Timeform Irish 1-2-3 Tips: Darwin's Theory the natural selection at Navan

Tipping / Billy Nash / 10 June 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jim Bolger will be hoping to keep his good run going at Navan

"[Darwin's Theory's] initial mark of 74 looks quite lenient (Timeform rating 82p) and he is refitted with a tongue tie here."

We've got three bets on a busy evening in Ireland, two on the Flat at Navan and one in a handicap chase at Wexford....

Cloudgazer, a well-bred son of Dalakhani, was noted making very good late headway in the maiden won by Irish Review at the Curragh on debut last month and can improve enough to win what looks an ordinary contest at 19:55. Colm O'Donoghue's mount was still in rear turning for home that day, then got squeezed for room as he attempted to make ground along the inside but finished with rattle once switched to the outside. That experience is sure to stand to him, this stiff track will suit and he is taken to get the better of the equally unexposed Casimir Road.

Casimir Road's trainer, Jim Bolger, has his team in great shape at present and his Darwin's Theory is a most interesting contender in the one-and-a-quarter mile handicap at 20:25. A good-looking son of Montjeu, Darwin's Theory finished sixth to Recital on debut at this track last year and chased home a pair of next-time-out winners (Nantucket Bay & Brown Butterfly) when filling the same spot behind Admiral of The Red at Leopardstown on reappearance. An initial mark of 74 looks quite lenient (Timeform rating 82p) and he is refitted with a tongue tie here.

The handicap chase on Wexford's card looks a very winnable race and, especially given that the pair currently heading the market both have questions to answer about their finishing effort, the value looks to be with Turtle Gale. A two-time winner over fences, Turtle Gale made a most encouraging return when fourth to Benalma at Killarney, travelling strongly until the lack of a recent outing told. He's faced stiff tasks either side of that run, but with the drop in trip a clear positive for his return to handicaps, the [8.4] currently available looks too big.

Back Turtle Gale @ [8.4] Wexford 19:45
Back Cloudgazer @ [5.3] Navan 19:55
Back Darwin's Theory @ [4.9] Navan 20:25

Weight-for-age performed gallopers in the form of Love Conquers All, Beaded and Black Piranha stand out as the obvious winning hopes in Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm. The race is due off at 06:40 BST on Saturday. Timeform's Gary Crispe runs the rule over the field...

Two backs and a lay for Friday from Timeform's US team......

Massive fields and competitive racing at York today. Last year this meeting's placepot paid a shade over a grand. Here's hoping for a similar scenario......

Betfair website

Timeform Irish 1-2-3 Tips: Stick with Ger for Reasons known at Navan

Tipping / Stuart Jones / 16 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Today's best bet goes on the Flat at Navan

"Reasons Unknown may have finished down the field all starts in maidens at 2 yrs but he fared easily best of those held up when third to Haziyna on handicap debut at Leopardstown and is capable of better again".

Big fields are the order of the day at both Gowran and Navan this Sunday, but we're still hopeful of finding some winners with our three selections.

Plenty of question marks hang over those with the best previous form in the minor event at Gowran due off at 15.40, so it may well be best to side with the unexposed and progressive novice Allee Garde. Willie Mullins' representative immediately created a good impression when switched to hurdles, winning a maiden at Down Royal (2½m) in facile style. He was far from discredited in the Spa Hurdle at Cheltenhan last time, remains open to improvement, and this is a much more realistic assignment.

See U Bob (16.15) and Torphichen are the two to concentrate on in the following minor chase and the form of the former's second to Hughies Grey at Navan last time makes him the one to side with. Paul Nolan's dual-winning hurdler bounced right back to his very best chase form when running this year's Ulster National winner to a short head in that Grade 2 event and this strong-travelling sort won't be inconvencienced by the slight drop in trip.

Ger Lyon's has started the season in excellent form and his Leopardstown eye catcher Reasons Unknown looks to have very strong claims of building on the promise of his reappearance in the 17.10 at Navan. Reasons Unknown may have finished down the field all starts in maidens at 2 yrs but he fared easily best of those held up when third to Haziyna on handicap debut at Leopardstown and is capable of better again.

Recommendations

back Allee Garde @ [6.4] in the 15.40 at Gowran
back See U Bob @ [4.5] in the 16.15 at Gowran
back Reasons Unknown @ [5.0] in the 17.10 at Navan

We're headed to Shakespeare country for today's placepot......

Three bets for Sunday from Timeform's US team......

Timeform run the rule over this two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase......

Betfair website