TWO NAPS UP OUT OF TWO: Shamrock landed his nap for the second day running yesterday when, after Ardglen (WON 2-1) on Friday, he scored with Tibet (WON 3-1), and completed a double of more than 8-1 with Royal Reveille (WON 11-8). In fact, he had three doubles and a treble up from those two, because his trio contained a non-runner.

CLONMEL: There’s a cracking novice chase here today, featuring six horses who have totted up 12 wins between them in their last four starts.

Hurdles? you ask. Not at all, they have all won over fences – nine chase successes all told – though only one has scored over today’s 3m.

That’s Cottage Oak, who has his ground if the rain stays away. In fact, I think only Action Master’s connections will be praying for it to come up soft, yet he’s favourite this morning, I should think because of his second to Slieveardagh at Listowel.

I always look at these novice races like this: what on breeding and from which yard am I likely to be taking out of the race for the future?

Well, if there’s one here, good enough to be mentioned in the same breath as the race titleist, Captain Christy, it ought to be the son of Flemensfirth, Cottage Oak, or the Milan gelding Gala Dancer, out of a Strong Gale mare. I’ll take the younger horse, Gala Dancer (4.35).

The Walsh team, which did well for us yesterday with Royal Reveille, can get us off the mark in the opener (2.25) via Ploopluck Bridge (it’s in Leinster; once a haunt of highwaymen, apparently).

THE CURRAGH: But it’s at the Curragh where I shall be looking for a bit of daylight robbery, from John Oxx in the apprentice race (4.55).

He’s managed to get Raydari thrown in his first handicap, with one of our top boys, Ben Curtis in the saddle.

The two-year-old trials of Park Stakes and Beresford seem set for hot favourites Coral Wave (3.10) and Akeed Mofeed (4.20) but I was greatly taken by Dermot Weld’s CD winner Madhmoonah (8.0 on Betdaq). Pat Smullen clearly was, too, as he prefers her to Angel Bright in the Park Stakes.

SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Akeed Mofeed (4.20 The Curragh)
NEXT BEST: Gala Dancer (4.35 Clonmel)
EACH-WAY: Madhmoonah (3.10 The Curragh), Raydari (4.55 The Curragh)
DAQ YANKEE: Madhmoonah (3.10 The Curragh), Akeed Mofeed (4.20 The Curragh), Gala Dancer (4.35 Clonmel), Raydari (4.55 The Curragh)