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 race I'm focusing on is an 0-60 handicap at Navan last Wednesday (Oct 7) with a similar low-grade handicap at Thurles on Thursday (Oct 8) and a staying handicap hurdle at Downpatrick on Friday (Oct 9) completing the ‘tracker trio’. NOTTOOSHABBY, trained by Pat Flynn and ridden by Robyn Donaghue-Leahy Taking on older horses on his second start in handicap company, this 3yo hinted enough ability to suggest he can capitalise in similar company before long. Easy to back again tackling this 10f trip for the first time in his career, the son of Awtaad was third last leaving the back straight and made good headway from before the 3f marker. The difference between victory and defeat was probably the way the race unfolded after he hit the front inside the final furlong after making his ground up the centre of the track. Edging gradually left from the two furlong pole he finished in the end towards the far side of the track when the winner Ballaghkeen (Jim Bolger) and Declan McDonogh finished strongly down the nearside to score a shade cosily. The nearside had been the place to be all afternoon at Navan last Wednesday but this was a respectable effort having his sixth racecourse star. Although raised a pound which will force him out of this grade going forward he still looks a horse capable of more improvement with this experience behind him. PRADA’S WORLD, trained by Noel Kelly and ridden by Shane Kelly The subject of strong market support having her third start for this yard, this filly had to settle for fourth place in another 0-60 handicap at Thurles last Thursday (Oct 8) but is worth keeping an eye on. Formerly under the care of Chris Timmons when she finished third at odds of 100/1 in a testing ground Galway 7f nursery off 56 at the backend in 2024, she was 11lb lower for her third outing since switching stables. Her previous two runs for Noel Kelly were over five furlongs at Navan and Naas but this step up in trip coupled with stable confidence told its own story. Backed from 28/1 in the morning and from 20s in the ring, she went off at 11/2 and finished fourth of 14 in a 1m handicap. She was struggling to maintain her position after halfway on ground (good-yielding) that was probably as quick as she would want but hit the line well to snatch fourth and if anything won’t mind another furlong and a more testing surface. Her mark was left unchanged. MISTER VIC, trained by Barry Fitzgerald and ridden by Sean Cleary-Farrell Reunited with trainer Barry Fitzgerald after a spell with Noel Kelly where he won off an 8lb lower mark last year and more recently for three runs with Steve Jones, this was an encouraging first start since returning to the stable where he had hinted promise going back. He wasn’t ignored in the market too having been supported at all rates from 33/1 to start at 15/2 and managed to finish third after losing his pitch when the race unfolded. The change of scenery has obviously helped and the fact there was confidence returning to Downpatrick where he had finished a close third for Fitzgerald in a 2m3f bumper in July 2023, he looks within reach of scooping another staying handicap over hurdles before long. He was left unchanged at 98.
