8.30pm Killarney Tips & Betting Preview 19/07/2017

A field of nine go to post for the penultimate race of the day at Killarney on Wednesday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: As always with a Mullins/Walsh horse Wood Breizh is likely to be popular, but he has become frustrating over hurdles and this can go to DAWN RAIDER. Patrick Kelly’s five year old has been deadly consistent all year and posted another great effort when fourth at Balmoral in May. He should be ideally suited by this galloping track and step up in trip, so he looks tough to beat under seven pound claimer Adam Short.

1 PHIL THE FLYER – Won three times on the bounce in 2015 for Ray Hackett, but he returned from nearly two years off when only ninth at Kilbeggan in June. He should come on for the run, but a mark of 126 is three pounds above his last winning mark and his stamina or this far isn’t proven. Now at the age of ten, improvement is going to be unlikely and others look far better treated on this occasion.

2 CONDUCT YOURSELF – Inconsistent sort for John Kiely who is useful at his best, as proven by his latest start at Kilbeggan when a close fourth in June. He remains on the same mark, which is still six pounds higher than his last winning one. That said, this step up in trip should suit him and conditions are to suit, so he is almost impossible to rule out with Barry Browne taking off a very useful seven pounds. Likely to be on the premises.

3 WHATSFORUWONTGOBYU – Tony Martin seven year old who has been solidly out of form since a win at Leopardstown in December 2015, well beaten on all bar one of his starts since. He was last seen on the flat at the Curragh when fifteenth, showing very little and he has lots to prove returned to hurdling for JP McManus. He is still six pounds above his last winning mark and it’s not hard to look elsewhere on this occasion.

4 LITTLE MITCH – Returned to her best when last seen at Wexford in April, winning a fourteen runner handicap in comfortable fashion and as a result she’s been raised seven pounds in the handicap. That could be lenient as she really did win that contest well and she remains lightly raced for her age, so further improvement would be of no surprise. The better ground is of little concern and she’s performed well on it in the past and she’s one to note under five pound claimer JJ Slevin.

5 ASK SUSAN – Rallied gamely to take a great victory at Down Royal in June and was subsequently only raised two pounds in the handicap for her latest start at Bellewstown. She could only manage fifth on the occasion where her jumping left something to be desired and although she clearly stays this far, she isn’t easy to predict. Likely place contender if everything falls right for her but others look likely for win purposes.

6 WOOD BREIZH – Likely to be a popular runner as he goes for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, but this French recruit needs to improve back over timber if he’s to be winning this. He was last seen over hurdles when well beaten at Punchestown in April, though this is much easier and he ran well enough when third on the flat when last seen. Yet to be convinced this is his optimum trip though and he looks set for a minor role in this.

7 COURTNCATCHER – Course and distance winner who has been running well in defeat of late for Patrick Duffy, hitting the frame on all four of his latest starts. He was last seen at Roscommon when third, with his jumping towards the finish letting him down. He remains on the same mark and that should give him place possibilities if running to the same level again, but he looks vulnerable for win purposes.

8 DAWN RAIDER – Five year old for Patrick Kelly who has been deadly consistent for a good while now, last seen at Balmoral when a very respectable fourth after perhaps doing too much too soon. He remains on the same mark but crucially has Adam Short taking off a brilliant seven pounds from his back, with conditions to suit also. He should take all the beating if showing up in the same form again and has to be deeply respected.

9 COOLMILL – Four wins from fourty starts over hurdles for this ten year old who returned to some sort of form when second at Limerick earlier this month, headed towards the line in unlucky fashion. He has been raised three pounds as a result and judging by his previous form, that should be enough to catch him out this time around with others far more consistent than him. Likely to be vulnerable on this occasion.