340-1 DOUBLE BID BY SHAMROCK: Emboldened by a first-day nap and so close to beating Frankel at 20-1, Shamrock today launches a daily double for Ascot week. He’ll be spotting the best Irish raiders and doubling with a dark horse at the meetings in Ireland. Today’s bets were 21.0 and 17.0 this morning.
‘CRAZY’ 38.0 SECOND SPURS HIM ON: Shamrock reckoned yesterday’s Betdaq-value offers of 38.0 Zoffany (2nd 20-1) were ‘crazy’ and the Ballydoyle colt zipped through the field to get within threequarters of a length of reeling in Frankel.
NAP AND DOUBLE UP: Shamrock’s Ascot nap yesterday was Power (WON 4-1) and he completed a double with 17-lengths winner Jive Master (WON 4-5) last night. Now for a really big double today!
ROYAL ASCOT: The Irish horse from Ascot today is Jim Bolger’s Johannesburg filly, Somasach (5.00). She ran very green at Tipperary, being stone last after a furlong, drawn wide, but she picked up a treat, once the penny dropped.
She’s had the luck of the draw in the Queen Mary and, with Gentleman Jim the two-year-olds king in Ireland this season, Somasach must be the pick of a decent hand yet is 21.0 on Betdaq this morning.
NAVAN: We saw the younger horse, Canford Cliffs, able to overtake even the great European champion, Goldikova, at Ascot yesterday. Age tells and now’s the time to start backing three-year-olds against their seniors. Let’s try it tonight (7.00).
Though she was not capable of raising her game to Listed level at Naas last time out, Cannon Hill’s earlier form, when she beat Vastitas at Gowran Park, was boosted at Roscommon on Monday, the runner-up demolishing a field of 15 maidens by six lengths.
Asheerah ran well at Listed level before being swamped by Banimpire and company in a Group 3 last time out and seems to be the principal danger. If I take an early Betdaq position, I might be able to back the two against the field.
Three-year-olds again meet older horses in the 10-furlong handicap (8.30), where Lady Bennett is my outsider of the evening to complete a 340-1 double with Somasuch.
She’s first time in a handicap for Charlie Swan after three runs as a maiden two-year-old, which opened with an educational effort behind Recital on today’s course in October.
Lady Bennett, obviously a late starter needing experience, then took on Imperial Rome, so that’s a subsequent Derby and a Guineas runner in two starts, and I note that winner and second on her final start have run in Listed and Group races since.
Dark? She’s hidden like a pea in a peat bog, racing off 55 where those I mentioned who have beaten her are now on 115, 106, 103 and 98. And you could get 17.0 Lady Bennett this morning.
If Somasach has run well in my first leg, then Experience (6.00 Navan) will be the knocking bet of the day in the opener at Navan, since she chased Somasach to the line at Tipperary.
SHAMROCK’S BETS
NAP: Experience (6.00 Navan)
NEXT BEST: Cannon Hill (7.00 Navan)
EACH-WAY: Somasach (5.00 Ascot) and Lady Bennett (8.30 Navan)
OUTSIDER DOUBLE: Somasach (5.00 Ascot) and Lady Bennett (8.30 Navan)
DAQ TRIO: Experience (6.00 Navan), Cannon Hill (7.00 Navan) and Long Journey Home (8.00 Navan)
