Roscommon, Tuesday 18 August 2026

Roscommon, Tuesday 18 August 2026

The York Ebor Festival may be hogging the headlines on the other side of the Irish Sea, but Roscommon puts on a decent seven-race card this evening on good ground. Three races stand out for punters with an eye for value, and there are angles worth following across all of them. Good ground suits most of the field here, so going is unlikely to be a significant differentiator. Focus instead on trainer form, jockey course records, and which horses are arriving in form rather than on reputation alone.

6:15 Irish EBF Auction Series Race (7½f, Good, 9 runners)

Joseph O’Brien saddles two runners here and his yard has been ticking over at 20% at Roscommon over the long haul, though the recent 14-day strike rate of 6 from 55 across all tracks is modest. The selection, however, is neither of them.

Lars Soldier Each-Way (8/1 Boyle Sports, 9/1 Betfred) is the pick of this field on figures. His rating of 92 marks him out as the highest-rated runner in the race, and the form string of 415342 tells you he keeps turning up and running his race. Placed last time out, a winner five starts back, and he has experience over today’s trip and conditions. Wesley Joyce claims 3lb off his back, which softens the 130lb burden. At 8/1 in a nine-runner race, the each-way case is solid on three places at 1/5.

Green Dreamer (2/1 favourite) may win this and Dylan Browne McMonagle is a quality booking, but 15/8 with Betfred is too short to back a two-year-old colt with a speed figure of just 54 against stronger company. Sword Of State (4/1) is respected following her win last time and handles this trip, but Lars Soldier at double the price makes far more appeal on a bet-to-bet basis.

5:45 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (7½f, Good, 12 runners)

Twelve runners in a two-year-old maiden means the each-way markets are worth exploiting. G M Lyons sends out Pints Of Glory Each-Way (8/1 Boyle Sports and Betfred), ridden by Colin Keane. Lyons hits at 17% at Roscommon with an A/E of 1.03, which means his runners actually outperform their prices on this course. Keane similarly returns an A/E of 0.88 here, which sounds negative until you realise that is built on 50 winners from 293 rides, a consistent performer on this track.

The form of 46 is unspectacular but this colt has been learning his trade in maiden company. In a race where several rivals have posted 5s, 9s and 0s on their form cards, Keane and Lyons combining at 8/1 is exactly the kind of quiet each-way play this column was made for. Three places at 1/5 odds in a 12-runner field is fair terms.

Cashel Queen (5/1) is interesting at the price with a form of 324, consistently finding the places, but at 5/1 the each-way return is less attractive. Prince Of Peppard with Ben Coen is likely to attract support but his 9/4 record on the form card is uninspiring.

7:15 WTW Willis Handicap (7½f, Good, 18 runners)

Eighteen runners, four places at 1/4 odds. This is where the each-way market really opens up. The race looks wide open on form, but one horse stands out as the value play.

Earls Each-Way (11/2 Boyle Sports and Betfred) is trained by Gavin Cromwell, who has posted a 4 from 16 strike rate in the last 14 days. That is a yard in form. Gary Carroll takes the ride. Earls’ form of 002223 looks frustrating at first glance, but dig into it: second three times from his last four completed efforts, third last time out, and he has handled today’s trip and going conditions before. A horse that keeps missing by a nose eventually finds one. At 11/2 in an 18-runner handicap with four places paid, the each-way terms are generous. The weight of 138lb from stall three is workable.

Summer Island (9/2) with Dylan Browne McMonagle will attract plenty of attention, but stall 17 in an 18-runner field on a flat track is a significant inconvenience, and our figures don’t back up the hype. Spodo Komodo (14/1) is a longer-range each-way option if you want to go wider.

Today’s NAP

Lars Soldier — Irish EBF Auction Series Race (6:15, Roscommon)
Odds: 9/1 — Betfred (others: 8/1 Boyle Sports, 8/1 LiveScore Bet)

The highest-rated horse in the field at a rating of 92, Lars Soldier has been knocking on the door consistently with a form line of 415342, placed last time out and a winner five starts back. Good ground is no concern, the trip is familiar, and the 3lb claim from Wesley Joyce takes the edge off the weight. This looks a yard-level mismatch in terms of ability versus odds. Best price available is 9/1 with Betfred.

Each-Way Recommended — 3 places at 1/5 odds