SHAMROCK LANDS THREE DOUBLES AND A 19-1 TREBLE: Shamrock went for a yankee at Killarney yesterday and came away with three winners for three doubles and a treble through Plutorius (WON 7-2), Bahrain Storm (WON 5-4) and Laganbank (WON evens). Not in the yankee was his tip for Aragorn Icon (WON 5-2).
18-1 SUNDAY CELEBRATION: This followed his nap and 18-1 double on Sunday with Rose Bonheur (WON 11-4) at Fairyhouse and Sulwaan (WON 4-1) at Sligo.
IT’S A HUGE RACING DAY IN IRELAND: Whether you are with the Debrett set at Killarney or mixing horses and dogs all day long at Dundalk, it’s a day to remember in Ireland today. Shamrock picks three races from each meeting.
They’re going to the dogs tonight. It’s a case of Killarney being outDundalked today with a dual raceday at the Co Louth stadium, which features a seven-race all-weather card of horses this afternoon followed by greyhound racing from 7.30 with the annual Dundalk International.
If you can’t lose your money, your sobriety and your wife or girlfriend today – it’s Ladies Day at the horse races and best keep one eye out – when can you do it. On second thoughts, keep both eyes on the little woman; she could win a €5,0000 shopping voucher in the afternoon.
Me? As I have no definate opinion about the dogs, and any tip I gave would be makeshift, I shall be mixing with the knobs at Killarney. Don’t you know, Debretts New Season (billed as ‘from Glyndebourne to Glastonbury’) has these Killarney July races on its social calendar. Smart set or what!
2.20 Dundalk: The paper favourite, Red Army Blues, looks a lay from stall 9. In the last three years, 10 of the 12 horses in the frame were drawn 6 or lower.
But picking from that area today is tricky: last year’s winner, Empirico, has the blinkers reapplied; CD winner Ability ‘N Delivery has the cheekpieces back on; and Liberty Island, an old favourite here (won one, in the frame in six more), is being claimed off so that he’s a stone lower than for his close course third in the Spring.
3.20 Dundalk: They ought to put some hurdles in the way here. Winners of this race had all been hurdling, usually at Graded level. All have been young horses, no older than six.
Elyaadi is the Graded hurdler but he has Solo Performer to fear, with Joseph O’Brien booked to take a precious 3lb off, since this one was a close second last year off a 7lb lower mark. Has had two quick runs back this summer to ready for this.
4.20 Dundalk: Badger Or Bust is my lay of the day. Only three horses from the last 16 in the frame since 2008 have managed it from a double-figure draw, and this horse in stall 12 is a bridesmaid, set to give weight all round because of a 9lb hike for four consecutive places.
I’ll have an old punt each way on Cinnin Oir, a winner at the Galway Festival last season, and likely to be in good form now with a recent run behind him and the stable with three of its last four runners in a place.
6.20 Killarney: David Wachman thinks an awful lot about Giant Step and was bitterly disappointed when he failed to live up to the home gallops in the Derrinstown.
With the yard in better form and blinkers applied for the first time, he just might bankrupt Northern Rocked, who is 12lb higher than his last win.
6.50 Killarney: John Joseph Murphy, who sprang a surprise here yesterday with a 12-1 winner, has an obvious chance with Goldplated but I’m on the scent of dark horse from Fethard trainer Joseph G Murphy, in fact a filly, in fact Whitehorne Scent.
The unexposed daughter of Monsieur Bond, ridden by Chris Hayes, is first time in a handicap, defending the stable’s reputation, with four winners from nine at Killarney, excluding two-year-old runners.
7.20 Killarney: Having had to squat on top of the Dublin needle after my last little boast (Oracle will win the July Cup), I’m now promising to jump in the Flesk if the Punchestown Festival winner, Tornedo Shay, can’t win this.
This smart bumper winner and hurdler eased clear of Silver Canyon on the Flat at Leopardstown recently, with the Punchestown winner of another Graded race in third.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Tornedo Shay (7.20 Killarney)
NEXT BEST: Giant Step (6.20 Killarney)
EACH-WAY: Empirico (2.20 Dundalk), Cinnin Oir (4.20 Dundalk), Solo Performer (3.20 Dundalk)
OUTSIDER: Whitehorne Secret (6.50 Killarney)
LAY: Red Army Blues (2.20 Dundalk), Badger Or Bust (4.20 Dundalk)
DAQ TRIO: Empirico (2.20 Dundalk), Giant Step (6.20 Killarney), Tornedo Shay (7.20 Killarney)
