8.30pm Kilbeggan Tips & Betting Preview 21/07/2017

A first prize of almost €30,000 is on the line in this staying handicap chase. Read on for our expert tip and runner by runner preview for Friday’s Kilbeggan feature race.

IN SUMMARY: Four runners for JP McManus make for an interesting contest, with Riviera Sun looking the best of his, proving his stamina over this trip for the first time on his latest run. Kilbeggan is a quirky and undulating track so course form is important. Black Zambezi has not run over this far yet, but he arrives on the back of a pair of wins at this course which give his sound claims. Marinero has a touch of class if he can put it all together but the vote goes to 2016 winner TULSA JACK. He bolted up last year (his second course win) and despite being eleven pounds higher, he is still weighted to go very close. At the price, he looks too big and is well worth an each way bet.

1 MARINERO – Has kept warm company over fences, taking on Thistlecrack early last season, running the eased down winner to less than four lengths. He took in Grade 1 contests at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree so this will be easier back in handicap company. Genuinely good ground will be a huge plus for him, he does have a touch of class at the top of the weights.

2 TULSA JACK – Strong stayer, he bolted up by sixteen lengths in this contest in 2016. He boasts two wins and a second from four runs over this course and distance, so clearly it is a track he enjoys. He is eleven pounds higher than last year, but having been placed off a pound lower in March, he is not handicapped out of things, it is surprising to see him so big in the betting as he looks to hold a huge each way chance.

3 BAILY MOON – Things have finally clicked with him this year, winning a pair of chases in his last three starts. A mark of 129 looks tough enough pitched into this grade, but he is only six so he should have more improvement in the tank. He is a sound jumper and a strong stayer, so he has an each way chance.

4 HASH BROWN – Picked up a handicap from seven pounds lower at Galway last year. Has struggled from this mark since, the handicapper showing no signs of loosening his grip so he can’t be given more than an outside squeak.

5 NET D’ECOSSE – Runner up effort to Sandymount Duke is smart form at this level, but he lacks consistency. The tongue strap he has worn of late is missing now and with his stamina for three miles still unproven, that could be an issue for him.

6 BLACK ZAMBEZI – Arrives looking for a course hat-trick of wins, having won back to back over two and a half miles. He is yet to race at this trip, though the way he dug deep last time suggests that he may improve further for it. Clearly loves this track so as long as his stamina holds out, looks to have a solid chance.

7 RONAVA – A winner on his only start at this track, a beginners chase in May 2015. He is another who has to prove his stamina for this trip, the majority of his form coming at considerably shorter. His two half siblings also showed their best at short of this trip as well so it has to be a concern until he proves otherwise.

8 RIVIERA SUN – Probably held onto for too long when trying this trip for the first time when last seen. He was doing his best work late on up the hill at Downpatrick that day to finish third. He has no ground concerns and now that connections have seen that this trip isn’t going to be a problem, he should be given a more forward ride. He looks a big player in this field having scored at this track in May.

9 MARCHESE MARCONI – Formerly very smart over hurdles, he has failed to show the same aptitude over the bigger obstacles. As such he is able to run from a mark twenty-one pounds below his hurdles mark over fences, but it still isn’t enough to convince that he is the one to side with.

10 ROCK ON FRUITY – Third behind both Riviera Sun and Mr Boss Man recently, he improved on those placed efforts when getting his head in front at Limerick last time. This race was mentioned as a potential target after that win, but worse off with both the aforementioned pair now, he is going to have to come on a few extra pounds if he is to be more than an each way player.

11 PHIL’S MAGIC – May 2015 was the last time he got his head in front, taking his record over fences to 0/14 when behind Rock On Fruity last time. He is a couple of pounds higher here and was rated higher in the past so that shouldn’t be enough to stop him. This will only be his third run for Tony Martin, it looks like the new yard will pick up a race of this type with him sooner rather than later.

12 SUPREME VINNIE – This will only be his third career start over fences, a serious lack of experience for a race this competitive. He was higher rated over hurdles so he has every chance from his current mark, but this does look a little like dropping him in the deep end.

13 MR BOSS MAN – Lacks consistency, but was a winner over this course and distance in June from a five pound lower mark. That was a sizeable career best over the bigger obstacles, which gives him a chance, but he will find it hard to get on the front in the same fashion here with Definite Soldier in opposition.

14 DEFINITE SOLDIER – Likes to get on with things, was almost given the perfect ride last time when just nailed on the run-on by Rock On Fruity. He has been pushed up the handicap by three pounds for that which makes him eight pounds above his highest winning mark, so has no more than an outside chance.