Racing Tips – Top Tipster Eamonn Hames’ best horse racing selections for Sunday, April 2
Eamonn Hames guides you through the racing from Fairyhouse and Cork on Sunday
FAIRYHOUSE
2.20
This is the first step into open company against graded rivals for BALL D'ARC, but if the manner in which he has been winning his novice events is anything to go by, then this should be fairly straightforward.
Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old has gone from strength to strength with each run over fences, progressing through handicaps to win the Dan Moore by nine lengths in January and then winning his next two starts in Grade 3 company by even further margins.
This will be by far his toughest test to date, but he comes here in rip-roaring form, his jumping has been most assured and these are the sort of conditions that he will relish.
Tell Us More never got involved in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, however that followed a break of over four months off the track and he should be a different proposition here with that run under his belt, returned to fences and with Davy Russell aboard.
Ballycasey is the highest rated of these and should be the biggest threat, but Willie Mullins’ ten-year-old needs further and may be unsuited by the sort of forward ride needed for him to score over a distance he last won at on his chase debut in 2013.
Tell Us More never got involved in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, however that followed a break of over four months off the track and he should be a different proposition here with that run under his belt, returned to fences and with Davy Russell aboard.
Ballycasey is the highest rated of these and should be the biggest threat, but Willie Mullins’ ten-year-old needs further and may be unsuited by the sort of forward ride needed for him to score over a distance he last won at on his chase debut in 2013.
Nearly Nama’d shaped well for a long way at Navan and should be better for that promising run, but the remainder will likely struggle with Flemenstar likely to need this, Realt Mor approaching old age and The Game Changer and Devils Bride unlikely to get the better ground they want.
3.30
With the trainers’ championship hotting up it is no surprise to see the two leading yards so well represented here and this Grade 2 prize can go the way of Willie Mullins.
Bleu Berry may appear the pick of the Closutton four with Ruby Walsh aboard, but there was a lot to like about CHATEAU CONTI's run in the Grade 1 Deloitte in February and he has to be the selection.
Green and evidently lacking experience that day at Leopardstown, the five-year-old would have been a lot closer if not for a mistake at the second last putting him on the back foot at a crucial time and he has major claims here with Paul Townend up.
MOST READ
Gordon Elliott will be hoping that one of his pair can better the Mullins challenge, however it is unlikely that Chirico Vallis will, given that it took five attempts for him to win his maiden, so Brelade looks the best of his hopes.
The mount of Jack Kennedy was better than the bare result in the Neptune at the Cheltenham Festival and he has leading claims dropped back to the minimum trip.
Avenir D’Une Vie has missed most of the season and may just need this outing, but he has always had a touch of class and there is no doubting that he has the potential to reach the top. Outspoken is useful, but could struggle to overturn the form with Mullins’ Bleu Berry, whereas the remainder look better suited to handicap company.
Eamonn Hames' best bets for Fairyhouse
- 1.50 Theydon Park
- 2.20 Ball D'Arc
- 2.55 Woodland Opera
- 3.30 Chateau Conti (nb)
- 4.05 Invitation Only (nap)
- 4.40 Travertine
- 5.10 Dr Zoom
4.05
INVITATION ONLY has a bit to prove after missing Cheltenham, but the regard he’s held in by Closutton is significant and he has to be the one to beat here.
A strong galloper, the way he won his bumper at Punchestown last season was impressive and he was equally impressive when winning his maiden at Gowran Park, when taking the scalp of Barra with plenty in hand.
The Navan defeat to Death Duty was disappointing, but if everything is now A1 with Graham Wylie’s six-year-old after his break, he should take this in his stride before going on to Punchestown and possibly the Cheltenham Festival next year.
Eamonn Hames' best bets for Cork
- 2.05 Only Mine
- 2.35 Son Of Rest
- 3.10 Venezuela
- 3.45 Furiosa
- 4.20 Zelaniya
- 4.55 Sweet Company
- 5.25 Landline
Al Boum Photo made all to win easily at Thurles and rates a strong second string for the Closutton Maestro, but if there is one that the selection has to fear it is Any Second Now.
Ted Walsh’s five-year-old carries a penalty for his Grade 2 win, but he is classy enough to handle giving the weight away, especially now that he gets the extra half mile he has been crying out for.
Runfordave ran a cracker at the Cheltenham festival, but this could come too soon after that effort, whereas Stand Up And Fight and Minella Till Dawn look chasers in the making.