Wexford Racecourse: Preview and Tips for Wednesday’s race-card

Wexford Racecourse presents its latest jumps meeting on Wednesday afternoon, complete with seven races; a combination of beginners and handicap chases…

Read on for a full preview of the Wexford card, in association with Sporting Life.

The afternoon’s action begins with a mares’ Beginners Chase over two miles (2.08). John Queally’s horses are holding their form well at present, so his runner Costanuci should be in with a very solid chance, having placed on her last appearance. Joseph O’Brien’s JP McManus-owned Jeaniemacaroney also looks interesting, going over fences for the first time having been lately seen winning on the Flat at Tramore. She should have the talent to win this.

Another Beginners Chase follows over the same trip (2.38). This is a very competitive looking race, and it’s not easy to pick a winner here, but Willie Mullins’ You Oughta Know should be more than capable of winning, having placed last time out over the larger obstacles at Kilbeggan. With Paul Townend in the saddle, he should be the one to beat. Henry de Bromhead’s Le Coq Hardi could be the one to chase him home.

We stay over the two-mile trip for race three, which is a handicap chase (3.08). Lakefield Flyer won last time out for Shark Hanlon, and might find it difficult to do so again, so it might be worth siding with John Ryan’s Kilashee, who is given a useful four pounds by her rider and stays on the same mark as last time at Kilbeggan, when she was a close second of nine.

Another two-mile handicap chase is next (3.38). Both Charlies Pride and Crowsatedappletart were winners when last seen, but have both been duly penalised for those successes and might struggle to reproduce that form here. Forever Frankie made a decent start for Michael Cleary at Downpatrick earlier this month over hurdles and could feasibly take a step forward now over fences, but Onebrightbluerose has slightly stronger claims coming from a yard in better form.

Race five is a Beginners Chase over two and a half miles (4.10). Greatness Awaits seeks a hat-trick having brought home victories over hurdles on his last two appearances. Run For Pat was in the process of running a very good race when he fell last time out so, provided his jumping has improved since, he could be at the sharp end here for Gordon Elliott. The Electrical Kid, though, looks the most likely contender of all here having run a very good race for third place upon reappearance after over a year on the sidelines. He should take a significant step forward here.

The penultimate race is a three and a quarter mile handicap chase (4.45). Enda Bolger’s Pride Of Place won last time out in good style but has been put up seven pounds in the handicap as a result and might struggle to win again. Hand Over Fist, who ran well for fifth of 15 when last seen as Roscommon, could do better today having come down a couple of pounds, but Sea Aster looks to have been given the best chance due to the employment of a seven-pound claiming rider to counteract and surpass his rise in the handicap after a win last time at Perth.

The finale is another handicap chase over the same distance (5.20). There isn’t a huge amount in terms of good form here, but Gavin Cromwell’s Sights Unseen looks promising having placed third last time out at Tramore. He looks unlikely to get past the joint top-rated Le Grand Vert, though, who is given five pounds by his rider and has only been raised a single pound in the weights since last winning in the UK at Ayr in March.