The Irish Angle: Johnny Ward bids to follow up 16-1 winner
By Johnny Ward
Last Updated: Fri 16 Oct 2026
Top pundit and tipster Johnny Ward struck with Heart Of You (16-1) on Friday and bids to keep up his good form with seven selections across three meetings on Saturday. Watch every contest, including British Champions Day at Ascot, live on Racing TV.
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2.40 Ascot: Sparan Nua
At 12-1, she can be backed each-way. I’m a firm believer that she needs to be ridden to finish her races, and certainly not up with the pace. She all but beat Kalpana two runs back so there’s an easy case to be made on softer ground than she encountered in France.
3.40 Leopardstown: Miss Hong Kong
She was favourite in an EBF maiden at Naas won by Nouveau Grey, who is contesting the big race on the card, and I can’t see how she is a 7-1 chance here after that run, which was perfectly promising.
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4.05 Limerick: Western Opera
Pretty much nothing got involved off the pace at Listowel on the day this mare finished fourth, from off the pace, and she has not done much racing for her young trainer. Daniel King stays loyal and 9-1 appeals each-way in a weak race.
4.15 Leopardstown: King Of Cloughan / Nouveau Grey
If you are backing Miss Hong Kong, you have to do a double with her Naas conqueror Nouveau Grey, who has been put in 12s and has to be respected, but 9-1 King Of Cloughan looks madness if Trean is 7-4 as I’m pretty sure the interference King Of Cloughan suffered at the Curragh cost him more than the margin Trean, who was all out, beat him by.
4.40 Limerick: Blackwater Soldier
David Barry’s horses have been in great form and this horse was backed at Killarney, when he hammered everything bar the winner. This is just his second handicap start and he is only up a pound so I’m not sure how is such a big price (9-1) each-way.
5.20 Leopardstown: Snapequus
Joseph O’Brien had a heavily-backed nursery win at the Curragh which added to the market confidence behind this brother to the useful Snapaurum on handicap debut, when he landed a gamble at Dundalk. He has a lot more to do here but I make Kulian Pietropaolo an excellent rider considering his 7lbs claim and he’s 11-2 so he appeals plenty each-way.
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