DOWN ROYAL’S STAR LINE-UP: Shamrock looks ahead to the Champion Chase at Down Royal and spots three young stars who could do battle there. His tips for English racing are at the foot of the column.
Down Royal ups the tempo. The Champion Chase on November 5th will certainly see some fireworks and might rocket a young star into the big time.
I could tell you all about Cooldine, Forpadydeplasterer, Notre Pere and Sizing Europe, who are all engaged, but you already know them as old friends and I shall be looking – as ever – to take a young horse out of the race. And I shall get better odds a young horse going into it!
Blazing Tempo: One of three seven-year-olds I have listed here, whose age could make the difference. Fifth in the Jewsons after only three chases, she finished last season by running up to Wishfull Thinking in a Grade A at the Punchestown Festival.
It was a fine feat of training by Willie Mullins to have the Accordion mare back on the boil 10 weeks later to land the trainer his first Galway Plate.
So it was no surprise, but a gallant effort, 12lb higher and on soft ground, when ‘Tempo’ ran a blinder, fourth to Alfa Beat, stepped up to 3m in the Kerry National. One for Aintree?
Boston’s Angel: The 3m at Down Royal would also be no problem for the RSA Chase winner but this one has never won after an absence and we’ve not seen him yet.
When taking the beginners’ chase at the same Down Royal meeting last November, Boston’s Angel had already taken in a race at Punchestown at the end of October, so it will be interesting to see if Jessica Harrington has a similar campaign in mind. Gold Cup horse?
Quito De La Roque: Another young find of last season, winning four in a row after going down less than a length to Boston’s Angel on heavy ground in the Fort Leney at Leopardstown last December.
But has won on both good to heavy, and is five times a winner under Rules over 3m-plus. Good luck Colm Murphy, with another fabulous prospect.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Runshan (3.50 Plumpton)
NEXT BEST: Finnegan Paddy (5.20 Plumpton)
OUTSIDER: Grey Danube (2.40 Pontefract)
DAQ TRIO: Grey Danube (2.40 Pontefract), Runshan (3.50 Plumpton), Finnegan Paddy (5.20 Plumpton)
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.
