SEABASS IMPRESSES BUT SHAMROCK LANDS THE CATCH: Shamrock got the opener at Fairyhouse right on Tuesday naming ROCK CRITIC (WON 9/4) as his next best bet of the day. He beat last year’s Grand National third Seabass into second.
Unfortunately no action at Down Royal as the meeting was cancelled yesterday due to the course being waterlogged.
A quick look back to yesterday…
I was pleased by the opener at Fairyhouse yesterday. I took on the odds-on favourite Make Your Mark and last season’s Grand National third Seabass in favour of the once raced (over jumps) Rock Critic who won well at 9/4 but was a much more generous 3/1 on BETDAQ at the time of selection.
The other bet of the day, the nap, was second.
Seabass ran a race full of promise on his return confirming himself a major contender for this season’s renewal of the Aintree spectacular.
The Ted Walsh-trained 10-year-old was a heavily supported joint-favourite for the world’s most famous steeplechase last April and gave the trainer’s daughter Katie Walsh a fantastic spin to be beaten just five lengths.
Making his first appearance since in a two-mile hurdle race, Seabass was hardly going to be seen to best effect but ran on strongly to fill the runner-up spot behind the impressive Rock Critic.
The Willie Mullins-trained Make Your Mark was the 4/6 market leader for the Racegoer’s 25 euros Package Hurdle on the strength of some strong novice form last term, but 9/4 shot Rock Critic was travelling much the better of the pair as they rounded the home turn as one.
Once given his head by Robbie McNamara, the Dermot Weld-trained Rock Critic scooted clear to make it two from two over obstacles by three and three-quarter lengths.
Seabass was predictably outpaced as the front pair quickened swung into the straight, but finished well under Ruby Walsh to grab the runner-up spot from a rather disappointing Make Your Mark.
Walsh senior was understandably delighted with the performance and with Colbert Station also Aintree-bound, the trainer now has two major contenders as he aims to win the race for a second time following the triumph of Papillon in 2000.
Walsh said: “I’m happy with him. He’ll run somewhere in three weeks’ time. He has loads of options.
Seabass is trading around 20 on BETDAQ for the Grand National.
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
