UK Horse Racing Tips: Limerick

In hindsight, R'EVELYN PLEASURE faced a stiff task in last year's renewal won by Sir Bob who has gone on to show useful form off much higher marks. Sean O'Brien's charge was held in second when coming down at the last but he's a lot lower in the ratings now and had a pipe-opener for this when fourth at Thurles just a week before Christmas. The Dabbler ran well when fourth in the Galway Blazers in August and had a nice run over hurdles on that same pre-Christmas card at Thurles. Fiveaftermidnight isn't the most consistent but is capable of a good run at her best and is from a yard that continues in fine form. Ex Patriot is plummeting in the ratings but has obviously had issues and isn't easy to fancy on recent efforts.
Prediction : 1st Revelyn Pleasure 2nd The Dabbler 3rd Fiveaftermidnight

EVIES VLADIMIR fairly rattled home for second over 2m4f at Down Royal on Tuesday having had a lot to do early in the straight. It has to be significant that Gavin Cromwell turns him out again so soon and this longer trip should suit the six-year-old who returned from a long absence to win on handicap debut at Clonmel last month. Rolly Bowley Boy was also in action on Tuesday when placed over a shorter distance at this venue. He's another that will be suited by a greater emphasis on stamina but giving over a stone to the selection may be beyond him. Baldur's Gate comes back in trip after a decisive win over 3m at Punchestown and has to enter calculations, while Da Big Fella pulled a shoe when disappointing behind Baldur's Gate but his Galway second the time before was franked when the winner followed up at Cheltenham.
Prediction : 1st Evies Vladimir 2nd Rolly Bowley Boy 3rd Baldurs Gate

YOUR HONOR should be okay on the heavy ground and won his maiden here in the spring. He didn't get home over 2m4f when sixth at Navan last time and coming back in trip should help. The selection was third to Media Naranja at Ballinrobe in May but is considerably better off at the weights with that rival on this occasion. Media Naranja was a creditable fifth in a strong all-aged handicap at Fairyhouse last time and still merits plenty of respect for top connections. Paradise Lost and Whimsy are closely matched on the basis of a clash at Thurles last month and both enter handicap company for the first time. Ossie's Lodge is a bumper winner who looks to have been allotted a fair opening mark and how he goes in the market will be interesting.
Prediction : 1st Your Honor 2nd Media Naranja 3rd Paradise Lost

ASK THE BOOKIE competes from an effective mark of 108 in this rated contest and may have a bit of leeway from that initial perch. Runner-up in a 2m4f maiden at Cork last year, the six-year-old has run two creditable races on winter ground this term including when third on the inner track here last month. Eoin Griffin was amongst the winners at Leopardstown on Wednesday and Splashing Out goes well on heavy ground at Limerick, She was second in this race last year and won a mares handicap in good style on the inner track when last seen. She's A Fine Wine has a possible class edge after finishing third in a Grade 3 at Navan and her maiden win came over C&D in October. She just needs to settle better than she did at Navan to enable her to get home on heavy ground here.
Prediction : 1st Ask The Bookie 2nd Splashing Out 3rd Shes A Fine Wine

Paul Nolan landed a maiden hurdle on the first day of Limerick's Christmas meeting and ICEBERG THEORY may be another winner for the Enniscorthy trainer. The Flemensfirth gelding has two solid maiden runs in the book and handled testing ground well when runner-up over a similar trip at Wexford. Eric McNamara has had a couple of horses run really well this week and Thegraveyardbookie is interesting on hurdling debut. He has shown ability in bumpers and finished ahead of the selection's Wexford conqueror in a Galway contest that has produced hurdle winners. Magic Sadler is a point-to-point winner on heavy ground who has run creditably on his first two starts over hurdles. He'll handle conditions and may not be far away.
Prediction : 1st Iceberg Theory 2nd Thegraveyardbookie 3rd Magic Sadler

MARCIANO has shown enough in three starts to merit each-way support in a race where compelling form is thin on the ground. His opening fifth on heavy ground at Clonmel has been well franked and on his next start in Ballinrobe he ran out when leading. His subsequent fourth in Killarney wasn't a bad effort. His trainer, Edward O'Grady, saddled a winner for owner JP McManus at Leopardstown on Tuesday. Day's A Dawning has been unplaced in three bumpers, but represents Gordon Elliott's powerful stable and could improve on hurdling debut. Jeronimo De L'ouch put in an improved display in fourth at Naas and could build upon that while Caughtinaspell's fourth place in Clonmel gives her a chance.
Prediction : 1st Marciano 2nd Days A Dawning 3rd Jeronimo De Louch

JOHNGUS would have to be taken very seriously if turning out again under a penalty. He reappeared from an absence of more than eight months to win a handicap hurdle over 2m at this venue on Wednesday. That was a race it where it paid to be handy as very few got into it, and he was able to stride home by four and a-half lengths. He has won two of his last three races which is decent form in the context of this race. Natural Breeze gets first-time blinkers on the back of a string of consistent efforts where he has been picking up prize money. Caragh Monaghan is getting a tune out of St Denis's Well with the duo winning in Navan and finishing fourth in Down Royal on Tuesday.
Prediction : 1st Johngus 2nd Natural Breeze 3rd St Deniss Well