Cerealice can Make her Mark at Wexford

The Cheltenham Festival may be over for another year, but there’s interesting racing at Wexford on Saturday and I’ve picked out my best bets for the card.

15:40 Michael O’Murchadha Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Cerealice showed useful form over hurdles for Eric Vagne in France before she joined Alan Fleming, and she hinted that she was ready to build on that early promise when third behind Lackaneen Leader at Navan last time out. She made a promising move from the rear there but that run petered out from the last suggesting that this sharper track would be very much in her favour. The form of the Navan event received a boost when the fourth-placed finisher won next time, and Cerealice can show that her mark is lenient by winning here.

16:15 Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase

Veterans’ chases have proven very popular with the racing public since first being introduced, and It’s great to see exposed chasers given the chance of winning a decent pot. The one who catches the eye here is Cocktails At Dawn, who hasn’t had a great deal of racing, and has clearly had issues which is no surprise for such a big horse. He was acquired from Nicky Henderson, and while it’s usually a thankless task trying to improve one from Seven Barrows, the man who could do it is Gordon Elliott. Cocktails At Dawn was well held on his debut for Elliott, but shaped much better than the result having been eased off, and that will have served as a sighter for his new yard. It will be interesting to hear if he’s had wind surgery since that run, but either way, he’s likely to get back on track sooner or later for his excellent handler, and this intermediate trip is just what he wants.

17:25 Wexford (Pro/Am) I.N.H. Flat

Moratorium needed the experience when well held on bumper debut, but that is not at all unusual for one with these connections, and this well-bred 5-y-o will benefit from both the experience and this step up in trip. The son of Presenting is out of Shuil Oilean, making him a full-brother to Kim Muir runner Sugar Baron, but he has more illustrious relatives as well, including Stayers’ Hurdle winner Shuil Ar Aghaidh and Drinmore winner Trafford Lad. This doesn’t look an especially competitive event, and while Moratorium’s form needs significant improvement, he looks to have plenty of scope, and is sure to fare much better with experience.

Tips:

15:40 Cerealice to win 

16:15 Cocktails At Dawn to win 

17:25 Moratorium to win