SHAMROCK GOES FOR A DUNDALK TOUCH AT 24.0: Shamrock hopes he’ll finally fill his Christmas Box with chances today at 24.0 and 9.2, plus a nap at 4.4, all on the Polytrack evening card at Dundalk.
I’m going for a Touch for Christmas. James Halpin, in the top three of Dundalk trainers on strike rate, seems to have Molly’s Touch (7.30) lined up, with Seamie Heffernan booked.
If ‘Molly’ had been better drawn, I would have felt more confident, but readers of this column will know my opinion that the so-called Dundalk bias is a snare.
Mollys Touch steps up to the mile after a decent effort in a sprint here in September, and this is her first handicap. Stall 13, be lucky! The 24.0 on Betdaq is luck already.
Heffernan is three out of nine for Halpin and the trainer has a near-30% strike rate in this type of race on this course.
The leading Dundalk trainer, and the top pair on strike, all meet in the 10-furlong handicap (8.00); that makes it between Knockgraffon Lad, Pivotal Rock and Saint By Day, whose top yard numerically, Mick Halford’s, puts the blinkers on for the first time.
Pivotal Rock won on the strand at Laytown over 7f but his CD third a month again was commendable; he was short of room or might have beaten the second horse, Prince Of Fashion, who is a pound worse off today. Would you believe, Pivotal Rock is in stall 13.
You know what will happen if I desert the consistent Elizabeth Coffee (8.30). Denny Crane is weighted to beat her on November’s course form but she was still in front of him a week ago when they were second and third to Solo Performer.
Solo Performer has now been tonked with a 5lb rise (and is also in stall 13) so, all in all, it seems that Elizabeth Coffee has the advantage now.
Another favourite of mine – but always catch him wrong – is Jamesie (5.30); he had a break before returning here, needing the run, last week whereas Elusive Ridge is attempting his fourth race and his third success in three weeks.
He might just blow out here, and I can get 4.4 Jamesie on Betdaq in what seems to be a two-horse race. Don’t forget Jamesie won over a mile as a two-year-old and should still be on the upgrade at three, while Elusive Ridge will be six in a week or so.
That nice Mr Mullins has let Johnny Murtagh up on Dougal Philps (5.00) in the race named after him to celebrate the Johnny Murtagh Champion Jockey race. There’s a value 9.2 if taking the hint.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Jamesie (5.30 Dundalk)
NEXT BEST: Elizabeth Coffee (8.30 Dundalk)
EACH WAY: Dougal Philps (5.00 Dundalk), Molly’s Touch (7.30 Dundalk), Pivotal Rock (8.00 Dundalk)
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
