Brian Fleming looks back at the action in Ireland last week and nominates his 'Tracker Trio' The irishracing.com tracker facility is something that has become a must-have tool for anyone serious about their punting. I have used the tracker device since it was added here a long time ago and I'm going to share some of the horses that have caught my eye over the previous week. The first meeting I'm focusing on is a flat card that took place at Navan last Thursday, August 27th and I'll mention a few that came to my attention. The third horse for the tracker is from the Curragh last Saturday, August 29th. MAXWELL SMART - 4th in a 1m6f handicap trained by Tom McCourt and ridden by James Ryan Handicaps for horses rated 0-60 are usually ones I tend to avoid in terms of finding future winners, but the 1m6f handicap run at Navan may buck that trend. This 5yo was easy enough to back (10/1 to 14/1) on the day after drifting previously also at Sligo (8/1 to 18/1) over a furlong shorter. He was ridden similarly from off the pace doing his best work in the closing stages. Trainers by nature are creatures of habit. Maxwell Smart's sole win last season came at Down Royal the week after running in this corresponding Navan race and, wait for it, he finished in the exact same position, fourth. He could attempt a repeat bid at the Ulster track on Friday after appearing in the initial entry list of 44 for the 1m4f 194yds handicap at 7.30pm. This is a venue he has performed well at over hurdles in the past and it's also encouraging his trainer bagged a winner (Apothic Red) at the Curragh last Saturday. BLISSFUL BONITA finished 4th in a 1m6f handicap trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by Gary Carroll Having shaped encouragingly over this same 14f trip at Galway (9/1-10/1), the market spoke very much in her favour last week when her odds tumbled from 6/1 into 100/30 before an 18-runner handicap. While each-way backers avoided damage and those early players made a small profit with a fourth-place finish, connections will be hopeful going forward. While it wouldn't surprise if she ended up in a juvenile hurdle coming from these quarters, things didn't quite go as planned on her latest start. After getting into a good early position from her unfavourable wide draw, she was tapped for toe somewhat when the tempo increased passing the 3f pole. To her credit though, she showed a good attitude for pressure when running on in the closing stages. She is one to keep on the right side over staying trips having started off in handicap company rated 67 and hinted ability to win off 66 on her next start when 5th of 16 with cheekpieces applied. RAHMI finished 6th in a 1m handicap at the Curragh trained by Johnny Murtagh and ridden by Rory Mulligan Johnny Murtagh has a splendid record down the years in valuable handicaps and the Curragh trainer was surely delighted with the latest effort from Rahmi, with one eye on a repeat bid at the upcoming Irish Champions Festival. Last year, when rated 103 ,this gelded son of Pivotal landed the valuable Sovereign Path Handicap at Leopardstown under Rory Mulligan after running fourth in a Cork Listed event beforehand. He did himself no favours again with a sluggish start, running off a mark of 97, in the Irish Cambridgeshire won by Andy Slattery's progressive Loughrea last Saturday, but then gradually made inroads to finish sixth. This run should put him spot on for his next assignment and he'll head back to Leopardstown on September 12th with a much more favourable mark of 93 as published on Monday.
