Friday Racing Tips: Downpatrick and Ballinrobe There are two meetings taking place in Ireland this Friday, with jumps action on the agenda at Downpatrick from 4.50-8.17, while they go on the flat at Balinrobe from 5.05-8.30. Downpatrick and Ballinrobe Betting Tips 7.07 Downpatrick - Calahill @ SP with Betfred 7.20 Ballinrobe - Expound @ SP with Betfred 8.30 Ballinrobe - Gangster Granny @ SP with Betfred Betfred Betting Offer If you already have a Betfred account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses 7.07 Downpatrick - Calahill The Cian Collins-trained CALAHILL is one of just two course-and-distance winners lining up in this field, as he previously scored at Downpatrick in August of last year. Since that win, he has been seen just once on the racecourse, when stepped up in trip to tackle a longer distance at Tramore. However, things didn’t quite go to plan on that occasion and he ultimately finished a well beaten ninth. He reverts back down in trip to a more suitable distance now and conditions appear to be in his favour, so if he can reproduce anything close to the form he showed at this venue last summer, then he looks to have a serious chance of getting his head back in front. 7.20 Ballinrobe - Expound Another course-and-distance winner that looks to have a solid chance returning to a familiar venue is the Denis Hogan-trained EXPOUND. He steps back into calmer waters after competing in two stronger handicaps at Leopardstown, where he faced slightly better horses than the ones he will be taking on in this race. On his most recent outing, he was unable to get involved in the finish, however, his penultimate run was far more encouraging, as he attempted to make all from the front before eventually holding on for a respectable third-place finish. That effort underlined his ability to dictate terms when conditions suit, and a return to this track, combined with an easier race, gives him a good chance of crossing the line in first. 8.30 Ballinrobe - Gangster Granny Looking to go one better after finishing second at Gowran Park just 23 days ago, consistent mare GANGSTER GRANNY continues to knock on the door. Although she is yet to get her head in front in handicaps - her only career win came in maiden company - she has shown on several occasions that she can be competitive off a similar mark to the one she will be racing off on Friday. Her past performances suggest that she’s more than capable of running well at this level when things fall right. Last season she made the journey to the UK to contest two valuable handicaps as part of the Racing League series, and she acquitted herself admirably in both, finishing a close-up third and fourth in competitive fields. Those efforts underline her ability to hold her own in stronger company, and a repeat of that form would certainly give her a strong chance. She returns to a quicker surface this time, having raced on soft ground in both of her starts so far this campaign. While her most recent performance proved she can handle underfoot conditions, her sole win and her best form has come when encountering quicker ground. With conditions looking more in her favour and her recent form reading well, there’s every reason to believe she can go close in this race.
