THREE OUT OF FOUR FOR ‘YANKEE KING’ SHAMROCK: Hard on the heels of his fabulous Thursday yankee – which included a 605-1 SP accumulator – Shamrock yesterday announced another four-horse tilt and duly hit three winners out of the four, including Lake George (WON 8-1).
They’ve made me an offer I can’t refuse. The 4.9 Sicilian Secret (7.50 Ballinrobe) this morning will probably be the best you can get for a while about this good-ground improver of Willie Mullins, if he wins this today.
He has to beat experience in the shape of old-timers Psycho and Muirhead but only bad ground has been responsible for Sicilian Secret’s modest form figures. So we need the rain to stay away.
I’m sticking to top-weights, and fancy Dream Champion (8.20) to bounce back, now he’s dropped 10lb from his opening hurdles mark in the Spring. He looked on the way to a modest prize with a fair effort at Galway, and he won at today’s track a year ago.
The filly Peggys Step (6.50) has caught the eye in maidens and Tracey Collins does well here, 25% over hurdles and one from one over fences. A nice draw in stall 7, whereas the front three in the paper forecast are all in high numbers.
A wide draw may not stop Masdar (5.50), who looks thrown in, returned to Dermot Weld for his handicap debut. Bumper winner for Weld last year at this time at Galway, and blinkered today.
Weld also first-time blinkers Hisaabaat (6.20) in the Flat maiden. Again a wide draw but it’s a small field, with two of the market leaders, Jouster and Extra Steps, exposed as one paced, and Luggers Hall sticking to maidens, although now qualified for handicaps off a low mark.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Sicilian Secret (7.50 Ballinrobe)
NEXT BEST: Hisaabaat (6.20 Ballinrobe)
OUTSIDERS: Peggys Step (6.50 Ballinrobe), Dream Champion (8.20 Ballinrobe)
DAQ TRIO: Masdar (5.50 Ballinrobe), Hisaabaat (6.20 Ballinrobe), Sicilian Secret (7.50 Ballinrobe)
