SHAMROCK LANDS 20-1 WINNER ‘SAVED UP FOR THE RACE’: Our lucky Shamrock shone again at Killarney yesterday when he declared: ‘I shall bet that Cul A Dun (WON 20-1) has been saved up for the race.’
14.0 CRACKER ON BETDAQ: It followed straight on from his 14.0 Betdaq buy on Thursday, the gambled-on Alderwood (WON 11-2), and a 16-1 winner earlier in the week. Here’s Shamrock’s run of success:
* 50-1 MONDAY: Takeover Bid (WON 16-1) in 50-1 winning double with Wrote (WON 2-1). Just missed 139-1 treble when Secret Hero was pipped a short-head at 7-4.
* 23-1 TUESDAY: Wild Wind (nap, WON 5-2) in 23-1 double with Crimson Sunrise (WON 6-1). Just missed 146-1 treble when Magical Cat was second at 5-1, beaten half a length.
* 14.0 THURSDAY: Took 14.0 on Betdaq about Alderwood (WON 11-2) and lands a gamble at Killarney.
* 20-1 FRIDAY: Cul A Dun (WON 20-1) and Binocular (WON 5-1) continue Shamrock’s great week at the Killarney Festival.
I’m sorry Killarney is over. It’s been a great week there, as ever: not much sunshine but plenty to smile about thanks to Betdaq layers’ kind offers. It was that way, too, at the Galway Festival (remember).
Now here we are back at Galway and I reckon the memory of the great July meeting will serve me right: last year, Days Ahead had won on the Flat at the festival before taking today ‘s maiden hurdle (2.55). This year, Sam Bass tries to do the same.
Whatever It Takes has the edge of a run over obstacles already but Sam Bass has 10lb in hand on Flat ratings and Noel Meade is farming the juvenile hurdles already this season (37% strike rate).
Dermot Weld’s Natural High (3.25) doesn’t stand much racing but he, too, has won at the festival – his maiden hurdle – and he’s won a bumper at this meeting.
It’s a cracking little contest, though: Earls Quarter and Rebel Fitz were both made favourite to win their recent races. ‘Fitz’ has also won a Galway bumper and he’s given the impression (ran loose before winning at Cork) that there’s bags more in the locker waiting to be released.
Scotsirish (5.25) was only third at the Galway festival but was the moral winner, giving more than two stone to the first and second. Off level weights here, he should again have the measure of Lenabane, whom he beat at the big Punchestown meeting.
The trouble with trying to find another outsider this week is that they tend to come naturally. If I try hard and search for one, it never seems to succeed. I thought hadn’t much choice, because of the size of the fields and conditions of the races, than to go for the handicap (4.25).
But I think the winner of that will be the short-priced Adropaupep, so I’m going to risk an old punt on Ciaraclassic (3.55) as likely to step up markedly on a tender ride behind Dowd’s Angle at the festival.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Scotsirish (5.25 Galway)
NEXT BEST: Sam Bass (2.55 Galway)
EACH-WAY: Ciaraclassic (3.55 Galway)
DAQ TRIO: Sam Bass (2.55 Galway), Rebel Fitz (3.25 Galway), Scotsirish (4.55 Galway)
