a fourth career win to her CV. The Liam Casey trained mare has form figures of 2221313313 the previous year including a victory at Tramore on her penultimate start. The victory came in a handicap chase off a mark of 83 when she won by two lengths under Sean Flanagan. 

Rule Of June finished 3rd last time at Killarney off a mark of 90 and despite running here off a 1lb higher mark, she should run well once again. Connections have booked 7lb claimer Michael O’Sullivan to reduce the weight the eight-year-old has to carry in this race and I expect her to prove hard to beat.