FOLLOW THE BETDAQ MARKET: Shamrock tries to steer his way round a 100% stat at Sligo today. Will an unbeaten run of chase favourites continue? It certainly seems a day to follow the market.
Favourites galore! Not one favourite has lost in past runnings over the last couple of years of four of the races at Sligo today: the 4.05 chase, the 6.05 handicap chase and the two beginners’ chases at 4.35 and 5.35. Not one.
In the first of the four today, the market leader is red hot: Traffic Article (4.05) looks the hub of your Daq Multiples. He is 11lb clear of Kakagh who, in turn, is 11lb clear of Miss Sarene. Vital Plot is very in and out.
If only because he’s riding the gelding, Ruby Walsh and Give Us A Hand are also likely to be at the front of the market in the first of the beginners’ chases (4.35).
But this one is a maiden under Rules and is often ridden out the back over another half-mile, so I can see Ruby having to break sweat here.
For Dylan, Easily Pleased, Valiquest and Luke’s Benefit have all led in recent races and, with Give Us A Hand dropped back to this shorter trip, I couldn’t support him with any confidence.
Easily Pleased put up a sound performance against Sorcerer at Ballinrobe and may not be for catching. Denis Hogan (Luke’s Benefit) has only brought one horse here before and won.
Definite All Star or Kusadasi would win the second beginners’ chase (5.35) on hurdles form, but Kusadasi has had his chances over fences already.
Jim Bowie has bags of stamina and it will be interesting to see how he jumps. On better ground, I would go nap on the J P McManus runner, Abbey Glen, a Presenting who landed a hat-trick over the smaller obstacles. It just might dry out in the forecast wind, and I think Abbey Glen will be the one to take out of this race.
Wet or dry, Ardglen (6.05) could continue his rise up the ratings. After he won on the heavy at Ballinrobe and Listowel, his third time as favourite was on good ground at Clonmel.
Wise heads pondered his 15lb worth of penalties and the change of going and allowed him to start odds against. Ardglen won again, though it wasn’t so easy this time.
However, that was probably due to the appallingly slow pace and he can still run here off a light weight, though the race is a grade higher.
Square Sphere gives chasing a second try, having had her first taste two years ago when taking on the likes of Pandorama. By Oscar out of a Le Moss mare, she’s likely to stay all day, and is the alternative if Ardglen has come to the end of his tether.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Easily Pleased (4.35 Sligo)
NEXT BEST: Abbey Glen (5.35 Sligo)
EACH WAY: Luke’s Benefit (4.35 Sligo), Square Sphere (6.05 Sligo)
DAQ YANKEE: Traffic Article (4.05 Sligo), Easily Pleased (4.35 Sligo), Abbey Glen (5.35 Sligo), Ardglen (6.05 Sligo)
