After a half decent week the last couple of days haven't been ideal, dipping my toes into big field races without proper due diligence has seemingly showed us if you take shortcuts more often than not you'll be found out.
Sunday's racing from an each way perspective looks poor in the UK so I've hopped across to see if the luck o' the Irish can change our fortunes.
Attacanter Racing Tips
Whip Cracker 5/1 – 16.45 Goodwood
Alpha Crucis has been whacked with a 9lb rise for a devasting win last time at this track when the trainer's son Ryan Moore was on board. Jason Watson has ridden him before and actually won on him over C&D at this time last year. He is likely to make a good fist of it but has failed in this grade before from much lower marks so I thought he was worth taking on.
Although now looking at the form, many of these have a bit to prove at this level, which does bode well for the current market leader but I am going to chance Whip Cracker, a horse with a bit to prove having only raced 6 times but he should be capable at this level.
The step back to a mile may not be the best move on breeding (in regards to the sire), but having won over 7f on his second start I am willing to overlook it, as it isn't something I find I have really ever needed to pay attention to in all honesty. Although with that said, Goodwood is a speedsters track, which may leave him vulnerable.
Back in April the horse was tried in Listed company when finishing 2nd at Newmarket, that looks a decent enough race, obviously all of those in behind had won previously, but the 4th was the Derby 2nd Ambiente Friendly, the 3rd Caviar Heights won a listed race immediately after whilst the easy winner Jayarebe was winning a Group 2 recently at the l'arc de triomphe meeting.
We have a bit to take on trust as mentioned but the form of his last run when 3rd got boosted yesterday with Bolster winning a Class 2 handicap at York. The 4th and 5th also had C2 wins to their name.
Rion Rubette 8/1 four places – 14.15 Naas
Bodhi Bear was my original selection in this race, I do like J A Heffernan, a man who gets plenty of big priced winners, he was winning for the trainer not too long ago which is when I noticed Stack's relatively decent recent strikerate with A J Slattery.
Slattery is on a horse who has seemingly halved in price and although I was tempted to stick with my pick, the form of that horse was just too significant to overlook at the same price.
The step up in trip on handicap debut is only likely to suit this New Bay filly, she finished 2nd on her first two runs beating 27 rivals. Her run here back in August reads well, a head behind Rebel Diamon who won his next two, the most recent being in Listed company. The 3rd, an A P O'Briend runner was 3rd of 22 at a big Curragh race next time before winning his next two, the latter also being a Listed race. The 5th won shortly after, the 6th won next time out, we clearly can't read too much into that but it is hard to ignore.
With nothing more to add, I am happy to throw the horse in despite missing the opening 16/1, two J P O'Brien runners are ahead of him in the market but only a mishap should see this horse failing to make the places, cue Bodhi Bear to catch him on the line pushing him into 5th.
Falcon Eight 25/1 five places – 16.00 Naas
Falcon Eight is reaching the end of his long decorated career but I am going to throw him in here as the highest rated horse who gets a very handy 10lbs taken off his back.
Chris Hayes rode him in the Irish Cesarewitch rated 104 just under two weeks ago, it is ominous he is on Mr Escobar but the horse did finish a respectable 13th of 30 and given he was winning in November last year rated 110, he must have place claims going off an effective 91. The claimer only has 2 wins to his name so I won't be getting carried away, on ground probably better than he wants but he is well treated having never run off a mark this low, the price is very generous despite it likely being reflective of his chances.
Blackacre 7/1 four places – 16.30 Ffos Las
Evan Williams operates just an hour from Ffos Las, the Welshman is always worth a look, particularly across the border. I highly doubt this selection wins but he can certainly feature and is included on a poor days racing.
With an extra place I thought a chance could be taken on Blackacre who finished a 5 length 3rd over today's C&D when last seen in May. This is his first run of the season so fitness isn't assured but if ready he has potential to get involved against plenty of unreliable types.
The trainer has had one winner since late August which isn't ideal but he has had at least one winner on this card every year since 2018. Most of those were with his retained rider Adam Wedge but the trainer's apprentice daughter is fully trusted and her 3lb claim I suppose is helpful enough.
*Advised Bet – Eachway L15*
WHAT IS A LUCKY 15 BET?
A Lucky 15 bet consists of 15 unique bets, covering every possible combination that comes from backing four selections. The 15 bets are broken down like this:
– 1 fourfold accumulator
– 4 trebles, with each treble omitting one of your selections
– 6 doubles, again covering every possible combination
– 4 singles
The attraction of a Lucky 15 is that it offers many more ways to win than a standard accumulator. A Lucky 15 uses both your acca and your singles as well as producing trebles and doubles that reward you for correctly calling 2/4 or 3/4 of your selections. To cover the 15 separate bets, a Lucky 15 uses your stake 15 times. If you were to place £1 on a Lucky 15, you would be staking £15 in total across the various bets.
In December 2020 we sadly 
