Roscommon, Monday 18 May 2026: Tips and Selections

Roscommon, Monday 18 May 2026: Tips and Selections

A decent eight-race card at Roscommon on good ground, and there are three races worth pinpointing for punters tonight. The track suits a particular type of stayer in the mile-and-a-half handicap, and the juvenile maiden over seven-and-a-half furlongs throws up a fascinating clash between two well-supported newcomers. Good ground throughout means pace angles matter and horses who have shown they handle cut-free surfaces get a significant tick.

5:20 — Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden (7½f)

Selection: Arizona Raider (6/4, Boyle Sports / Betfred / LiveScore Bet)

Arizona Raider heads this field on form figures alone. An RPR of 90 in a juvenile maiden at this stage of May is a significant number, and his form figures of 5-3 against horses who have since gone on to show ability suggest he is knocking on the door. Michael Mulvany’s yard has only hit 1/11 over the last fortnight, which gives some pause, but Wesley Joyce rides with plenty of confidence and the horse carries a weight allowance that could prove crucial in a tight finish.

The two market leaders are split evenly at 5/2: Seaxburh for Joseph Patrick O’Brien, who is operating at a strong 17/85 clip right now, and Glenade for P Twomey. Both are unraced, so the form question is unanswered. Arizona Raider has already been to the races twice, handles this sort of ground, and steps up to seven-and-a-half furlongs which ought to suit a horse who was keeping on late in shorter races. Take the 6/4 with confidence.

6:50 — Connolly’s RED MILLS Handicap (1m2½f, 12 runners)

Selection: Kilcrea Rock (15/8, Boyle Sports / Betfred / LiveScore Bet)

Joseph Patrick O’Brien has had 17 winners from 85 runners in the last 14 days. That is not a yard going through the motions. Dylan Browne McMonagle gets the leg up on Kilcrea Rock, and that combination is rarely deployed without intent. The form figures of 7-6-4-3-2 show a horse improving race by race, finishing second last time out, and the step back up to a mile and two and a half furlongs on good ground looks ideal.

Syzygy at 5/2 is the main threat, having won three in a row before finishing third twice, but Daniel McLoughlin’s yard is cold right now at 0/4. The price difference between Syzygy and Kilcrea Rock feels wrong given the trainer and jockey upgrade on the latter. Queen Lioness at 6/1 is interesting on a form figure of 86 but carries top weight with a claiming rider. Kilcrea Rock is the play at 15/8.

7:50 — Racing Again Here On June 8th Handicap (1m4f, 12 runners)

Selection: Superficial Each-Way (9/2, Boyle Sports / Betfred / 4/1, LiveScore Bet)

Andrew McNamara has been in superb form, striking at 3/8 over the past fortnight. That is a barn firing on all cylinders, and Superficial represents his live entry in this twelve-runner handicap over a mile and four furlongs. Colin Keane takes the ride, and Keane does not waste his afternoon on outsiders when he has a choice. The form figures of 7-5-3-2-6 show a horse that went close recently before a disappointing last run, but the step up to this stamina test on good ground suits, and the handicapper may not have reacted quickly enough to the near-miss.

Obscenity at 2/1 is the clear market leader for O’Brien and Browne McMonagle, and the form of 7-5-4-3-1 is strong. But at 2/1 in a 12-runner handicap, the margin for error is thin. Superficial at 4/1 with LiveScore Bet represents a 12-runner field where four places are paid at 1/5 odds, and the McNamara form angle makes this very attractive each-way at the best available price.

Today’s NAP