Irish Race Trends 25th to 29th January 2012
Hurricane Fly (right) beat Solwhit to claim the 2011 Irish Champion Hurdle
Good Morning Everyone!
It’s Wednesday and the return of Mal Boyle’s regular insight into the upcoming race fixtures. He’s our man with all the facts, figures, stats and trends and he’s got news for us this week on the meetings at Limerick, Gowran Park and Dundalk culminating in the top class 2-day card from Leopardstown: the highlight of which is the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle where Hurricane Fly will seek to defend his title.
WEDNESDAY 25/01:
Limerick:
General stats: There is no change to the normal course of events whereby Willie Mullins rules the roost here in terms of the number of winners (65% more than his nearest rival) though an LSP figure is conspicuous by its absence. Kieran Purcell has only saddled five winners compared to Willie’s haul of sixty three though that said, Kieran’s 24% strike rate is backed up thirty seven points of profit. Are You The One (2.05) is Kieran’s only runner on today’s card whereby the outsider might be worth an each way saver.
1.35: Pride Of the Parish is the first of two Willie Mullins runners on the Limerick card today (note the general stats in relation to this declaration).
2.05: The well touted Catleen is the second of the Mullins runners to represent the stable on Wednesday.
THURSDAY 26/01:
Gowran Park:
General stats: Similar stats apply at Gowran Park as they did at Limerick on Wednesday regarding trainers Willie Mullins and Kieran Purcell. Willie leads the way again in terms of number without producing level stake profits, whilst Kieran (strike rate of 25%) boasts forty eight points of LSP. Charles O’Brien held three options at the time of writing having saddled two of his seven runners to winning effect thus far.
Maiden hurdle event scheduled for 1.05: Willie Mullins held seven options for this event at the penultimate entry stage.
Memorial hurdle event scheduled for 1.35: Burrenbridge Lodge was the first of two potential runners on the card for Kieran Purcell (see general stats). It’s worth noting that Kieran’s course and distance winner holds a Grade 1 entry for a Leopardstown event in February.
‘Galmoy’ Hurdle scheduled for 2.05: Willie Mullins held four entries for this Grade 2 event earlier in the week.
Grade ‘A’ handicap chase event scheduled for 3.05: Willie Mullins held five entries at the five day stage, the shortest ante post price of which were On His Own and Some Target who were both available at 8/1 at the time of writing. 25/1 chance Paddy Pub was Purcell’s only potential runner in the contest.
FRIDAY 27/01:
Dundalk:
General stats: Mark Johnson held seven options on the card at the time of writing, the English based trainer boasting 7/22 stats at Dundalk in recent times, a ratio which has produced an LSP figure of nearly twelve points.
‘Facebook’ event scheduled for 7.50 over the thick end of eleven furlongs: Mark Johnston held three options for this event.
Mile and a half handicap event scheduled for 8.50: Shieldmaiden has won two of her last four races and this was the only race on the Dundalk card in which Mark Johnston held just one option.
SATURDAY 28/01:
Leopardstown:
General stats: Willie Mullins has saddled forty three winners at this venue in recent times with Noel Meade acting as ‘next best’ on the sixteen mark. Willie held nineteen options for Saturday’s Leopardstown meeting, with eleven entries pencilled in for Sunday at the venue. Another trainer to take into consideration is Dermot Weld (fifteen winners) whose strike rate is 30% at the venue, a ratio which has produced an LSP figure of thirty one points. Dermot held three options on both Saturday’s and Sunday’s cards at the track.
Grade 2 novice chase event scheduled for 2.15: Seven-year-olds have won five of the last ten renewals during which time, nine winners have scored at odds of 9/2 or less, stats which include two successful market leaders.
Two mile Grade ‘B’ hurdle scheduled for 2.50: The last ten winners have carried a maximum burden of 11-1 with one clear and one joint favourite having scored in the process. Five of the last six gold medallists were returned at odds ranging between 10/1 & 50/1.
Grade ‘A’ handicap chase scheduled for 3.25: Nine-year-olds have won four of the last five contests, the winners of which were returned at 16/1, 14/1, 14/1, 10/1 & 7/1. Four of the five winners carried weights of 11-4 or more.
Beginners’ Chase scheduled for 4.00: Although all four favourites have failed to score, the biggest priced winner was returned at 7/2 thus far. Willie Mullins has secured two gold and one silver medal to date.
INH flat race scheduled for 4.30: Some extremely good horses have won this event to date, including the likes of Kicking Kick, Vodka Bleu and Finger Onthe Pulse. Dermot Weld comes to the gig on a hat trick having saddled the last two winning favourites, the only successful market leaders registered via the last ten renewals.
SUNDAY 29/01:
Leopardstown:
General stats: Refer to Dermot weld’s impressive figures (alongside Willie Mullins details) relating to Saturday’s Leopardstown comments.
Maiden hurdle event scheduled for 12.55: Six-year-olds have secured five of the last nine contests.
Grade 1 Arkle Novice Chase scheduled for 1.25: Seven-year-olds have won the last six renewals during which time, the biggest priced winner was returned at 9/1 (two winning favourites).
Irish Champion Hurdle scheduled for 2.30: Favourites have won six of the last ten renewals with market leaders coming to the gig on a hat trick this time around, the biggest priced winner during the period being a 9/1 chance.
Posted by 
