HE WHO DARES WINS: Shamrock, whose fabulous January-February sequences of 30 winning naps were featured on Wednesday, was straight back in the winners’ enclosure yesterday when Irish racing resumed: his best bet was Dare To Doubt (WON 4-6).
9-2 DOUBLE UP: Shamrock’s Thurles betting plan worked perfectly when he dutched Owennacurra Milan (WON 9-4) and Oscar Hill in the same race and put them both with Dare To Doubt for a 9-2 double.
Gentleman Jim is yer man in form. He’s not just top of the ‘hot trainers’ list in the Racing Post, Jim Bolger is also the leading course specialist and, currently, the man getting the best results from his horses.
So it is that Naoise (6.50) is my first bet of the night at Dundalk, better off at the weights with his old rival, Cailin Coillteach, in the sprint handicap.
The snag with having a big bet is that the same form lines suggest that Charismas Birthday and Alvar also have chances.
In fact, Charismas Birthday – trading at 9.0 – who is a daughter of lightning-fast Choisir is 21lb better off for a length and a half with the paper favourite Cailin Coillteach on their first and third placings here in February.
You have to trust that wasn’t just a flash in the pan – she’s never been in the frame before – so I will stick with Naoise but have a little each way in case Charismas is coming!
The apprentice handicap is tight. Lines through Prince Of Fire just about give the edge to Aragorn Rouge over Gort Na Mona – another Bolger – although Aragorn Rouge’s stable has the grey front-runner Solid Air better in with his stable companion.
But the potential gamble of the day started early in this race when Shake The Bucket, forecast 10-1 in the Racing Post, shot to favouritism to complete the hat-trick.
For want of a better indicator today, I’ll join in the party and hope to fill my bucket before the Guinness runs out.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Shake The Bucket (8.20 Dundalk)
NEXT BEST: Naoise (6.50 Dundalk)
OUTSIDER: Charismas Birthday (6.50 Dundalk)
DAQ TRIO: Naoise (6.50 Dundalk), Shake The Bucket (8.20 Dundalk), Jacksonslady (8.50 Dundalk)
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