FIVE NAPS UP OUT OF SIX: Shamrock landed his fifth nap from the last six, with Allure Of Illusion at Punchestown yesterday. The SP wasn’t alluring but, as ever, he was a better price in morning Betdaq offers.
Is he a Gordon highlander? The answer so far is that Gordon Elliott doesn’t have as much success at Ayr, as on his other raiding missions.
He frequently leaves the island of Ireland but, with only five Ayr runners in four seasons, and just one winner, his four-strong Scottish raiding party today is his biggest to date and should at least double the winning score.
With so little racing anywhere, it just had to be done. Mae’s Choice (1.30) had to find something to go for, while she’s still hot after completing the hat-trick on a more typical Scottish mission for the yard: to Musselburgh.
The snag with this one is that Mr Elliott teases us with an unknown lightweight, Narjawa, getting 24lb from her stablemate.
You’d normally look at the betting, find the newcomer is out in the 30.0 area and so strike your pencil through it, but she is 8.4 this morning, as layers get nervous that Elliott knows the difference at home between the two stable companions.
I shall back Narjawa to win, and double Mae’s Choice with Don’t Back Down, hoping to bait two hooks and land my fish with one of them.
Don’t Back Down (2.00) is entered up at the Cheltenham Festival and the way he’s been improving may well step up here again and have a big-race chance in March.
Eight Is My Number seems to have it all to do against the very smart Lie Forrit (2.35) but also has Cheltenham entries, gets 7lb and a pull of two years, which means he is the least exposed, though he doesn’t seem to be climbing the grades quite so fast.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Don’t Back Down (2.00 Ayr)
WIN BET: Narjawa (1.30 Ayr)
DAQ DOUBLE: Mae’s Choice (1.30 Ayr) and Don’t Back Down (2.00 Ayr)
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