Monday 23 November
IRELAND'S EYE
With three meetings over jumps today it is a busy Monday with Kempton, Ffos Lass and Ludlow on the menu. There looks to be plenty of value bets on all three cards with former Irish pointers (not necessarily winners) looking to have excellent prospects in four races at the three fixtures.
Despite the non appearance of our nap at Navan it was another profitable day for us as we landed the winner of the feature event on that card when Beroni (9-7/1) obliged for the Willie Mullins/Paul Townend combination. Quietly Fancied (6/1) finished runner up in a novice hurdle at Navan while our back up service also yielded an 11/8 winner in the opener through Annie May (7/4-11/8) while Gentle Caribou (3-2/1) finished second in a Towcester novice hurdle.
The clear cut Cheltenham victory of Tell Massini has gone some way to excusing Paul Nicholls ex French 4yo Royal Collonges heavy defeat at Chepstow on his English debut and the Ruby Walsh ridden youngster looks set to go off favourite to land the opening 2m 5f novice hurdle at Ludlow at 12-30. However this looks a strong contest with several potentially useful prospects in the line up which include the ex Jimmy Mangan trained ex dual point and hunter chase scorer Truckers Hall. Now in the care of Tom George the 6yo has run well in a couple of decent hurdles during a 3 day period at Listowel and he looks sure to make a winning mark for his new yard in the near future. The Carrigtwohill point winner Wayward Prince belied his starting price when running a fine second in a Sandown bumper and the Ian Williams trained 5yo is another to consider with Henrietta Knights former Irish point winner Balnahinch who has shaped with promise in a bumper and a couple of hurdles to date. However our vote goes to the Charlie Egerton trained Abbevillian on his second start over hurdles despite the fact that the son of Definite Article failed to complete in his only point start. However he may have landed that particular Punchestown maiden (2m 4f) but for falling at the last in a race which has thrown up subsequent Park winners and his efforts since joining his present yard have been highly commendable and indeed he looked unlucky not to land an Ascot bumper on British debut when just losing out to the useful Riverside Theatre and his sole hurdle start almost a year ago when taking fourth to another useful sort in Dave’s Dream over an inadequate 2m 1f at Newbury augurs well for the future. This trip should prove ideal and the Jimmy McCarthy ridden 5yo can see off Truckers Hall in what looks a fascinating contest for the track.
Thehillofuisneach started favourite on both starts for Margaret O’Sullivan in Irish points and the son of Flemensfirth justified his good reputation when scoring well on second run at Dromahane last March. The 5yo changed hands for decent money a month later and the now Paul Nicholls trained gelding can take the first steps to repaying some of his ‘prize tag’ by landing the 3m novice hurdle at Ffos Las at 1-15. Though this looks far from a simple opportunity for the Harry Skelton ridden Park debutant he should be suited by the forecast soft ground and he can beat another former Irish pointer in Watamu Bay – victorious in his fourth start for Eamon Fehily at Cloyne and a most encouraging runner up in a decent Exeter 2m 5 1/2f novice hurdle on heavy almost three weeks ago on his first start for the Mann yard. Irish raider and point winner O’Crotaigh cannot be left out of calculations on his most recent hurdle placings.
Charlie Mann and Noel Fehily are proving a capable combination so far this season and the ‘deadly duo’ can land the 3m novice chase at Kempton at 2-00 with former point winner Cast Cada on his second start over fences. A winner of his sole point start on heavy ground the son of Exit To Nowhere rounded off his hurdle career with a brace of victories at Taunton and Southwell over this kind of trip and the 130 rated hurdler just failed to justify favouritism when going under by half a length to Finney at Uttoxeter on good ground over three weeks ago over three weeks ago. Easier ground should not inconvenience the 6yo and he can make it second time lucky here at the expense of Susan Nocks lightly raced point winner Picture In The Sky and another lightly tried runner in the Tizzard trained The Jazz Musician.
The 2-50 contest on the Ludlow card looks an open event but this 2m 4f hc chase can go to the Charlie Mann trained Ballinderry Park on his second start over fences. A ready winner of a Farmacaffley point the French bred has always shaped as if chasing could be his true vocation and he should improve greatly for his seasonal debut effort at Exeter but with the trip looking ‘right up his street’ and easier ground forecast the Peter Toole (claims 5lbs) ridden 6yo can land his second career win at the expense of another ex French bred and top weight Ordre De Bataille.
1-25 KEMPTON 3m 1/2f mares hurdle
The useful Whiteoak ‘dips her toe’ at this trip for the first time and though the McCain trained 6yo commands maximum respect there was a lot to like about AMBER BROOK’s win in a Wincanton last time and the 8yo looks solid on this surface and has no issues with the trip.
3-00 FFOS LAS 2m 6f hc hurdle
Several hold chances here but the vote goes to the Tim Vaughan trained ex French chase winner POULIGUEN (2m 4f) on admittedly his first start for some 531 days but the lightly raced 6yo may have the most scope for improvement.
ADVICE
BET 5pt win (nap) ARDVILLIAN 12-30 Ludlow
BET 1pt win (savers) TRUCKERS HALL and WAYWARD PRINCE 12-30 Ludlow
BET 5pt win THEHILLOFUISNEACH 1-15 Ffos Las
BET 2pt win (saver) WATAMU BAY 1-15 Ffos Las
BET 4pt win CAST CADA 2-00 Kempton
BET 1pt win (savers) PICTURE IN THE SKY and THE JAZZ MUSICIAN 2-00 Kempton
BET 4pt win BALLINDERRY PARK 2-50 Ludlow
BET 1pt win (saver) ORDERE DE BATAILLE 2-50 Ludlow
BETDAQ MULTIBET 1pt doubles/treble – ARDVILLIAN, THEHILLOFUISNEACH and CAST CADA
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.
Sunday's Return was: PROFIT 12 points
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