Ireland's Eye on Saturday

Saturday 4 July

IRELAND'S EYE 

All eyes will be on Sandown today when the English 2000 Guineas/Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars bids to land the Coral Eclipse Stakes while in Ireland the second day of the Bellewstown meeting can see success for a former top class hurdler in a handicap hurdle while a last time runner up at Ffos Las should land a three mile maiden hurdle under Ruby Walsh.
 
Nap The Rall (7/2) ‘did the business’ for us at Wexford yesterday in the novice chase and in the same race we managed to land our second lay of the month when favourite Sanglote (2/1 fav) could only manage third in the same contest. Though Adare Manor (11/2) just went down in the maiden hurdle at Bellewstown there was disappointment later in that card when the well supported Farinelli (5/2-7/4) bombed out while in the closing Wexford maiden hurdle Lady Tess (7/4-6/4) could not live with the hitherto disappointing Tally Em Up while our saver Good Parade (10/1) ran well enough in taking third.

A fascinating renewal of the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes with the Oxx trained Sea The Stars bidding to add the English Guineas and Derby to his season haul – a feat which was not achieved for some 20 years (Nashwan in 1989) following his defection from the Irish Derby last weekend due to the ease in the ground. Surprisingly this contest does not boast a good record for favourites (1 in last 10) but it probably would be folly to oppose the Irish superstar here in this 10f at 3-15 as this fellow has looked every inch a champion in every aspect and most importantly in his pre race demeanour which has always looked ice cool.

Nevertheless the Aidan O’Brien yard will have hopes of toppling the warm favourite here with a three pronged attack spearheaded by the talented if somewhat enigmatic Rip Van Winkle who may well awake from his semi slumber this afternoon but he has yet to beat the Oxx ace in two starts. Michael Stoutes Conduit must rate the main danger to the favourite and though the 4yo Breeders Cup Turf winner (1m 4f) would be suited by a longer trip he showed his wellbeing with a good second placing over course and distance (Brigadier Gerard Stakes) last time and he can reverse the form with the 1 and a half length winner on that occasion Cima De Triomphe this afternoon without beating the favourite in a race which nevertheless has seen the older brigade succeed in the past three years.
 
The 4yo novice hurdle over 2m 1f at Bellewstown at 6-00 sees a rematch between the former English trained Fair Gale and the more exposed Totoman. Eric McNamaras former four time flat winner Fair Gale came out on top narrowly over the minimum trip at Cork when installed favourite and though he is now 7lbs better off with the Jessica Harrington runner there is a possibility tht the son of Storming Home under Robert Power could uphold the form as he possibly has the most score for improvement on just his second start over timber.

Nevertheless there may be better value in opposing both and the one that appeals most is the Robert Hennessy trained Colisuem who admittedly did not show much in two starts on the flat in Britain but he has showed definite promise in two starts over hurdle. Though he probably was flattered to get within a length and a half of The Fist Of God at Limerick last time he also shaped with ability when finishing a fair seventh against older rivals in a competitive Punchestown maiden on hurdles debut over two months ago and he could be suited with a slight ease in the ground and has the services of Andrew Lynch.
 
There is an interesting 3m maiden hurdle at Bellewstown at 7-30 where several look to hold chances. Energiser is clearly the form choice as Michael Morans 6yo would have gone close but for toppling at the second last in a similarly competitive event at Down Royal over 2m 4f last time in an event won by Fier Destrier. In keeping with swerving away from last time out fallers and with stamina to prove we will instead go with Older And Wiser who failed to get himself into the record books in being the first winner at Ffos Las over a fortnight ago when failing by 7 lengths to the former Irish trained Plunkett. That form would not necessarily suffice here but Oliver McKiernans lightly raced 7yo shapes as if a step up in trip will be what he requires and he gets the vote to give Ruby Walsh the opening leg of a double. Dessie Hughes Pavo showed signs of promise on his last run when staying on to take third berth in a Clonmel 2m 4f maiden hurdle having shown little ‘between the flags’ and on the track up to now and he rates a saver and a place bet on the DAQ.
 
The feature event on the Bellewstown card at 8-00 is a highly competitive 2m 4f handicap hurdle and the weights are headed by the formerly useful Essex from the Michael O’Brien yard with Ruby Walsh on board and the ace pilot is attempting to land this event for the fourth time in 11 years. Though the 9yo has not tasted success for some two years he runs off the same mark as when landing the Totesport Trophy at Newbury four years ago he has been running well in defeat in his last couple of starts and though he has to carry a welter burden here his class could see him account for Noel Meades runner Jewel Of The West who ran well in defeat last time and is off a decent mark and former pointer Warcraft who could be suited by a return to 2m 4f having landed his sole win over this trip at Gowran on penultimate start.
 
ADVICE
6pt win (nap) SEE THE STARS 3-15 Sandown
3pt win COLISEUM 6-00 Bellewstown
2pt win (saver) FAIR GALE 6-00 Bellewstown
4pt win OLDER AND WISER 7-30 Bellewstown
1pt win 1pt place PAVO 7-30 Bellewstown
4pt win ESSEX 8-00 Bellewstown
1pt win (savers) JEWEL OF THE WEST and WARCRAFT 8-00
BETDAQ MULTIBET - 1pt double SEA THE STARS and JUDGETHEMOMENT

We are now recording the daily profit and loss of Ireland's Eye to help readers gauge the current form of the service. We will provide the profit / loss on the previous day to a £1 level stake on each selection (eg: a 5 point bet = a £5 stake). In the interests of consistency the profit / loss will be recorded at SP prices, however BETDAQ users can reasonably expect to beat SP in the majority of races.

Friday's Return was: PROFIT 3.55 points