Thurdsay 26 November
IRELAND'S EYE
On an extremely full days racing there is National Hunt action at Newbury, Taunton and Uttoxeter while there is a 6 race card at Thurles while it is the second night of action at Dundalk. We will be taking on the favourite in an intriguing chase at Thurles while a dual point scorer can build on a below par British debut in an Uttoxeter novice chase for the Twiston Davies yard.
Kilkenny All Star got us among the winners yesterday while our nap Roko Dancer (7-13/2) was well held in fourth in the opener at Chepstow. However we had better luck in our back up service when we recorded a double from just two selections when Lightening rod (8-11/2) beat our next best Cunning Clarets (13/8-11/8) at Wetherby while Magot De Grugy (11/10-10/11) obliged at Chepstow in a handicap chase.
Ash High developed into quite a useful pointer in Ireland earlier in the year and recorded a double on easy ground against decent company and though the 6yo failed to deliver when supported on English debut he should be given another chance to atone on more demanding ground in the 3m novice hurdle at Uttoxeter at 12-45. The Nigel Twiston Davies trained 6yo should be much more at home on this surface and with Tom Molloy taking off 5lbs he can beat another likely progressive sort in Panda Bay from the Emma Lavelle yard while David Pipes former point winner and bumper scorer Horsford is another to consider.
Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty are a combination to be feared when the yard is in form and recent evidence augurs well and they can be on the mark with the useful 5yo Riverside Theatre in the 2m 1f novice chase at Newbury at 12-55. An easy winner of a novice hurdle here over course and distance and third to the useful Diamond Harry in a bumper while the 145 rated hurdler boasts decent hurdle form as his fine third to Hurricane Fly in a Punchestown Grade 1 would indicate. This stables chase debutants usually know their job and he could prove too strong for the Paul Nichols trained 4yo mare who landed four races in her native France and gets a stone weight allowance here.
The 3m chase at Thurles at 1-00 looks set to prove an interesting betting medium with four decent chasers in the line up. Ruby Walshs mount Equus Maximus should be popular as the 9yo will be suited by ground/trip and a strict interpretation of his beating of recent Paddy Power winner Tranquil Sea (gave 5lbs) in a Punchestown 2m 5f hc on heavy back in May would make him a sound bet here. However he has to give 9lbs to most of the opposition here and he meets some fairly promising sorts in the Michae Bowe trained Coolcashin and Mouse Morris’s Baily View. The former has made a bright start to his chase career and he looked decidedly unlucky not to follow up his chase win over 2m 6f here when going down by the minimum margin to Aranleigh in a Grade 3 chase over the same trip last time. Proven on the course the 8yo should go close if he gets the extra 2f here but that should not pose a serious problem on this easier track. However we will just side with Baily View who did us a turn when stepping up appreciably when landing a heavy ground Fairyhouse 3m novice on his second start and though the 6yo has something to find with the principals here on official and indeed hurdle ratings and has failed in the past to put decent back to back runs together the Niall Madden ridden gelding may spring a minor surprise here on ground/trip that looks tailor made.
Phillip Hobbs and ‘Dickie’ Johnson can be on the mark in a 2m 1f maiden hurdle at 2-50 at Taunton with the once raced but promising Duke Of Lucca. Although the Milan 4yo showed definite signs of inexperience and arguably should have won when just touched off by the subsequent bumper scorer Dingat at Worcester five weeks ago. The presence of hurdles can make all the difference to the expensive purchase and he can beat the obvious danger Sahrati – admittedly a more experienced 5yo who shaped well when going down to a useful sort in Thumbs Up at Bangor on soft over a fortnight ago.
12-30 THURLES 2m bumper
An interesting opening bumper where several hold chances on past bumper form but a narrow vote goes to the improving Morris runner ROCKFIELD ABBEY who can account for favourite Old Charm and The Mettle Man under Robbie McNamara.
1-35 THURLES 2m 2f novice chase
Nicanor is entitled to go off favourite to score on his second start over fences having failed narrowly at Down Royal and though he has won on testing ground he has always looked more at home on a better surface and with that in mind he may be oppposable here with Tommy Coopers PRUDENT HONOUR jest getting the vote to beat chase debutant Woodbine Willie.
2-05 NEWBURY 3m novice chase
Pettifour was not overly impressive on his chase debut 12 days ago and this could go to the Paul Nicholls chase debutant MICHEL LE BON who ran out an easy winner over 1/2f further here when last seen in March over hurdles.
ADVICE
BET 4pt win ASH HIGH 12-45 Uttoxeter
BET 2pt win (saver) PANDA BAY 12-45 Uttoxeter
BET 5pt win (nap) RIVERSIDE THEATRE 12-55 Newbury
BET 4pt win BAILY VIEW 1-00 Thurles
BET 2pt win (saver) COOLCASHIN 1-00 Thurles
BET lay EQUUS MAXIMUS to win 5pt 1-00 Thurles
BET 3pt win DUKE OF LUCCA 2-50 Taunton
BET 2pt win (saver) SAHRATI 2-50 Taunton
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.
Wednesday's Return was: LOSS 9 points