Limerick best bet (1615): The Goffer all set to relish shorter trip in conditions to suit
16:15 Limerick: JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase (3 miles)
Elliott saddles no fewer than eight of the twelve starters and his main rider, Jack Kennedy, is aboard Frontal Assault, so it is no surprise to see that one at the head of the market.
However, a better-value bet at the prices is The Goffer, who has already won a valuable handicap over fences, taking the Leopardstown Handicap back in February, beating 22 high-class rivals in the process.
That was over the shorter 21-furlong trip but since then he has twice bettered that performance in defeat over longer trips, firstly at the Cheltenham Festival where he finished fourth of 23 in the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap, and then in the marathon 28.7-furlong Grade 3 bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, where he finished fourth of 16.
Bearing in mind the speed he had shown at Leopardstown, dropping back to three miles on slow ground on this easier circuit looks just about the right combination of conditions for him and he has to be a big player off this reduced mark.
He did finish a never-nearer fifth of 17 in the three-mile Kerry National at Listowel last month and he wasn’t beaten far at all that day, missing the places by around three lengths.
That effort came on his second run back from his last break, so he should be ready to peak again today and Donagh Meyler won this race for Gordon Elliott on Tiger Roll a few years ago.
- Tip advised by Steve Jones who runsCD Systems Daily Bargain onTipstrr
Of the others, Mars Harper is bidding to complete a hat-trick, having won at Galway in August and Listowel last month, both over around 22 furlongs when the ground wasn’t as testing as here, but he had plenty of decent three-mile form over hurdles.
Still unexposed over staying trips in this sphere, the way in which he finished off his races so strongly the last twice certainly gives encouragement that he will improve again for this sterner test.
On a progressive curve since falling in the Midlands National at Kilbeggan in the summer, he ran well around here over hurdles early in his career and Jordan Gainford has finished either first, second orthird on four of the five previous occasions he has ridden the seven-year-old.
