BIDDING FOR NAPS HAT-TRICK: Shamrock looks ahead to the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown this afternoon and bids for his third winning nap in a row.
After Call The Police landed the nap on Thursday I followed up with Sacred Dragon (around 1.5 on BETDAQ) at Dundalk last night who won, but not as easily as expected as he was pressed hard by debutant Mazandaran and there was just a neck between the pair at the line.
What a fantastic days racing we have in store at Leopardstown with the Hennessy Gold Cup at 3.20 being the obvious highlight.
Just five runners go to post for the feature and the BETDAQ market is predicting a match between Flemenstar (2.29) and Sir Des Champs (2.62) – prices at the time of writing. Both put their Cheltenham aspirations on the line and the key form race is the Lexus Chase run over course and distance in December.
That day Flemenstar was travelling like the winner for much of the race but tied up close home in the dramatic finish won by Tidal Bay. That was his first try at the trip and Sir Des Champs was just a short head back in fourth having made a couple of mistakes around the course.
At face value the longer trip seemed to favour Sir Des Champs more – there were five lengths between the pair when Flemenstar won the John Durkan over two and a half miles at Punchestown.
However, I see no reason why Flemenstar shouldn’t confirm his superiority again today over his adversary. He’s a better jumper and that might be a bigger key factor than the distance.
Willie Mullins, trainer of Sir Des Champs, may also struggle in the preceding race, the Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase with Boston Bob, the favourite on BETDAQ at around 2.5.
This one hardly got the easy introduction over fences his 1/5 starting price would have indicated when having to work really hard to beat You Must Know Me by half a length. The runner-up has been well beaten since and Boston Bob has chasers with considerable more experience to cope with today. I respect his form over hurdles but in a Grade 1 chase he has to be a lay for me.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
NAP: Flemenstar (3.20 Leopardstown)
LAY: Boston Bob (2.45 Leopardstown)
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