STUNNING EIGHT BETS UP IN ONE DAY AS SHAMROCK WINS HIS ASCOT MONEY: Shamrock yesterday declared he was going to win his Ascot betting money. He duly landed his nap and next best, two lays, and three doubles and a treble in his Daq Trio.
TWO LAYS UP OUT OF TWO: He laid Edenshaw (unplaced 11-2) and Measured Approval (unplaced 6-1) in the same race at Cork because of their bad draws.
DAQ TRIO: EVERY ONE’S A WINNER: His nap, Inxile (WON evens), was in doubles and a treble with Banimpire (next best, WON 7-4) and Alpine Eagle (WON 11-10).
HE’S DRAWN TOWARDS ANOTHER LAY AT ROSCOMMON: Today Shamrock fancies adding to his Ascot nest-egg with another hot lay in another draw-bias race, this time at the Roscommon mixed meeting.
I’ve got three good reasons for a lay today. That makes my opposition to David Marnane’s Almadaa (6.50) a banker Betdaq-only bet at Roscommon this evening.
First of all, Almadaa is a maiden after 18 starts and a right bridesmaid at that, with recent form figures 234023; second of all, as they say, he has been deserted by Fran Berry – third on him last time – but most telling of the triple black mark against him is his draw.
Single-figure stalls have won six out of seven in this race, with the one-twos as follows: 3 beat 7, 8-3, 2-3, 6-5, 11-9, 3-1 and 2-14. Some 22 of the 28 places in the frame went to single figures. Almadaa is in 12.
Berry’s choice instead isn’t much cop, despite a good draw in 3 (which says even less for Almadaa), with blinkers the last twice failing to revive Vigano, who hasn’t won for nearly three years.
The change of going and a 5lb penalty may stop Intyre Trail’s hat-trick, trainer Peter Fahey trying to foil the latest imposition by hoping first-time blinkers will ‘find’ a few more pounds.
Via Mia beat Intyre Trail, giving 4lb, at Naas in May and now receives 6lb. The mare has been beaten at both Killarney (longer trip found her out) and Tipperary (slipped up) since, but had valid excuses and stall 9 today doesn’t look too prohibitive.
There’s another bridesmaid in the handicap hurdle (7.50): Got Options is 20243 over obstacles but I won’t be laying him, since the step up in trip might help the son of a 2m 4f winner.
Son Of My Heart, on the other hand, is Flat-bred and it was surprising to see him come good over 2m 2f at Sligo after failing over shorter. He’s up in trip again here; I wouldn’t discount him but I wouldn’t be in a hurry to back him.
The Lady Granuaile’s six appearances at Galway suggests that we should wait on the ‘Ballybrit’ meeting, and I just wonder if J P McManus is looking for some loose change for Ascot from What’s New, with the Roche yard in form.
The conditions hurdle at 7.20 looks a cracker with four last-time winners, and only 0.75 points to separate three of them in the Betdaq market this morning, as I write.
Inspector Clouseau performed well enough at the Punchestown Festival to land a race like this, and the grey’s pilot, Ruby Walsh, can go on to complete a double with Redera (8.20).
Presenting Nama looked all over the winner on the book to beat Redera at Wexford but Redera was backed like a good thing and ran like a good thing: he was eased well clear on the run-in. The only snag, as with several recent winners today, is the change of ground.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Inspector Clouseau (7.20 Roscommon)
NEXT BEST: Redera (8.20 Roscommon)
LAY: Almadaa (6.50 Roscommon)
EACH-WAY: Via Mia (6.50 Roscommon)
OUTSIDER: What ‘s New (7.50 Roscommon)
DAQ TRIO: Maid In Moscow (3.30 Sedgefield), Inspector Clouseau (7.20 Roscommon), Redera (8.20 Roscommon)
