Liam Firkin's Horse Racing Tips for Wednesday

TWO TEMPTING – 0.5 Pts EW @ 12/1

This seven-year-old gelding was slightly underwhelming when last seen at Kempton but returns to a race where he managed to get competitive last season and he’s now dropped by a further 1lb for that most recent effort. 

He has placed on three occasions on the all weather earlier this season off a mark of 100 and if bouncing back from that latest disappointment, he can get competitive once again today. 

Tribal Chief is a horse who also runs here and has been one who I’ve been waiting to win for most of this season so should anyone wish to play with some cover in the race on the second favourite then that wouldn’t be the worse play but Two Tempting represents much more value at the prices and I’m happy to play him each way, in this 1m contest. 

DORANS LAW – 0.5 Pts EW @ 22/1

The Rothwell horse is one who’s clearly well handicapped based on form from last season. He was a winner over fences off a mark of 109 as well as placing on two occasions off ratings of 108 and 114. Given that he’s back down to an official handicap rating of 105 can see him get involved in this where he is back over hurdles for the second time in succession.

He travelled well at Sligo when last seen over the smaller obstacles and was making some progress before falling three hurdles out from the finish. Provided that hasn’t knocked his confidence and he travels with the same zest today, then he can make his presence felt. 

He will have a featherweight to carry in this 3m contest and the claimer in the plate has been among the winners of late with two victories from his last ten rides so I would hopeful of a good performance at a nice price.

CONYERS HILL – 0.75 Pts EW @ 11/1

OL MAN DINGLE – 0.5 Pts EW @ 18/1

I am playing two in the Kerry National and they share a form line from three starts ago where they were second and third at Ballinrobe. 

Firstly, I can see why the favourite is at the top of the market given that he’s likely to be on the front end which is a positive at Listowel with its tight nature as a racecourse and it can be beneficial to be up with the pace and his trainer has won this twice in the last 9 years. 

That said, I think his price is short enough so I’ve opted to play at bigger prices and the first play in this race is still a progressive sort but he’s yet to win a nice pot over fences. Conyers Hill may appear, on the bare form, as a horse who refuses to win with so many second place efforts alongside his name but it’s rarely been the case of him not wanted to go through with his effort and more the fact that he’s bumped into a few along the way. That is detailed by the fact that the winning distance between him and the winners, on two of his last three runs has been 7 and 10 lengths.

He’s up a further 4lbs for his most recent runner up finish and that shouldn’t be too much to contend with especially given that Alan O’Sullivan takes that weight, plus an additional 1lb, straight back off. 

He comes in here race fit and seemingly in good fettle and that can see him go close again today, which hopefully results in him finally getting his head in front again. 

Ol Man Dingle is the second selection and he has Michael Kenneally in the plate and I’m hoping this young jockey, who is full of promise, is stealing 5lbs out of the saddle for this seven-year-old. He was a winner at Kilbeggan off a mark of 140 before not getting much luck in running on his next start at Galway (hampered in running) and should he get a clearer round of jumping today then he is another who can go close. 

I’d like to see the pair of them ridden a little more forward than usual, given that they both tend to be held up, as Listowel can be a tricky racecourse to peg back those on the front end but I’m sure jockey’s will be well aware of that and if both remain in similar form as we’ve seen of late, then they can have a say at the business end of this race. 

CABALLO DE GUERRA – 1 Pt Win @ 7/2

I took a liking to this horse following his first bumper effort when he was quite keen and travelled wide before putting in a very nice finishing effort to take third place. 

Last season started well for him over hurdles when scoring at Kelso on his seasonal debut where he put 10L between himself and now 113 rated horse, Triple Crown Ted. 

I did expect him to go on and do more last season and although he was placed into some tricky assignments, he didn’t manage to build on that through the campaign but the yard certainly didn’t have the best year and you could portion some of his runs down to that fact. 

It’s possible that Caballo Du Guerra is best seen when fresh and given this is the first start following a break, he may be much better for it. I still think he is a better animal than his mark of 115 and I’d be hoping to see that today and provide a sign that there’s more positive things to come. He is the most likely winner of this race and I think he’s worth getting involved with on seasonal reappearance.