Brian Fleming looks back at the action 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. Having used the tracker since it was added a long time ago, I’m going to share some of the horses that have caught my eye over the previous week. The first two races I’m focusing on took place at Dundalk last Wednesday, October 28 with a three-mile handicap chase winner at Down Royal last Saturday completing the trio. JAZZIT, trained by Tom McCourt and ridden by James Ryan, Dundalk 4.00, Oct 28 Successful at Dundalk on his previous start this ex Harry Eustace-trained 4yo was fancied again off his revised 5lb higher mark but had no luck in running in contrast to the winner Pocket Jacks who went for home down the nearside. With a clearer passage it could well have been a different story. Given the fact that he has taken a shine to the Polytrack since coming from Britain with his course form reading 23312 since changing hands online for a mere £1,000, he could make amends over the coming weeks despite going up 3lbs for his recent effort. RAYASTAR, trained by Pat Murphy and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, Dundalk 5.00, Oct 28 Well supported in the market on debut after trading early doors at 50/1 before going off a 15/2 chance, this debutant blew the start before plugging on for a respectable fourth in a 6f maiden. Costing £38,000gns as a yearling before changing hands for €50,000 as a breezer last May, this son of Starman is out of an unraced dam related to several winners up to middle distances. Expect him to learn plenty from this initial experience and with likely improvement in gate speed forthcoming he looks more than capable of landing a winter maiden at this venue. INTENSE APPROACH, trained by John McConnell and ridden by Conor Smithers, Down Royal 2.38, Oct 31 Did us a nice favour last Saturday when winning at a decent price to boost our tipping staking plan having flagged it as an outside each-way pick after he had hinted a return to form previously over hurdles. Conor Smithers always looked confident aboard the former winning pointer when they turned for home with a long run-in ahead given the two fences in the straight were omitted due to the low sun. His mount gamely kept finding for pressure to win his second race over fences. Two of his five wins over hurdles (he was promoted to 1st following a Chepstow Grade 2 in Oct 2024 when the winner was disqualified due to a prohibitive substance) came over 3m so there was never any question mark about the trip but he does look to require a sound surface. The omitted fences probably helped especially in the concluding stages as he had fiddled a few earlier on. Despite been raised 6lbs he could be one to keep on the right side if sneaking in off a low weight in a staying handicap on decent ground in the spring.
