THE ONLY ONE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: Shamrock hopes to provide you winners tomorrow, when Dundalk is the only meeting on these islands. Today and tomorrow are last-chance saloon for a Christmas Box so he’s looking for the big whisper.
It’s a one-off. Peter Fahey has only to repeat his one-runner-one-winner feat at Thurles over fences, this time over hurdles, and we shall collect off Derrinlanna (3.05) at 8.4 this morning.
What a time for this rare raid by a trainer whose current form figures are 142103; that’s red hot for a small stable.
Derrinlanna loves heavy ground, and only one other horse in the race has won under Rules with that word in the going report. That winner was Lookoutnow at Cork.
It will be interesting to see whether Rockyaboya retains his position as favourite this morning, as punters burnt their fingers with him (odds-on sixth) in August and he’s been fairly easy to back since. But I still think he’s the saver with front-runner Lookoutnow setting it up.
I’m opposing Willie Mullins again (madness has set in, you say) because Sin Palo (2.35) hasn’t scored since the debut and that sort always has me worried.
He has to give 8lb to Charles Byrne’s Shrapnel, a half-brother to Weapon’s Amnesty, who should just love this step up in trip.
The word is that Willie’s won the bumper with Douneve (3.35) and he seems to have a virtual walk-over with So Young (1.35).
Quarryvale’s front-running has won handicaps before now and the course winner is dropped back in trip in the mud for the opener (12.35). Back and lay.
That leaves me hoping to see some money later on for Flemensford (1.05), out to 15.0 at time of writing. He’s got his ground and is 9lb below the rating for his last success.
I can get out on Bundle Of Fun, who should stay the right side of evens in such a big field. Willie Mullins again. Who says I oppose him!
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Douneve (3.35 Thurles)
NEXT BEST: Shrapnel (2.35 Thurles)
EACH WAY: Flemensford (1.05 Thurles, saver Bundle Of Fun),
Derrinlanna (3.05 Thurles, saver Rockyaboya)
DAQ YANKEE: Quarryvale (12.35 Thurles), So Young (1.35 Thurles), Shrapnel (2.35 Thurles), Douneve (3.35 Thurles)
CHRISTMAS BOX: four doubles (2 x 2): Flemensford and Bundle Of Fun (1.05 Thurles) with Derrinlanna and Rockyboya (3.05 Thurles)
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