11-2 SHAMROCK WINNER WAS 14.0 ON BETDAQ: Shamrock was in on the Killarney gamble on Alderwood (WON 11-2), which was traded down from 14.0 on Betdaq yesterday morning.
CATCH HIS EARLY-BIRD BET: Shamrock also landed his first bet of the day for the fourth consecutive day but without being able to nail a double, as he had done at 23-1 and 50-1 earlier in the week. His first-bet wins have been Wrote (WON Monday 2-1), Crimson Sunrise (WON Tuesday 6-1), French Quebec (WON Wednesday 7-2) and Bullock Harbour (WON yesterday 9-4).
5.00 Killarney: I think the fillies will stuff the colts in this: Last Crusade looks exposed; Choisir Fin has been gelded and I expect to see him hurdling; Giant Step has made no such steps forward and is in headgear.
That suggests a stakes split between Dermot Weld’s Catch the Eye and Puttore, the one an easy Galway Festival winner, the other, Puttore, a filly of class if her second to Together and third to Wild Wind and Laughing Lashes last season are to go by. Back on track now and hard to beat. I’m putting for her as the pick for the column.
5.35 Killarney: It could be Weld again with Midnight Music, blinkered for the first time but the draw looks tricky. I shall bet that Cul A Dun has been saved up for this race, which he won last year: 13.0 on Betdaq this morning.
6.40 Killarney: Binocular is nowhere near as good as his namesake but has a great chance off this mark for an in-form stable. Second Glance deserves one but I’m more worried about Sparring Partner, unexposed at this trip.
7.10 Killarney: Alderwood did me a big favour yesterday at 14.0 on the Daq and, as expected, takes a well-earned rest.
It’s hard to resist Coscorrig as his replacement here: Dessie Hughes just has to give him his chance in this well-supported hurdle (18,000 euros to the winner).
Coscorrig is a total of 27lb lower over hurdles than for his successful chasing career, including Bryan Cooper’s claim (and well worth that). Surely, a sporting nap at 5.9
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Coscorrig (7.10 Killarney)
NEXT BEST: Puttore (5.0 Killarney)
OUTSIDER: Cul A Dun (5.35 Killarney)
DAQ TRIO: Puttore (5.0 Killarney), Binocular (6.40 Killarney), Coscorrig (7.10 Killarney)
