16-1 AND 12-1 OUTSIDERS PLACED: Shamrock’s June sensation was 10 winning naps in 16 days. His July romp is a sequence of win-and-place Outsider bets which continued yesterday with two out of two, Sister Steve (2nd 12-1) and Latest Fashion (3rd 16-1).
ANOTHER ONE TODAY: Here’s the sequence: June 30, Global Recovery (WON 20-1); July 1 MT Weather (WON 12-1); July 2, Hunting Tower (3rd 10-1); July 3, King High (2nd 12-1); July 4, OK Annie (3rd 8-1); July 5, Sister Steve (2nd 12-1), Latest Fashion (3rd 16-1). There’s another one today.
These boys are magic! I increasingly find myself turning straight to the apprentice race on the card (9.00) in the Derrinstown Stud series. They’re always competitive and tonight’s is well hot, as the kids say these days.
Of the 13 riders in this handicap, 11 of them have already scored a total of 102 winners in 2011, led by Ben Curtis on 21, Shane Foley (17), Joseph O’Brien (16), Gary Carroll (14), Sam James (11) and Ronan Whelan (8).
Whelan is leading those boys – and a girl – who can still actually claim but I can’t fancy his mount, East Of Tara, since Desmond McDonough hasn’t had a winner at Naas.
Never say ‘never’, now that East Of Tara returns to a more suitable trip after trying 12 furlongs but, as a Barathea, she’ll probably need the ‘periods of rain’ that are forecast to be fairly long periods.
Low numbers have won all three runnings of this on the frying-pan Naas track so, much as course-winner Inishtearaght appeals on form, Master O’Brien has his work cut out.
So does Ben Curtis, though Rocky’s Pride might be inspired by blinkers for the first time. Mharashic tries them, too.
The 15 winners Shane Foley had left of his 3lb claim for 2011 have quickly disappeared as he knocks in as steady a flow of winners as for the last two seasons. But Tajweed, placed behind a Group-2 winner in England, hasn’t impressed over here, mixing the Flat with fences and hurdles.
Master Marvel was runner-up in this back in 2008 but you’d doubt he has the speed now at 10 years of age. Via Del Corso is still a maiden and Dan Noir will be getting ready for Galway (he won at the festival two seasons back).
Gary Carroll deserts Cookie Crumbles – they were always in rear at Leopardstown – and is probably on the winner, Beauty Express. She looks to have a lot of weight but no winner of this race has carried less than 9st 5lb (after any allowance).
She should be ready now after two runs back, and Gary Carroll will be wanting the coveted armband that the leading Derrinstown rider wears in the final dozen of the 40 races in the series.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Mullingar (8.30 Naas)
CHECK LATEST ODDS / PLACE BET ON BETDAQ BELOW
NEXT BEST: Beauty Express (9.00 Naas)
OUTSIDER: Velesgo (8.00 Naas)
DAQ TRIO: Haseen (6.30 Naas), Mullingar (8.30 Naas), Beauty Express (9.00 Naas)
