3:25 Limerick Tips

Unexposed 7-y-o who hasn't shown much so far in just six starts was given a run latest after a break. Should be race-fit now to go much better. Has been racing over 2 miles, looking in need of further, so looks a good move now going up to 21f.

Gaelic Des Chastys has only won two of his thirty starts, but has a win and four placed finishes in his last five starts and looks sure to go well again here. He won a handicap chase at Listowel in September and has since twice been placed in handicap hurdles over today's course and distance. Off the same mark as last time, he again looks a good each-way bet with five places on offer.

I think this is still on a winnable mark. I missed it the last time after tipping it the run before. I'm sure I tipped it and it was a non-runner maybe. Either way, I think it has another run. Worth a small each-way, I think.

Let's hope for Warmer Days Ahead and this Oliver McKiernan runner can run a big race here at Limerick today. Had a decent season last year and did well on its reappearance this season. Can be involved in the finish if improving on that last run.

William O’Doherty’s 5 year old gelding DALMATIC gets into this low level contest from the second reserve spot & to my untrained eye I don’t think you could totally write off this son of AUSTRALIA.Now I know what you’re thinking & I agree with you - 13 runs & still yet to shed his maiden tag doesn’t exactly fill me with high hopes either. But this lads run @Cork earlier this month in a deeper class race where he finished 4th (of 24) over this trip & going gives us something to cling to. Jockey Gary Noonan remains in the saddle (and rightly so) & whilst he’s not winning is having a fantastic December with 5 places from 9 runs (55.56%). Trainer has a 66.67% place strike rate the past 30 days. A bit of a minefield here but at current 18/1 odds I’m happy enough to have a small each way punt.

There are very few unexposed types in this, and a few carrying penalties. It is heavy going with five places on offer. I’m leaning towards one that, while exposed, is relatively lightly raced for his age. Kilcolgan handler John Neilan saddles 10-y-o Winter Carnival here, and with the very heavy going forecast I’ll play this lad tentatively. Quite a bit of patchy form on show with him, but there are a few snippets that suggest there’s one in him. None more so than his third here at Limerick in January this year ??' he was half a length back in third (from 1 lb out of the handicap) on very heavy going over this trip in this grade. There are also bits of form further back: beat 6 lengths on heavy, beat 10 lengths on heavy (LTO), etc. All in all, a lot has to go right, but we know the trip poses no concern and the ground will suit. Small chance, I’d argue.

That comeback run, when she ran out of puff and faded rapidly in the straight, may have put her right for today. She does have good form over today's trip on today's going two runs back, before a year off.