SHAMROCK LANDS SATURDAY NAP – JUST !!! It was a close call for SHAMROCK yesterday with his drifting NAP BACKDROP who won the opener at Wexford at 4/5 but was over evens on BETDAQ before the race. The winning distance: a short head!
Backdrop, who I said yesterday I was ‘happy to back at 1.5’, ended up being a big drifter to around evens on BETDAQ and it was a nervous race. He went from going well, to looking beaten, to fighting back and getting up on the post to win by a short head. Further evidence that, when a stable is in form (in this case Dermot Weld), even the close calls go your way.
At Lingfield I was on the ‘right’ one of the O’Brien pair in Blue Hussar in the Derby Trial but he took forever to get going and only plugged on into fourth without ever looking threatening. However, he did a whole lot better than the stables other runner Mekong River who was sent off the 3/1 favourite yet finished last in a performance that was surely too bad to be true?
It’s the best of both worlds today with Classic trials day at Leopardstown and the start of two days jumping action from Killarney. Jumps racing was revived at Haydock on Saturday and now Killarney picks up the baton.
LEOPARDSTOWN
Three Group races in a row at Leopardstown today where more Classic clues are on offer:
2:55 Ard Glen Amethyst Stakes (Group 3) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m, 11 runners)
Mustajeeb represents Dermot Weld who won it three years in a row with Famous Name who was odds-on on each occasion. Duntle was another odds on winner last year but the 2014 renewal looks a lot more competitive. The majority of the field have already had an outing this season and of those Qewy did best when winning a Listed race over course and distance. But this is harder for him and Weld may again have the answer with Mustajeeb who finished his two-year-old career with an excellent second to War Command (subsequent Dewhurst winner) in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.
3:25 Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial (Fillies’ Group 3) (3yo, Class 1, 1m, 9 runners)
The Aidan O’Brien trained Palace looks a little short here. Sure, she was impressive at Navan but there are others in the race with equally promising profiles at this early stage of their careers but at much bigger prices. Stars So Bright looks interesting for John Oxx. A daughter of Sea The Stars she romped home on debut at Dundalk and had the odds on favourite, Carla Bianca, soundly beaten in third. Carla Bianca had previously finished fourth to Rizeena in the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh. Excuse the cliché but Stars So Bright could be anything!
3:55 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3) (3yo, Class 1, 1m 2f, 8 runners)
With seven winners from the last 10 runners you can excused from backing Aidan O’Brien blind here. His representative this year is Geoffrey Chaucer who won both his starts as a two-year-old in grand style, both at the Curragh, and included the Group 2 Beresford Stakes. He looks solid, even with a penalty for the Group 2 win and can account for Obliterator who was brushed aside by True Story at Newmarket.
KILLARNEY
3.40 Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
Nine times out of 10 this is won by young lightweights under the age of seven and with 10st 8lb or less. That’s an overwhelming stat and one which we should pay close attention to in terms of finding the winner of this competitive 16 runner handicap hurdle today. Pivot Bridge gets a tick for age (6) and weight (9-10) and is certainly interesting win and place on BETDAQ. He went agonisingly close to winning a a big runner handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival where he built up a huge lead and was only pegged back close home.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
NAP: Stars So Bright (3.25 Leopardstown)
NEXT BEST: Geoffrey Chaucer (3.55 Leopardstown)
WIN: Mustajeeb (2.55 Leopardstown)
WIN AND PLACE: Pivot Bridge (3.40 Killarney)
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