Racing Post ISPS Handa World Invitational predictions and free betting tips

Golf tips, best bets and player analysis for the Handa Invitational at Galgorm Castle on the DP World Tour.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Golf, 1pm

Best bets

John Catlin
2pts each-way 18-1 bet365
Ewen Ferguson
2pts each-way 22-1 Hills
Dale Whitnell
1pt each-way 35-1Coral, Ladbrokes

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The DP World Tour completes its UK swing in Northern Ireland this week with a tournament that will run alongside the women's event at Galgorm Castle in County Antrim.

We are greeted with the familiar sight of England's Jordan Smith at the top of the market despite the fact he missed the cut at the Cazoo Open at Celtic Manor.

Smith has not won at this level since 2017 but hit a course record 62 here last year before finishing third, so he will have high hopes, while last year's winner Daniel Gavins will be galvanised by that victory after failing to complete nine of his last ten tournaments.

Wilkerson's top tip

John Catlin 18-1

John Catlin hit a disappointing closing 76 to finish 54th at Celtic Manor last week but the American should be far more at home this week and can bounce back in style.

Catlin was victorious in a stronger field than that when he won the 2020 Irish Open at this venue, storming to success with a Sunday 64 just as the field looked to put the pressure on.

Accurate driving can be the key to success this week and that inspires confidence in a player who is officially the fifth straightest hitter on the DP World Tour.

And while he was unable to make the cut at either the Scottish Open or Open Championship, the standard of those fields cannot be compared to the competition he faces this week.

Before those missed weekends, he was fourth in the Irish Open and he was seventh in this tournament last year, so there looks a good chance that he can rise to the occasion.

Next best bet

Ewen Ferguson 22-1

Ewen Ferguson, who was 12th when Callum Shinkwin won in South Wales last week, is another competitor who ticks a lot of key statistical boxes this week.

The Scot is ranked 13th in driving accuracy and third in greens in regulation and that bodes well on a course where the rough can cause players the greatest problems.

He has already tasted victory with success in the Qatar Masters in March in a tournament that boasted a stronger field than the one he faces this week.

There is scope for Ferguson, who closed with a 65 when seventh in a Challenge Tour event at this week's venue in 2018, to secure another DP World Tour crown.

Other selection

Dale Whitnell 35-1

A little further down the list is Englishman Dale Whitnell, who could make a big impression after finishing 11th at this tournament last year.

Whitnell recorded four solid rounds on that occasion and he showed a lot of mettle to post a respectable finish of 18th at the Cazoo Open last week.

He took the Twenty Ten course to task with an opening 67, but he should take encouragement from his recovery from a Saturday 76 as he got back on track with a closing 69.

Whitnell has finished fourth and 16th in the last two Irish Opens and, as the tenth-straightest hitter on the tour, this is just the sort of course he can get to grips with.

Players to note

Jordan Smith
Regularly appears at the top of DP World Tour markets these days but it's five years since his last win. Was third here last year and hit 62 in the first round, so capable of being a factor.

Connor Syme
Was Shinkwin's closest challenger at Celtic Manor last week and is ranked seventh in greens in regulation, so could make a bold bid for a first DP World Tour title.

David Horsey
Finished second behind Gavins in this tournament last year. Has had one top-ten finish since, but the Englishman hits enough fairways to be considered a threat in this sort of company.

Galgorm Castle course guide

Courses Galgorm Castle and Massereene, Ballymena, County
Antrim, Northern Ireland
Prize money $1.5m ($250,000 to the winner)
Lengths Galgorm 7,151 yards Massereene 6,817 yards
Par Both 70
Field 132 Cut Top 60 and ties qualify for third round and top 35 and ties qualify for final round
Course records - 72 holes 265 Ryan Fox (2016), Calum Hill
(2018) 18 holes Galgorm 62 Joakim Lagergren (2014), Ryan
Fox (2016), Tyler Koivisto (2020), Jordan Smith (2021); Massereene 64 Craig Ross (2019), Justin Harding (2021)

Course winners taking part Jack Senior, Tyler Koivisto, John Catlin, Daniel Gavins

Highest-ranked players in the field (world rankings in brackets) Richard Bland (77), Jordan Smith (116), Marcus Hellingkilde Johannes Veerman (170), Guido Migliozzi (178)

When to bet By 7am Thursday

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 1pm Thursday

Last week - Cazoo Open 1 C Shinkwin 20-1, 2 C Syme 40-1, T3 R Paratore 300-1, A Sullivan 55-1, D Dixon 500-1, L Bjerregaard 200-1, J Guerrier 80-1, 8 P Waring 66-1

Course overview Galgorm Castle was the regular venue for the Northern Ireland Open on the European Tour and also hosted the 2020 Irish Open, which was won by John Catlin, who takes his place in this week's field.

The event will be run in conjunction with the women's tournament which will also be played over the Galgorm Castle and Massereene courses over the first two days.

The final two rounds will be played at Galgorm Castle and there will be two cuts with just the top 35 playing on Sunday.

Galgorm is bordered by two rivers which come into play on numerous holes, as well as five lakes. The rough is juicy and the fairways are tight, and the winds have a tendency to swirl at this venue. There are only two par-fives – both on the back nine – the tenth and the 18th.

Story of last year Daniel Gavins posted just one bogey in his final three rounds to get the better of David Horsey by a single stroke.

Weather forecast There appears to be little threat of rain and the tournament should be played under clear skies. Winds should be light and temperatures should peak at about 24C

Type of player suited to the challenge The rough can be penal around this track, which is not particularly long, so it could pay to concentrate on those adept at finding fairways and greens in regulation

Key attribute Accuracy

Spotlight insight Jordan Smith has had 20 DP World Tour top-ten finishes since his last victory at the 2017 Porsche European Open.

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