CRUEL LUCK AS 25-1 TIP FALLS AT THE LAST: Shamrock’s each-way bet, Osiramix (SP 25-1), was clear at the last fence in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork yesterday when he fell, leaving the race to the seemingly-vanquished odds-on shot Golden Silver (2-7). It was a case of the cork having to go back in the champagne bottle.
44.0 THIS ARKLE WARRIOR: Shamrock’s bets on the English races today are at the foot of his column but he also has a 44.0 nibble at the Arkle at Cheltenham.
Is there another Angel? The big novice chase at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, now called the Fort Leney, has set up several false alarms, including Notre Pere and Pandorama; good horses which never really fulfilled their promise.
But last year’s race produced the 14-1 surprise Bostons Angel, Jessica’s Harrington’s subsequent RSA Chase winner. Not that many were convinced by his Fort Leney win.
He started 8-1 (and won) next time out and was 16-1 when he completed the hat-trick in that RSA at the Cheltenham Festival. Why were layers so generous?
Bostons Angel was one of the rare breed who, just when they look beaten, find more and show tremendous courage to win by – in the case of his hat-trick – threeparts of a length, a head and a neck.
I say ‘was’ a rare breed since, it would seem, Bostons Angel is paying for his exertions of last season; he hasn’t been the same horse this, as yet anyway.
If the ratings are to be believed, this year ‘s Fort Leney (December 28) rests between Bog Warrior, Join Together and First Lieutenant, though 25 have stood their ground at this stage, 10 of them winners of one of their last two races.
First Lieutenant (Mouse Morris) is an old favourite: he won the Neptune at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, and seemed to have returned good as ever with two Grade-3 wins in the autumn.
But, reportedly after cutting his nose, he was pulled up behind runaway (I think 31 lengths genuinely qualifies as ‘runaway’) Fairyhouse winner, Bog Warrior.
That race was another major novice chase, the Drinmore, a substandard one as far as the size of the field was concerned – only six ran – but an eye-opener as far as the result went.
Join Together would now be the main British challenger after beating Mossley and Champion Court at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Success for Bog Warrior, which seems likely, would shrink his odds for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March. I was tempted to take a bit of the 44.0 on Betdaq this morning.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Bendzoldan (5.15 Wolverhampton
EACH-WAY: Cottage Flyer (2.00 Fakenham)
ANTE-POST: Bog Warrior at 44.0 (Arkle Chase, Cheltenham, March)
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