5-2 WINNING NAP ON GROUP HORSE IN A MAIDEN: Ernest Hemingway (WON 5-2 nap) was allowed to start at good odds in an ordinary maiden at Dundalk last night, but Shamrock passed on the word in advance of his 10-lengths canter that Ballydoyle’s Galileo colt was reckoned potential Group standard.
HE TAKES 2.1 AN IRISH WINNER OF THE NATIONAL: Shamrock’s Grand National order in for your finishers list and each-way-handicap bets is:
1 On His Own
2 Chicago Grey
3 Black Apalachi
4 Killyglen
5 Organisedconfusion
6 Seabass
7 Synchronised
8 Ballabriggs,
9 Becauseicouldn’tsee.
GRAND NATIONAL: A block of eight horses out of 10 in the Aintree Grand National winners’ belt on today’s card are trained in Ireland and must surely yield us a return.
From 10st 3lb to 10st 9lb, perfectly placed by our trainers, are Becauseicouldntsee, Tharawaat, Quiscover Fontaine, Killyglen, The Midnight Club, Treacle, Organisedconfusion and Rare Bob.
Showing their touch of class above them but still on decent marks – thanks to the Gold Cup winner’s presence at the top of the handicap – are Alfa Beat, Black Apalachi, Chicago Grey, 4m winner at Cheltenham last year, and Seabass.
It makes for our strongest attack since the golden years when Irish-trained horses won six times in nine seasons (1999-2007).
One among our contingent, The Midnight Club, ridden by Ruby Walsh, started favourite last year, and finished sixth, so it speaks volumes that Ruby has this year opted for On His Own.
So confident is the Willie Mullins’ yard of its young blood – On His Own is only eight – that they put Apt Approach into yesterday’s Topham (jumped well) with a view to running in next year’s National.
Of course, the Liverpool race needs a lot of luck, and one of those who made his own luck for much of the way last year until finally paying the price for his errors was Killyglen.
Killyglen was in a challenging position at the time, and the entire year since has been spent on jumping practice and targeting his handicap mark so that here he is off 5lb lower in the ratings.
I’ve already taken 41.0 Seabass for this column. I now want Chicago Grey (26.0 on BETDAQ) and On His Own (19.5). Black Apalachi is a huge 56.0 (and 9.6 a place).
The battle of the girls has Seabass (Katie Walsh) coming in at 15.5 as I write and Organisedconfusion (Nina Carberry) drifting out at 29.0.
TRAMORE: Unless it rains, Annacarton (4.35), who prepped well for the race on Monday, should win the Tramore Centenary Year Hunters Chase.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
GRAND NATIONAL: On His Own (nap) and Chicago Grey (4.15 Aintree); already taken ante-post 41.0 Seabass.
DAQ EXOTIC BET: Cover your stakes today with 2.1 an Irish horse wins the National.
TRAMORE NAP: Annacarton (4.35 Tramore)
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