DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY JULY 2
5.20 LIMERICK
With the Galway Hurdle just around the corner, the returning BOWENSONFIRE might have that big pot at Ballybrit as his main priority but 41k is not to be sniffed as an hors d’oeuvres along the way and a chance is taken on Gordon Elliott’s gelding heading in that direction in the best possible fashion.
The six-year-old was on the go from last May, running no fewer than 13 times until his final outing of the campaign at Fairyhouse and he was probably suffering from burn out when he disappointed on his final two starts.
Prior to him running below par, he had landed two high-quality, big-field handicaps, producing big speed figures and if running a similar standard here today, he has enough ability to beat the likes of Daddy Long Legs and Jesse Evans, his two only logical threats.
BOWENSONFIRE – 1-point win@7-2
7.33 LIMERICK
MICKEY HULIE must contend with different ground to what he faced when landing a competitive handicap over today’s C&D last time out, but such was his air of supremacy, David Kelly’s gelding can prove his versatility and go in again.
His previous run at the Greenmount Park circuit hinted he was about to deliver a well overdue win and he was well supported to back up that view, but it was the manner of victory and time figure that stood out as the key features.
Since his success 35 days ago, the form has stood the test with the likes of Island McCoo and Love Like This winning next time out and with the irrepressible Danny Mullins seen as a top-class replacement in the saddle, the son of Pour Moi can continue his love affair with the track intact.
MICKEY HULIE – 1-point win@3-1
7.43 KEMPTON
BULLETIN is by no means a serial winner, but he does have the sort of consistent profile to suggest he is going to turn up each time, and another solid effort should be forthcoming from a horse who easily has the best singular piece of form next to his name.
Go back just three runs ago and Johnny Portman’s gelding finished a creditable runner-up to the massively improving Wine Dark Sea at Ascot and with the winner going on to score by 13 lengths next time, plus the likes of Opportunity (now rated 110), Too Soon, Valedictory and In The Breeze all following suit, to run off the same mark as he did that day has to be seen as a bit of a gift.
Although he has failed to capitalise in his two subsequent outings as far as winning is concerned, he has still run well each time and now heading back to a track where his form figures read 134, the carrot has been dangled by the firms who are offering three places from and each-way perspective on a horse who has finished in the money on all 16 starts.
BULLETIN – 1-point each-way@4-1 (three places)