10 NAPS AND 18 DOUBLES UP IN 16 DAYS: Shamrock’s Daq Trio yesterday landed his 18th winning double in the 16 days of his sensational naps sequence. Ironically, his nap was the only loser of the trio.
TWO WINNERS OUT OF THREE: Shamrock’s two out of three were Bible Black (WON 9-4) and Kastania (WON 9-10). The form figures of his naps sequence are now 1110123101111410.
They say all good things must come to an end. But yesterday’s ‘good thing’ (I shall not even mention her name) was never at the races, never capable of getting involved and I shall always be ashamed of not being ‘on’ the high-class performance of Emulous.
Dermot Weld has always had faith in her and she must now surely aim at Group-1 fillies’ targets, she looked so strong at the finish. She could go for the Falmouth (July 8) at the Newmarket July Meeting.
Today’s feature is the Golden Fleece, with Tenth Star trying to follow up Zoffany for Aidan O’Brien, having already accounted for General Star over today’s course and distance.
But Whip Rule was the moral at Naas, giving weight to the first two and crying out for an extra furlong; both will be made to show their paces by Snowflake Dancer who led all the way at Navan.
He was ridden differently, or probably had no choice, at Naas last time. But now we know that the six-lengths winner that day, Lilbourne Lad, is something special.
He’s won the Railway Stakes since and that’s our clue to today’s Golden Fleece: the horse he beat threeparts of a length in the Railway – Tough As Nails – had dead-heated with Whip Rule earlier at the Curragh.
Though that was over the minimum, and on soft ground, we have to conclude, until we know better, that Whip Rule is in front of stablemate Snowflake Dancer.
From this circumstantial evidence, I shall assume that Snowflake Dancer is going to try to stretch them and hand the race to Ronan Whelan on Whip Rule (7.00); a tactical race, perhaps, in which, for once, it’s Jim Bolger playing cat and mouse and not Ballydoyle (where are all your two-year-olds, Aidan? Surely three or four in this one?)
The day seems to belong to Johnny Murtagh, now named as Snow Fairy’s jockey in the Sandown Eclipse, if all went well on the gallops this morning.
However, I shall duck Alanza (6.00) until I see how she is after nearly 300 days’ absence. Im more interested in Ger Lyons’ Jemima’s Pearl (6.30), a short price maybe but with the odds held up by a Ballydoyle runner.
The Dunsany trainer won the first two at Fairyhouse yesterday and Team Lyons and Johnny Murtagh also have a big chance with Joe Eile (8.00), a good third to Jumbalaya at Naas, but I’m not sure about stall 12.
The draw seems to have an even bigger impact on the 12-furlong handicap, so I can’t get involved with the favourite, Reach The Stars (stall 16).
The two yards which do well in the race, Joanna Morgan’s (two wins) and Jim Bolger’s (three of the last five) have their horses in the vital low numbers, Gargano – who likes to go on – and Global Recovery, who has slipped down the handicap. Each way on each.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Jemima’s Pearl (6.30 Leopardstown)
NEXT BEST: Whip Rule (7.00 Leopardstown)
EACH WAY: Gargano and Global Recovery (both 8.35 Leopardstown)
OUTSIDER: McMonagle (8.00 Leopardstown)
DAQ MULTIPLES: Jemima’s Pearl (6.30 Leopardstown) and Whip Rule (7.00 Leopardstown) with Gargano and Global Recovery (both 8.35 Leopardstown)
