Back to a Saturday TAB meeting in the south west – how sweet it is! The very picturesque track at Coleraine is currently rated a Soft 6 and its been a relatively fine, breezy day today so may even be on the better side of that but there is rain forecast for Saturday. This track with its sandy base copes with rain well, hence the club has been the beneficiary of several transferred meetings from higher profile clubs over recent seasons. Terrific acceptances were received for the meeting and full fields will be the order of the day, which should ensure some value!
Race 5 – 0-58 Handicap 1000m
He doesn’t win often but going with 6 Elusive Shine here. One start at the track for a 2nd in September 2016 and I’m taking a line through his run two starts ago where he narrowly finished ahead of Kapara at Moe but meets him slightly better at the weights here where a few around both of them have claimed, although some would say the weights over 1000m aren’t an issue. Hardest to beat will be 7 Kapara, just keep looking at that 8th of 11 at Mooney Valley beaten 2.85 lengths which must put him right in this, 2 Montre can lead and take some catching around the tight track and the 4 Spirit of the Dawn, down in grade and with the blinkers back on can improve.
6-7-2-4
Race 6 – 0-58 Handicap 1800m
Tough race with the topweight out now and going with 6 Holly Holy with the claim for Liam Riordan, although has drawn wide which I don’t think is a help from this start on the tight, turning track. He’s usually about the mark though, including in some slightly stronger races and may be able to come around them if ridden that way. Stablemate the 5 Buccellati may be the hardest to beat and give them something to chase from half way, if ridden similar to last start. 8 Amity Val will appreciate this distance and the claim for Jessica Eaton and has come through a few reasonable form races of late with a toss of the coin to split 11 Mohini and 4 Beware of Thestorm for fourth.
6-5-8-11
Race 7 – 0-58 Handicap 1400m
1*-2-6-7
Race 8 – BM64 Handicap 1300m
8-4-2-11
Good luck and good punting everybody.