Free racing tips: Fran Berry preview ahead of Thursday's action

Recommended bets, Thursday August 20

1pt e.w. Cracking Name in 2.35 Leopardstown at 12/1

1pt e.w. Pin Your Hopes in 3.05 Leopardstown at 6/1

1pt win Layfayette in 4.05 Leopardstown at 9/2

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The ground at Leopardstown has really gone soft and I've no doubt it'll play a huge part in sorting them out this afternoon.

With conditions to suit, I'm taking a chance on CRACKING NAME in the mile handicap at 2.35. The yard is having a quiet time so you've got to factor that in but the key to this horse's chance is that she's a five-time winner and is proven on soft to heavy going.

She tends to hit form this time of year, the end of summer into the autumn, while her course form is encouraging too. Last time she got no luck in running here at Leopardstown when drawn down on the inside, she just couldn't get out and get a run at things.

She's drawn right out wide now which isn't always great but when it's soft being drawn out there can sometimes turn out to be a plus rather than a negative. I'm happy to back her each-way with five places on offer generally.

In the next race - the nine furlong maiden - Finans Bay is a worthy favourite on form but he's a good mover and I'm not convinced he'll handle the ground and the same applies to Party Season who is by American Pharoah and bred more for fast conditions.

So PIN YOUR HOPES makes lots of appeal. He ran very well over 10 furlongs on soft ground at Naas and then backed that up with a good effort here over a mile. Stepping back up in trip on heavy going should really suit, looking at his action, and the stable is going really well.

The bet of the day comes in the last as LAYFAYETTE is worth another chance. I put him up at Galway when a close third in a better race than this and he's down in grade slightly now.

He's shown a liking for bad ground when beaten a short-head in the sales race last year, he's only a pound higher than for Galway and Danny Sheehy rides today. It all adds up to a horse more than ready to win getting weight from the older horses in this event.

Posted at 0958 BST 20/08/20

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