BLESSING IN DISGUISE? For the second day running SHAMROCK’s nap was withdrawn – this time at the start but – given the way Quevega (pictured) won the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle – it might have been a blessing in disguise. Get SHAMROCK’s Friday preview and selections for ALL EIGHT RACES.
It could have been worse yesterday.
Given we took the (as it turned out foolish) angle of questioning the form of Willie Mullins who went on to have a fantastic five-timer it was a minor miracle we were able to find one of his to be beaten for the successful lay in the opener MARITO (2nd 5/4). Money back with the nap, but the one that hurt was Followmeuptocarlow who traded at the basement 1.01 on BETDAQ in running, jumped the last two lengths clear, and got collared for first AND second close home. We had the place covered but that made all the difference on the day.
3.40 Marito (LAY) SUCCESSEFUL 2nd 5/4
4.15 Harpsy Cord (PLACE) lost
4.50 Long Strand (WIN and PLACE) fell
5.30 Solwhit (NAP) (WIN) NON RUNNER
6.05 Followmeuptocarlow (WIN and PLACE) 3rd
6.40 Benefficient (WIN) lost
7.15 Upsie (WIN) WON 9/10
7.45 Captain Cutter (WIN) 2nd
Eight races today, starting at 3.40:
3:40 KFM Hunters Chase For The Bishopscourt Cup (4yo+, 2m 4f, 15 runners)
Punters usually get this one about right, with 8 out of 10 winners starting at 5-1 or shorter SP. It’s not a race for old horses: none of a double-figure age has won in the last decade.
Enigma of the race is Shin A Vee, second three years ago, and to be ridden by Ireland’s record breaking champion amateur, Derek O’Connor.
ENNISKILLEN fits the stats in terms of price (around 5.5) and age (8) but can only be considered a token selection in a race where there as many letters as numbers in the form figures. He reappears quickly after finishing sixth behind Zest For Life here on Tuesday.
We’ll take the unusual staking strategy of a win AND a place lay to cover the win stake. The thinking being that if he does show the effects of Tuesday’s race he is more than likely to be unplaced.
SELECTION: Enniskillen (WIN and PLACE LAY to cover win stake)
4:20 Aon Novice Handicap Chase (Grade A) (5yo+, 2m 5f, 14 runners)
Willie Mullins form-figures in this might have been 11121 but that last ‘1’ is an ‘F’ after Call The Police cruised to the front at the final fence but fell with last year’s race at his mercy.
Several non runners here including the well fancied Home Farm who was third in the Irish Grand National.
SPRING HEELED looks of interest, win and place on BETDAQ.
He was only narrowly beaten at Leopardstown last time out when third and arguably an unlucky loser. He has scope for further improvement being just six-years-old and the onlt concern is the trip/going combination is probably at the optimum of what he can cope with.
SELECTION: Spring Heeled (WIN and PLACE)
4:55 Breakfast With Hector On 2FM Handicap Chase (0-145) (5yo+, 3m 6f, 19 runners)
Another Mullins benefit with four in a row up to 2011, but Quiscover Fontaine – 16th in the Liverpool Grand National – has not so far been the staying find Willie had hoped for, having won only a hurdle race since February 2010.
But teammate Vesper Bell shaped with promise at Cheltenham after a sequence of excellent runs on today’s course: his Punchestown form is 213, opening with a hurdle.
Vesper Bell was making late progress in the Grand National trial here after a mistake almost put him out of the race. He’s learning.
Silver By Nature, winner of the 2011 Haydock Park Grand National Trial, has been saved for the Aintree National since then: 12th in 2011 but being forced to miss the last two runnings. It’s a tall order to bounce back here off 11st 10lb.
Panther Claw, winner of the Coyningham Cup on today’s course in January, faded to finish fifth in the Irish Grand National 25 days ago when the ground dried up on him. Big chance here if it stays soft as seems likely.
SELECTION: Panther Claw (WIN)
5:30 Rabobank Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m, 6 runners)
What can spoil a four-timer for Hurricane Fly? He’s already beaten Thousand Stars in the Leopardstown Champion Hurdle and Rock On Ruby in the Cheltenham original.
He won this last year by beating Zaidpour, and thereby hangs a tale since it was Zaidpour that SO YOUNG beat to win the Red Mills Trial at Gowran in February.
With Hurricane Fly the Mullins number one for Cheltenham, So Young was put up in trip for the World Hurdle but the 3m wsn’t his game.
Back over the minimum today, and two years younger than the Hurricane, he is the young pretender for the day’s crown and is a sporting selection at around 9 on the BETDAQ place market for either a 1,2 finish.
SELECTION: So Young (PLACE)
6:05 Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m 4f, 3 runners)
A poor turn-out made even worse by the defection of both Pont Alexandre and Mullaghanoe River.
We’re left with three and UN ATOUT becomes the selection by default on the strength of his fourth to stablemate Champagne Fever in the Supreme Novices’ – the opening race at the Cheltenham Festival.
SELECTION: Un Atout (WIN)
6:40 Star Best For Racing Coverage Novice Hurdle (5yo+, 2m, 10 runners)
Get the cursor filling up your bank: four favourites in a row have obliged and only one winner has been bigger than 4-1 in seven years. A punters’ race.
Market leader UN DE SCEAUX looks likely to continue the market trends. He won both starts in France before winning a maiden hurdle here in good style. He’s my nap.
SELECTION: Un De Sceaux (NAP) (WIN)
7:10 Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fillies Scheme Premier Bumper (4-6yo, 2m 1f, 20 runners)
Just when we all thought a four-year-old couldn’t win it (5-y-o were six from seven), along came Willie Mullins last year with Glens Melody first time on a racecourse.
Willie tries to do the same again with unraced Bluemountainbeach but may play second fiddle to stable companion (and five-year-old) ROBINA MAI.
SELECTION: Robina Mai (WIN)
7:45 Racing Post Champion Hunters Chase (5yo+, 3m 1f, 7 runners)
A horse in the frame in the Cheltenham Foxhunters has taken this six years out of seven.
SALSIFY has won both races in separate years but, following his second Foxhunters last month, now tries to do the double in the same season and has Oscar Delta to beat.
SELECTION: Salsify (WIN)
SHAMROCK’S SELECTIONS SUMMARY
3.40 Enniskillen (WIN and PLACE LAY to cover win stake)
4.20 Spring Heeled (WIN and PLACE)
4.55 Panther Claw (WIN)
5.30 So Young (PLACE)
6.05 Un Atout (WIN)
6.40 Un De Sceaux (NAP) (WIN)
7.10 Robina Mai (WIN)
7.45 Salsify (WIN)
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