Timeform Irish SmartPlays: Place your faith in Balmont Mast

Ireland / Patrick Jupp / 05 October 2011 / Leave a Comment

The action at Navan is due to get under way at 14:35 today.

"The opening maiden over five furlongs looks to contain plenty of dead wood and a safe play could be Balmont Mast for a place only."

Another day where big fields predominate in Ireland as our attention turns to a seven-race card at Navan...

The opening maiden over five furlongs (14:35) looks to contain plenty of dead wood and a safe play could be Balmont Mast for a place only. Balmont Mast is clearly temperamental, which makes an additional win bet a risky proposition, but he also has some of the best form on offer and does tend to travel well into his races before hanging fire so his temperament isn't such a concern for this type of play (already placed three times in career), while a good seasonal reappearance allays worries about a five-month absence.

The apprentice handicap over the same course and distance half an hour later looks a relatively weak affair despite the field size, with in-form horses thin on the ground, let alone well-treated ones. With that in mind it could be worth chancing Wellmarked. Admittedly the races in which he's been shaping well of late have come over a mile, but he did race freely and travel strongly for a long way before fading last time and hasn't been long with the yard of Peter Fahey, while his mark on turf looks very attractive.

There is an element of risk attached to backing Pineau de Re in the two-mile handicap at 15:35, as this is almost certainly being used to get him spot on for another campaign over jumps. However, similar comments apply to the likely favourite Hidden Universe and there isn't much between them judged on hurdles form, Pineau de Re managing a second in a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 in his novice campaign. Other than Hidden Universe this doesn't look a strong race, so a win and place bet of Philip Fenton's charge makes plenty of appeal.

Timeform SmartPlays

Back Balmont Mast for a place in the 14:35
Back Wellmarked in the 15:05
Back Pineau de Re win and place in the 15:35

Big fields are the order of the day over the jumps at Tipperary but there are still some good bets to be had.......

Some quality jumps action at Tipperary this Sunday, as well as some competitive races on the Flat, and Timeform have three selections for you....

Gowran has passed an inspection and provides the only Irish action today.......

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Timeform Irish 1-2-3 Tips: Balmont Mast to sail in

Irish 1-2-3 / Patrick Jupp / 25 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

It's a 18.30 start for a seven-race card at Dundalk

"Balmont Mast improved in leaps and bounds with every run last backend, his final effort when third in a Dundalk maiden marking him out as one to follow, last off the bridle and denied a clear run that day."

Tonight sees the first meeting of the year under the lights at Dundalk and we've got three win bets for you...

The six furlong handicap at 19.30 looks rather light on well-handicapped sorts, and though Enigma Code should go well with Joseph O'Brien back on board, the one who stands out is Bubby Bellini. A prolific winner in plating company for George Baker in Britain a couple of winters ago, he struggled for Lee Smythe for most of last season and dropped in the weights as a result, but the signs are that a return to form is around the corner now that he's in the care of Adrian McGuinness, third at Lingfield on both starts for his new yard. His latest effort over seven furlongs seemed to just stretch his stamina so this shorter trip will suit, whilst the booking of Colm O'Donoghue is another plus.

President Lincoln and Gleadhradh are likely to take out plenty of the market in the three-year-old maiden half an hour later, but both look opposable, the former hinting at temperament at two years and already in blinkers, while the latter didn't offer much when fifth at Tipperary last August and hasn't run since. This brings us onto Balmont Mast, who improved in leaps and bounds with every run last backend, his final effort when third in a Dundalk maiden marking him out as one to follow, last off the bridle and denied a clear run that day. He has the trip and draw in his favour now and should take the world of beating with Fran Berry in the plate.

Barrow Island (20.30) proved a rather expensive horse to follow at three years, sent off at single-figure odds on every start without managing to get a win on the board. He did shape well on more than one occasion, however, and represents some strong form lines, notably when surrounded by next-time-out winners at the Curragh in June and then pulling clear with subsequent Triumph Hurdle runner-up Unaccompanied at Galway a month later. Barrow Island has got a strong-travelling style of running which suggests he should be well suited to polytrack racing, and he's been presented with a good opportunity to open his account, the exposed Hot Sand and French-import Mudalalah the only viable alternatives in what looks a weak affair.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Back Bubbly Bellini in the 19.30
Back Balmont Mast in the 20.00
Back Barrow Island in the 20.30

Three selections for Thursday's meeting at Thurles....

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