Weekend Racing Tips at Stratford and Limerick | Jake Price

Last week’s winning NAP was one of my ‘Handicappers to Follow’, and this week we attempt to repeat the trick with Olly Murphy’s new recruit Westerninthepark.

This former Irish P2Per is massive, and the way he performed to a high level over Hurdles suggests there is just going to be bundles of improvement to come now going Chasing. A dual Novice Hurdle winner last season at Plumpton and Fakenham, he ended his campaign at Sandown in March when fifth behind Champagne Twist (131) in the EBF Final. Only put up 1lb to a mark of 119 off the back of that run, he looks extremely well treated now jumping fences and this is a good starting point.

I always enjoy the Munster National, and we have another competitive renewal this season. One sure to be towards the head of the market with a great chance however is Willie Mullins’ Horantzau d’Airy.

This seven-year-old has only been Chasing since March, but he racked up two victories in the Spring before having a bit of a lighter time of things over the height of Summer. At the Galway Festival he was a good third behind Ash dale Bob in their Grade Three Chase, but most notably he was second to Flooring Porter (159) in the Kerry National 25 days ago when the only Horse able to make up any ground on that runaway leader. Going back right-handed at Limerick should suit him perfectly.

The other Horse I want on side for the Kerry National is Thecompanysergeant, who could have loads of untapped potential now stepping up in trip to 3m.

This Denis Hogan charge has been very successful over fences, finishing second to Mister Policeman in a Grade Three before then fourth behind Spillane’s Tower in a Grade One at Fairyhouse. He got off the mark over fences at the Galway Festival when staying on strongly over 2m2f, and connections had lined him up for a crack at the Kerry National, but he didn’t get in as a reserve. As such, connections have him a spin in the 2m Grade Three Novice Chase at Roscommon 20 days ago, but now stepping up to 3m for his Handicap Chase debut he surely can do some damage off a mark of 136.