Wednesday 4th March 2026
“Welcome aboard to Wednesday’s blog. We fared considerably better on Tuesday; however, we did get off to a slow start, with our first selection, Shoda, not finding anything off the bridle at Leopardstown and being ultimately disappointing, and it was a similar story for the NAP, Pookie Holler, at the same track; he came travelling into the straight before emptying out. It was Whiskey On Ice who got us back on track, who was our NB, as he bolted up at Newcastle under Dominic Hislop, securing profit for the day as he was tipped up at 10/3. Shrimp Shady then followed up for us at Wolverhampton, tipped up at 4/1; he managed to get his head up on the line for Rob Hornby, despite still looking like a tough ride. Giving us a healthy profit for Tuesday’s blog.” – Jordan.
We go to Southwell for our first selection of the afternoon on Wednesday, and the 1.32, which is a Class 6 handicap that’s contested over a distance of a mile. I think that Sam England could hold the key to this particular affair with five-year-old ASIAN JOURNEY, who’s the mount of Oisin Orr. He’s a maiden after eleven outings, which isn’t the most appealing of statistics; however, that doesn’t tell the full story, as he’s been knocking on the door in the majority of his recent efforts, with a string of placed efforts at Class 6 level. Most recently, he finished a length and a half behind the winner when third at Newcastle last month, when upped to a mile. He didn’t get the clearest of runs either on that occasion, suggesting he could’ve been even closer. I think that the handicapper has shown his generous side here, dropping him a pound for that effort, and he has to be of serious interest here on the back of that run.
Asian Journey (5/2) (Win) (NB) – 1.32 Southwell.
We’ve got one selection from Naas on the day, and this comes within the 3.20, which is a mares handicap hurdle over two miles. This is competitive, with seventeen runners going to post; however, it could pay to side with the obvious here in THE BIG CLOUD for the team of Shane Crawley and five-pound claimer Eoin Staples. She was a three-length winner on her penultimate outing at Naas in a handicap chase; however, fell two out when trying to follow up at Clonmel last time out in January. She reverts to hurdles here on looks on a decent mark on 99, given that her last success over the smaller obstacles came off 94, and Staples takes five off on this occasion. Both of her recent victories have come on heavy ground, so she should relish the testing surface here, and she generally looks very solid in a race that is littered with questionable form.
The Big Cloud (3/1) (Win) – 3.20 Naas.
It’s back to Southwell for the third selection and the 4.02, which is a decent Class 3 handicap over five furlongs. This is another competitive-looking affair, with not much separating the field. A chance could be taken, though, on Kevin Ryan’s MON NA SLIEVE, who’s currently trading at a best price of 8/1 under five-pound claimer Jack Callan. He posted an encouraing effort over course and distance on his first outing since September, finishing sixth of nine, and three and a half lengths behind the winner. He should almost certainly take a significant step forward following that run, and he looks to be on a decent mark here, given that his last win came off just three pounds lower, and he has Callan’s five-pound claim coming off. The Ryan yard have been among the winners as of late, and this five-year-old looks like a decent each-way play.
Mon Na Slieve (8/1) (Each-Way) – 4.02 Southwell.
The fourth and final selection of the day comes within the 5.07 at Southwell, and we have a Class 4 fillies’ handicap here over a mile and three furlongs. James Owen could well be in the winner’s enclosure once again here with KATE O’RILEY, who’s the mount of Mason Paetel, who takes off five pounds. She’s been running well over hurdles in the autumn, winning at Ludlow before placing in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham, and posted a solid effort on her return to the level at Lingfield last month, finishing sixth of twelve and just a length and a half behind the winner Wyld Bill. She kept on that day, suggesting that his extra furlong should suit, and she’s been dropped a pound by the handicapper for her troubles on that occasion. I think she’s a big player here for a yard that always seems to be in good form.
Kate O’Riley (5/2) (Win) (NAP) – 5.07 Southwell.
