WHAT A BEAUTY! Shamrock’s nap, Sunset Beauty (WON 4-5), stormed home by four lengths at Leopardstown last night, and today he’s determined to land the Midlands National winner at the evening meeting at Kilbeggan.


You’re betting blind in the Midlands National. With three horses in blinkers for the first time, it’s a tall order trying to have confidence in a bet.

First-time blinds even include dual-winner Piano Star, back for more two years on. I think we can be pretty sure in his case that the reason is that he’s struggling to find his old form at the age of 11.

Success in this usually goes to a youngish horse (only one in a decade has been older than nine) and with 11st 3lb or less (all 10 winners).

Sponsors Gigginstown run three: Roscommon winner Campbonnais but he’s up 11lb for that; Hangover, back to form at Limerick last month; and Politeo, claimed off but, in fact, reunited with his winning pilot at Down Royal in May.

Hangover had Guts For Garters behind at Limerick but the time was awful and his winning form is all on the soft. Campbonnais strung them right out at Roscommon and put back-to-back wins together when he was in form in the Spring of last year.

But Politeo is officially rated 5lb higher than Campbonnais, yet with the boy’s allowance off, will receive 7lb, so – theoretically – has 12lb on him.

Supercede is 17lb higher than for his last chase win, King Ali 20lb higher, and Harold’s Cross is hiked 29lb since the start of his hat-trick sequence.

Dream Champion, Flemross and For A Finish all have to bounce back, while Future All Star is in form but has to improve on what he’s done this summer.

Politeo, each way at 12.5 on Betdaq this morning, has clearly been saved up for this race and, as a five-year-old, has plenty of scope for improvement.

SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Trendelenburg (7.50 Kilbeggan)
NEXT BEST: Capisci (8.55 Kilbeggan)
OUTSIDER: Politeo (8.25 Kilbeggan)
DAQ TRIO: South Wing (6.50 Kilbeggan), Trendelenburg (7.50 Kilbeggan), Capisci (8.55 Kilbeggan)